5. Use a fun cup and reusable straw.
If you still need that little extra motivation to keep your coffee-making in-house, I’ve found that using a fun tumbler for my iced coffee can help me curb the temptation to go out and buy one that comes in an ugly to-go cup. Plus, preventing another plastic cup from entering a landfill helps put my mind at ease. If you have a favorite tumbler from the office and you happen to be working from home, take it out of your cabinet. If none of your cups are inspiring you, check out our winning travel mug that will keep your iced coffee, well, iced.
Or, if you’re starting from square one and want the whole package, for the holidays, my family gifted me an iced coffee maker, which includes a reusable tumbler. The tumbler comes with super helpful measurement lines on the side to make sure I use a suitable amount of water for brewing and the correct amount of ice to ensure the perfect ratio of ice to coffee. This coffee maker uses a similar strategy as Japanese-style flash brewed coffee, using the tumbler for the perfect coffee-to-water ratio and then brewing the hot coffee over ice, with none of the dilution. And now that we’ve gotten to know each other, I think you know that this was my favorite gift from the holiday season.
But, if you find yourself still missing your favorite coffee place, and seeking a little bit of nostalgia, a lot of them sell branded tumblers that you can use at home. They usually come in different seasonal colors, have cool designs, and are relatively good quality. And you can say hi to your favorite barista when you stop in! It will remind you of your old stomping grounds while you’re sipping a homemade beverage that tastes just as good.
Hero photo: Uraiwon Samatiwat / Getty Images