Tea Mugs, Cups and Tumblers

Picking one cup to brew in is smaller than choosing a whole tea set, but it still comes down to a few real questions: do you want the leaves loose or bagged, is this cup staying on a desk or coming with you, and do you want it doing double duty as an infuser as well as a mug. This page walks through the main styles on offer so you can match the cup to how you actually drink your tea.

Insulated double-wall mugs and cups

A double-wall build traps air between two layers of ceramic, so the tea inside stays hot for longer while the outside stays comfortable to hold, even without a handle getting in the way. These don't come with a built-in infuser, so they suit teabags, or loose leaf brewed in a separate infuser or strainer and then poured in. They're a good everyday choice for a desk or kitchen counter where you want something that looks a bit more considered than a standard mug.

Double-wall cups with a built-in infuser

This style takes the same double-wall idea and adds an interior ledge that holds an infuser basket in place, so the leaves steep right in the cup and lift out cleanly when you're done. It's a tidy way to brew loose leaf tea one cup at a time without extra kit cluttering the counter, and it suits anyone who wants to smell and watch delicate leaves open up as they brew.

Porcelain cup and mug infuser sets

These pair a porcelain cup or mug with a separate stainless steel infuser you drop the leaves into before filling with hot water. The process is about as simple as loose leaf brewing gets: fill, steep, lift the infuser out. They come in colourful finishes, so they also work well as a gift for someone who's curious about loose tea but hasn't settled on a routine yet.

Classic ceramic mugs

For drinkers who mostly reach for a teabag, a plain ceramic mug is still the simplest option. These come in solid colours outside with a silky white porcelain interior, and both are dishwasher and microwave safe, which matters if this is going into daily rotation at home or in an office kitchen. The brown mugs come as a set of four, so they're a practical pick if you're stocking a shared cupboard rather than replacing a single mug.

Glass mugs

A clear borosilicate glass mug lets you see the tea itself: the colour as it steeps, or the leaves unfurling if you're brewing loose in a separate infuser. It's sturdy despite being light, and it's dishwasher and microwave safe, so it fits an everyday routine just as easily as the ceramic options, just with a different look on the shelf.

Portable tea tumblers

If the cup needs to leave the house, a portable tumbler is built for that: a stainless steel infuser sits inside double-walled borosilicate glass, with a handle that moves out of the way for easier carrying. It's the option to reach for if you want to brew loose leaf tea at your desk one day and take it in the car the next, rather than switching between a home mug and a travel cup.

How to choose

• Loose leaf or bags: if you drink loose tea, look for a cup or tumbler with a built-in infuser rather than adding a separate one later.
• Staying put or travelling: desk and kitchen cups can be double-wall ceramic or glass; a tumbler with a handle is the one built for moving around.
• Care: the ceramic mugs and the glass mug are dishwasher and microwave safe, worth checking if that matters for your routine.
• One cup or a set: most of these are single cups, but the brown ceramic mugs come as a set of four, useful for a shared kitchen.

Questions people ask

Do I need a separate infuser if I buy one of these?

Only for the plain double-wall and ceramic mugs and the glass mug, none of which include one. The infuser sets and the tumbler already have a stainless steel infuser built in or included.

Can these go in the dishwasher?

The black and brown ceramic cups and the glass mug are described as dishwasher and microwave safe. Check the care details on infuser sets before assuming the same, since the metal infuser may need handwashing.

What's the real difference between the "cup" and "mug" versions?

Where both exist, such as the double-wall range, the cup and mug share the same double-wall design and sizing. The choice mostly comes down to which shape and handle style you'd rather hold.

Are any of these good for teabags as well as loose tea?

Yes. The double-wall mugs and cups, the ceramic mugs, and the glass mug don't include an infuser, so they work just as well with a teabag as with loose leaf brewed separately.