- Look for a Pump-Top Thermos – If you drink several cups of coffee a day but don’t have access to a coffee maker at work or on the road, consider a pump-top thermos. These contraptions are the bigger thermoses that hotels often use to keep coffee warm on tables during meetings and other long events. The coffee stays piping hot for a few hours at a time, and can hold enough java to keep even the most dedicated drinker satisfied.
- Invest in a Thermal Cup or Mug – This may be a more traditional way to stave off the chill when it comes to your brew, but it is a tried and true way to keep your coffee warm enough to drink for a few hours longer than it would in a regular cup. You can find these insulated travel cups in a variety of decorative themes and styles, so you’re sure to find one that perfectly complements your personal style.
- Put a Cozy on Your Cup – Coffee shops pass out those little cardboard sleeves to keep your hands from burning after coming into contact with a thin paper cup filled with boiling brew, but they’re also handy little insulators. If you want to mimic this effect without sending more cardboard through a recycling facility, why not whip up a few of your own with felt, fabric or by knitting a functional and funky cup cozy?
- Spring For Over-sized Metal Coffee Beans – Designed to look like over-sized coffee beans that keep your morning cup of joe piping hot, jumbo metal coffee beans are a fun and effective way of avoiding cold coffee.
- Reheat in the Microwave – Sometimes all of your efforts to keep your coffee warm will come to naught. In such cases, the microwave is your best friend. If you’re on the road, you can often stop at a gas station with a microwave and reheat your coffee. Just don’t put it in for too long, or you’ll regret it. You don’t want to have to wait an hour before you can drink your coffee because you overheated it!
- Keep a Hot Plate On Hand – A hot plate is a viable option, but you’ll want to be careful because it often makes the coffee a little too hot. Be aware of the possibility of burns. Also, you don’t want to leave the hot plate on when you are not in the room, as it can be a dangerous situation. Never put a metal mug on a hot plate. This can burn your skin upon touch.
- Wrap Your Cup in a Scarf – If you’re really in a pinch on a cold day, take your scarf and wrap it around your coffee mug or thermos to give it a little extra insulation. If you don’t have a scarf handy, you can use almost anything with layers of fabric. The more layers you have, the warmer the coffee will stay.
- Put Your Heated Seat to Work – If you have heated seats in your car and your coffee is getting a little on the cool side, put the seat on the highest setting and set your coffee mug on it, carefully. It probably will not be able to reheat your coffee if it’s gotten cold, but it should keep it drinkable and warm.
- Make Your Heating Pad Do Double Duty – When you’re traveling a lot, it’s not uncommon to suffer from back pain as a result of spending too much time in the car. So why not utilize that back warming pad in more ways than one? When it’s not being used to soothe your aching back, wrap it around your coffee mug to keep your coffee tasty and hot.
- Use a Candle Warmer – If you don’t have a hot plate handy, a candle warmer can do the trick just as well. Place the cup on the warmer, as long as the cup you’re using isn’t a plastic or synthetic material that’s prone to melting. In no time, your coffee will be warm once again. As with any open coil appliance, do not leave the candle warmer unattended.
The way you heat your coffee will depend on how long you want it to stay warm. No matter which way you choose, your coffee can stay drinkable while you’re on the run if you’re prepared.