Contigo West Loop Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug Review (Teacher's Gift Idea)Working with Santa in the mall during the holidays is really fun, but it’s also exhausting at times. Especially when I have to be there at 9:30 in the morning. I know, to most people, that’s actually a late start to the work day, but I’m not a morning person. I usually wake up at 8, take my son to the bus, come home and relax for an hour (by relax, I mean check into all the social networks and groups to which I belong), then get started on my writing for the day. Getting up, getting ready, leaving the house, and dealing with actual people that early is not something that I can even remotely handle without a lot of coffee. Of course, I’m way too broke these days to actually buy several cups of coffee at the mall. That’s why the Contigo 20 oz. West Loop Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug with AUTOSEAL rocks so much.

First of all, 20 ounces is a fairly decent amount of coffee. I fill it pretty much all the way up, and it lasts me until about lunch. Second, the insulated mug really keeps the coffee hot. I’m not picky about coffee in general, I’ll still drink it when it’s cooled to room temperature. But given the choice, I’d really prefer it hot. A tip though- make sure you put hot coffee into the mug. If it’s lukewarm, it will stay lukewarm. The mug doesn’t magically heat it up. If coffee isn’t your thing, it works great for cold beverages too.

One of my favorite features of the Contigo West Loop Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug is that it is pretty much completely spill-proof. Considering that I’m a total klutz, this is a major plus. You have to push the button to take a sip, and it automatically seals back up when you release it. The mug doesn’t fit in my car’s cup holders, so I just sit it on the passenger seat during the drive to work.

Ever since I reviewed the Kids Trekker Mug a few months ago, I’ve been a fan of Contigo. My son is still using that cup every day and it has held up perfectly. Contigo’s cups and mugs are made really well and built to last. I use mine every day, and so far it’s kept me caffeinated and able to deal with working mornings in retail (and the occasional screaming child who is scared of Santa).

The Contigo West Loop Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug would make a great gift for a teacher or bus driver too. To really make it special,  toss in a few gourmet tea bags or sampler bags of yummy coffee, and maybe a chocolate biscotti. The mug is available in a 16 oz size as well, and that size comes in several different colors and styles.

 

Contigo West Loop Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug Review (Teacher's Gift Idea)