Coffee Carrying Happiness

[7rider]

Well, after 5 years as a coffee drinking bike commuter, I think I have finally hit upon a bottle/holder combination that works for me.

Generally, I'd use a basic coffee flask (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30176941) in a basic alloy bottle cage (http://www.rei.com/product/735868/topeak-shuttle-waterbottle-cage-al). I'd wrap the flask in an old sock to keep it from rattling. It worked okay, but lately, my flask has been growing some creeping crud in the opening that no amount of scrubbing could un-do. Time to retire it and get something new/better. But what?

Browsing through my local REI (always bad as we invariably come away with much more than we went in to buy. "Did you find everything you need?" a sales associate would ask. "Why yes...and a whole lot more stuff we didn't even know we needed!"), I came across this little gem - the Topeak Modular Java Cage (http://www.rei.com/product/814984/topeak-modula-java-cage). I paired it up with a new 16 oz. flask (http://www.rei.com/product/811180/rei-bullet-vacuum-bottle-05-liter) and this morning's ride was blissfully silent of rattling coffee flasks. The cage is adjustable so it will fit just about anything I need in there - those travel mugs, tumblers or even my vacuum flask. The flask doesn't have that pop-top to pour, so it should (hopefully) avoid the creeping crud issues of other types. So...all of this should in theory last me a long time - much longer than the cost outlay (Thank You MIL for the b'day gift!) if I were buying a daily cuppa joe at the coffee shop across the street.

Yay. Happy coffee drinking time!

[Trek420]

Also available right here on TE :) for $1.00 less :rolleyes:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodTO_TMD07B.html

[jessmarimba]

You just made my day. Seriously.

Bell makes a little coffee cup holder for something like $5.95, only I haven't been able to find it ANYWHERE (not even online!!). And boy, have I been looking. All of these online reports of what wal-marts carry them...I loathe wal-mart but have religiously checked every one I've seen. Nada.

And you...you enabler...you bringer of coffee cup heaven....have not only found a way to transport coffee, but you've done it at a store that I have a gift card for!!

Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!! :p

[jessmarimba]

...alright Trek, now I'll feel guilty if I get it at REI. I'll start saving.

[7rider]

Also available right here on TE :) for $1.00 less :rolleyes:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodTO_TMD07B.html

Yeah, that's great. But it was in my hands at the time so I could try it out, plus I get a % back as a member, and no shipping no waiting! ;)

[Trek420]

...alright Trek, now I'll feel guilty if I get it at REI. I'll start saving.

Bwaa hah hah. Don't worry, I'm just doing that for TE :p

[Velocivixen]

I love this combo.! Thanks for sharing.

[TsPoet]

Great find, but IMHO, you've got the wrong bottle! I've been using this for years, the pop-top is invaluable and it keeps coffee hot hot hot.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K604P0
It fits in a regular bike water bottle holder, I suspect it'll fit in that coffee one even better!

[Mama Coosa]

That's cool as hell.

[Becky]

I just bought this cage- 7's glowing review convinced me. I can't wait to ride to work without a) rattling or b) having to put my coffee in my pannier.

My Livestrong mug (http://www.amazon.com/Livestrong-Chantal-Stainless-Steel-Travel/dp/B000VX7HO8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) fits great.

[Eden]

I have a Thermos brand "Backpacker Bottle" - it totally rocks. I made a neoprene sleeve for it to keep it from rattling and put it in my regular bottle cage. I'm a tea drinker, not coffee, but this thermos will keep my tea piping hot for literally hours, even when it's down in the 30's and 40's outside. It has a button actuated top. I can even use it on the go, as long as I don't latch it.

(ha - I clicked on TsPoet's link and it is the same bottle :) )

[WindingRoad]

My personal favorite for drinking my coffee on the bike, this would work nicely with that topeak mount:

http://www.brookstone.com/contigo-autoseal-west-loop-20-oz-travel-mug?bkeid=compare|channeladvisor|shopping|datafeed

[tzvia]

I haven't used anything other than water on my rides to work, but am now looking into something to hold my hot tea and the suggestions here look good.

But for that creepy looking growing stuff... I regularly fill my bottles with warm water, drop a denture cleaner tablet in and let it sit for 20 minutes or so. Cleans, kills bacteria and removes any lingering smell from my electrolyte drinks, so I haven't had to toss any bottles due to aliens growing in it, or funny smells. I get the denture cleaner at the .99c store so it is cheap to do.

[withm]

My personal favorite for drinking my coffee on the bike, this would work nicely with that topeak mount:

http://www.brookstone.com/contigo-autoseal-west-loop-20-oz-travel-mug?bkeid=compare|channeladvisor|shopping|datafeed

Oh I do like that one. Thanks for posting. I just added it to my Amazon wish list to buy for my sister's birthday. She will love it.

[climbergirl]

My personal favorite for drinking my coffee on the bike, this would work nicely with that topeak mount:

http://www.brookstone.com/contigo-autoseal-west-loop-20-oz-travel-mug?bkeid=compare|channeladvisor|shopping|datafeed

I'll third the contigo coffee cups. I've gone through 3 of them in the last 4 years (I have a bad tendency to leave them on buses or at friend's houses on opposite sides of the country!)

I can even toss these things in my bag or backpack and not worry about them leaking! Love 'em!

[7rider]

I'll third the contigo coffee cups.

That does look like a nice one.
20 oz vs. 16 means...um...more coffee for me! :D DH can't wonder why I left him "so much" coffee in the pot anymore! LOL!

Can you drink right out of it? I pour my coffee into a mug at work - as I don't care to drink out of those little caps my thermos has (too small) - but if this is vacuum sealed, leak proof, AND you can drink right from it - that means one less thing to wash. Yay!

[7rider]

But for that creepy looking growing stuff... I regularly fill my bottles with warm water, drop a denture cleaner tablet in and let it sit for 20 minutes or so. Cleans, kills bacteria and removes any lingering smell from my electrolyte drinks, so I haven't had to toss any bottles due to aliens growing in it, or funny smells. I get the denture cleaner at the .99c store so it is cheap to do.

This works great for plastic water bottles and Camelbak bladders. The "creeping crud" I referred to in my first post was in the pop-top of a insulated stainless steel thermos. I took it apart several times and scrubbed with various what-nots, but frankly the level of effort I kept putting into keeping the thing clean was getting to be a hassle. The staining and general icky-ness wouldn't go away with any amount of soaking. Plus, my constantly taking it apart was making the top start to leak, as I don't think they ever intended it to be taken apart frequently like I did.

[climbergirl]

Can you drink right out of it? I pour my coffee into a mug at work - as I don't care to drink out of those little caps my thermos has (too small) - but if this is vacuum sealed, leak proof, AND you can drink right from it - that means one less thing to wash. Yay!

Yep, it's got a spring loaded trigger button on one side of the lid that opens a little drinking spigot (not sure what else to call it?) at the other side. One-handed operation FTW!

Also, if you stay on top of rinsing it right after use (especially if you favor cream in your coffee or mocha-type drinks), their not too bad about the creeping crud. I've occasionally cleaned mine with q-tips in the hard-to-reach-bits when I've forgotten and left coffee+ in it.

Also, contigo makes water bottles that are BEYOND awesome.

http://www.amazon.com/Contigo-AUTOSEAL-Water-Bottle-Ounces/dp/B003KZKDRW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325562588&sr=8-1