If you’ve ever endured a lukewarm cup of pre-brewed coffee, you’ll be all too familiar with the horrible grin it quickly induces, eurgh!
it goes down the sink, goes to waste, and you go cook a new pot.
Reading: Best coffee carafe
choose a really good thermal carafe and you’ll never have to worry about this again.
In this article, I review five very popular pitchers, each one suited to a different type of occasion.
(Come back to my huge home coffee brewing guide when you’re done for more help with this side of life in the kitchen!)
In this article I will review the following thermal coffee jugs:
(This article includes affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.)
thermal coffee jug reviews
let’s dive in with reviews of the best thermal coffee pots on the market today.
68 oz cresimo stainless steel pitcher
cresimo is one of the leading names in insulated coffee pots and the company’s reputation is very well deserved.
This particular model is good for keeping coffee at a drinkable temperature for about 10-12 hours. that’s more than enough for a day at the office or a quiet weekend at home!
What’s really impressive is that cold drinks stay cold longer. up to 24 hours, in fact.
If you’re going on a picnic on a hot day, it’s wonderful to be able to recharge a refreshing drink. It also doesn’t make a mess like other cold jugs, with a noticeable lack of condensation on the outside.
Capacity-wise, this model can hold 68 fluid ounces, which is an impressive amount at this end of the budget spectrum.
It’s also very easy to use. with one hand you can press the button that opens the spout and then just pour. however, it is obviously heavier to handle with a full brew inside.
As it has a fairly large capacity, it has an equally large mouth. That not only makes it easier to fill, but also means it’s much easier to go in with a handled cloth for a good clean.
As a general and versatile thermal coffee pot, this model is very easy to recommend. the design is quite industrial, but in terms of function it’s the best there is.
advantages
- double-wall insulation means the exterior remains cool to the touch, no matter how hot the contents are.
- pours very well with a simple one-handed operation. I haven’t experienced any mess pouring this stuff.
- feels extremely durable, but is also lightweight. the handle is sturdy and this is a very well built pitcher.
- While I love this coffee pot as an all-rounder, that capacity is plenty big for the average home.
- exterior tends to pick up fingerprints and water stains over time.
- the lid in particular requires a thorough cleaning if you are going to store anything other than coffee in this. the flavor of the coffee really lingers if you don’t make an effort here.
- if you’re brewing coffee in keurig pods, and nothing but pod coffee, this is a very good, compact coffee pot that will get the job done in a very basic way.
- very easy to clean thanks to its wide mouth, but generally compact in size.
- Integrates nicely with compatible Keurig machines, making larger brews easier to set up and complete.
- It only holds about four cups of coffee, so it’s hard to recommend it for anything other than a Keurig machine.
- Although well built, it actually only retains that heat for about an hour. after that, there is a noticeable drop in temperature. this is best considered as a serving device for larger batches of keurig coffee.
- Not compatible with all Keurig machines. Please review the list carefully before purchasing your own device.
- Makes a delicious French coffee and then retains heat very well for a leisurely drink with friends.
- a beautifully designed device that really stands out amongst the other more industrial coffee pots on the market.
- a true dishwasher proof pitcher! when it comes to overall comfort, it’s hard to think of a better device.
- It only retains heat for about two to three hours, but for its intended use as a non-portable coffee pot, I think that’s enough.
- By design, this is for French coffee only. I wouldn’t use it as a coffee storage container in general.
- There are some hidden plastic elements here and there, although they are not really very noticeable.
- an extremely generous capacity, which should be enough to keep a large group of people refreshed for some time.
- Despite this increased capacity, it still retains heat/cold just as well as the smaller device I’ve seen before.
- cresimo has a solid reputation for parts replacement under warranty. they take good care of both commercial and residential owners.
- The pump keeps the coffee flowing quickly, which is great when guests have little time to grab a refill.
- For maximum heat retention, you should preheat it with hot water. It’s not a big deal, but it’s something to keep in mind.
- difficult to dry overnight as the lid does not open far enough to balance the coffee pot upside down.
- if it falls off, it will leak a bit. make sure it is placed correctly.
- the construction of the lid is not particularly strong and the plastic hinge can easily break.
- For sheer ability, this is the best there is!
- The built-in handle makes life so much easier and it’s surprisingly easy to move around, even when full.
- The lid comes off very easily for quick refilling and cleaning.
- This is another coffee pot that is prone to water stains and fingerprints on the exterior. if you’re buying for both form and function, this could be a bit off-putting.
- the push button requires a bit more effort to get started than other coffee pots of this type. you really have to work really hard to get a decent flow.
- there are plastic elements of the design that come into contact with the contents. not ideal for preserving flavor.
cons
keurig 2.0 thermal carafe
brewing coffee pods has a bit of a bad rap among coffee connoisseurs. however, the Keurig Specialty Insulated Coffee Carafe is an excellent option for this type of small-scale operation.
Because of this, it’s not really designed for anything other than a very limited volume of coffee. I think about four cups, and I mean keurig cups, which are often disappointingly small portions.
Since this is a licensed product designed specifically for Keurig machines, there is additional technology built in. once you have connected the carafe to the machine, more brewing options open up on the coffee machine
however, if you don’t have a keurig machine, but this one fits, you won’t get the benefit of that added feature.
You should also note that this is not compatible with all Keurig brewers on the market. check the list carefully to make sure this actually works with the machine you have in your kitchen.
advantages
cons
bodum columbia french press manufacturer
As someone with a depressingly small kitchen, I love anything that does a great job of combining two tasks into one appliance.
Bodum’s Columbia Stainless Steel Coffee Carafe gets a big round of applause from me on that front.
See also: Best Non-Dairy Milk for Coffee
This is a French press coffee maker and thermal carafe in one stylishly designed unit.
To brew a fresh batch, simply remove the lid and add your coffee. then you fill it with hot water and stir the contents with a spoon.
Replace the lid, then twist it to close the spout and lock in heat and aroma. wait a few minutes, dip gently and start pouring a nice cup of french coffee!
Construction-wise, it’s made of smooth-formed stainless steel, double-walled to ensure the exterior doesn’t get too hot to handle.
It really is a very clever thing to do and I’m quite in love with the ingenuity and convenience of this device. it looks fantastic and feels comfortable to wear too.
I wouldn’t hesitate to make this my go-to French press for when we have guests over.
advantages
cons
cresimo airpot thermal coffee jug
This is essentially the bigger, more industrial brother of the cresimo coffee pot I discussed earlier in this article.
if you’ve ever been to a hotel conference, for example, you’ve seen this type of airpot on the table with the cookies!
if you’re not familiar with them, use a kind of pump at the top of the coffee pot to feed the coffee into the cup you place under the spout.
The most notable thing here is the whopping 101 oz capacity. this isn’t the kind of thing you probably want at home, but if you have an office (or host a community event), this is a very cost-effective solution.
again, you’re looking for around 10-12 hours of heat retention and 24 hours of cold retention if you want to serve iced beverages.
Because it’s such a large pitcher, you won’t be surprised to learn that it’s relatively easy to clean. wash it well with hot water and then use a cloth with a handle to clean the inside.
With this type of coffee pot, you care more about capacity than appearance. don’t expect anything special when it comes to visual appeal, but when it comes to performance, it does exactly what you need.
advantages
cons
vonshef airpot thermal jug
Vonshef’s Coffee Carafe is another airpot-style coffee container, with a push-down pump and spout.
this one has an even larger capacity than the cresimo model at a whopping 170 oz. if that seems like overkill for your needs, there’s also a smaller 100 oz model.
It also has a sturdy built-in handle, which makes carrying it, filled or not, that much easier.
In terms of heat retention, you’ll find that results vary quite a bit. it’s drinkable after 12 hours, although I think you’ll want to allow for less time for best results.
as with the cresimo model, it also does a good job of keeping cold drinks cool. that’s nice to have for summer garden parties, for example.
Lastly, a security lock is always welcome to prevent spills. the vonshef has one built in, which is good for quiet, especially if you have kids running around.
advantages
cons
verdict
All the coffee pots I have reviewed in this article are best in class for different occasions.
there is no real winner!
Instead, I’ll recommend one for each major type of use. click the links to read more user reviews for each:
See also: Truy Lùng Top 12 Quán Cafe Phim Hà Nội Gây Sốt Hiện Nay
best overall
the best for accommodation
best for capacity
purchase tips
I made my recommendations based on a review of the most popular thermal coffee jugs available today.
If you want to further investigate for yourself, here are the most important things to keep in mind.
how easy is it to use?
You may not think it’s possible to find a thermal carafe that’s difficult to use! Trust me when I say that there are some design tweaks that make life a lot easier and create a lot less clutter.
see listing for smart design details that will increase safety and prevent spills.
A little more thought and attention has been given to a thermal carafe that is advertised as “easy to clean” or “easy to pour”.
is it easy to clean?
You can happily put a glass coffee pot in the dishwasher and not think about it.
However, there aren’t many thermal carafes that work well with a dishwasher. instead, you’ll need to spend a little time manually cleaning it.
It’s worth the effort though, as these things can get pretty dirty over time.
For that reason, I recommend buying a pitcher with a generously wide lid. you’ll find it much easier to get in there with a cloth and a good wipe down.
what capacity do you really need?
A thermal carafe is probably not something you want to leave on the counter. don’t buy something so big you can’t store it in your kitchen!
Think about the absolute maximum capacity you’ll need for your largest event.
carafe capacity ranges from a handful to fifteen cups. choose the one that best suits your particular needs.
if you use it exclusively for home use, 32 oz should be more than enough. if it’s for a small office, double the capacity.
how is the heat retention?
If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably already decided that a thermal carafe is the way to go.
what makes them so useful?
A correctly constructed stainless steel thermal carafe retains the heat of the coffee much better over time. they often feature vacuum seals and double walls to aid in that retention.
thus, the coffee is enjoyed more and less is wasted. no need to empty a load of lukewarm coffee down the sink in exchange for a fresh brew.
They’re a little harder to clean than a glass pitcher, but they don’t break as easily!
I dropped a slippery glass pitcher while cleaning, and it’s not just the financial hit that bothered me. I spent forever hunting down glass shards scattered around the kitchen. With small children in the house that’s a source of concern that I really don’t need.
In terms of appearance, I prefer a glass carafe to an industrial-looking thermal carafe. however, in terms of function and security, there really is no comparison.
A good thermal carafe can retain heat for many, many hours, and also store iced drinks at a cold temperature for some time.
does design matter?
If you are going to use the pitcher in everyday family life, or in an office, I recommend that you buy the most practical pitcher.
however, if you’re using it for hosting, then you’ll probably want to pay a little more attention to design aesthetics.
thermic carafes range from industrial to elegant. be sure to choose one that suits the occasion you have in mind.
As a general rule of thumb, also consider that the fancier the carafe, the more care you’ll need to take with cleaning and maintenance.
See also: The Best Camping Mugs of 2022
