DIY Insulated Mug

Take your own coffee to work with you.

Brewing your own coffee and taking it on the bus or train to work with you, rather than buying a takeout from a coffee shop, can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars every year. But, especially in in winter time, you want your coffee hot from door to door. A few household materials will allow you to adapt an existing cup into a well-insulated drinking vessel. Does this Spark an idea?

Print this article

Baby training cup
Craft knife
Stove
Cork mat
Large metal mug
Silver foil
Duct tape
Super glue
Silver foil
Bubblewrap
Strong elastic bands

Instructions

- 1
  
  Heat the blade of the knife on the stove and cut the handles off the training cup. Cut a circle of cork mat half the radius of the training cup. Stick the circle to the bottom of the training cup with super glue.
- 2
  
  Cut a ring from the cork mat. The inside should be the diameter of of training cup, the outside the diameter of the metal cup. Slide the ring around the training cup, position it level with the top of the cup, just below the thread where the lid screws on. Glue in place.
- 3
  
  Wrap the training cup in two layers of foil with the shiny side facing inwards. Wrap tightly and tape the foil in place with duct tape. It can help to tape the edge of the foil to the cup, then wrap it before taping down the free edge of the foil. Leave the cork exposed.
- 4
  
  Wrap the cup in two layers of bubble wrap and tape in place. Place the training cup in the metal cup. Stick the bottom of the cork circle to the bottom of the cup and stick the edges of the cork ring to the inside of the metal cup. Make sure the glue is strong and stuck firm.
- 5
  
  Fill with hot coffee, screw the lid on the training cup and time how long the cup can keep your drink warm for. Add extra insulation by wrapping bubble wrap over the lid while leaving the spout exposed and taping in place.
- 6
  
  Snap strong elastic bands around the cup from top to bottom. This will make double sure that the lid does not unscrew and spill your coffee.