Review on ☕ Zojirushi Tuff Mug 12-Ounce/0.36-Liter Cinnamon Gold - Durable & Stylish Thermal Travel Mug by Elizabeth Lewis

Very elegant container - holds approx 500ml (e.g. Poland Springs 0.5L water bottle). I bought it in May 2013 so I've had it for over a year now and I'm happy with it. Read the instructions that come with the mug - the entire travel mug comes apart for thorough cleaning. The plastic ring on the bottle where you put your mouth actually lifts up and needs cleaning or you're drinking mold. I've dropped it a few times - the paint has chipped right where it's in the cup holder - but other than that it's worked fine. I can keep black coffee hot for 8 hours with no problem, and with the combination of cream and sugar, it gets very warm after 8 hours (obviously the cream cools the coffee). This bottle is made in Thailand and purchased from Amazon. If you happen to be in Japan, you can buy the same travel mug but made in Japan. I think the diameter is about 33.5 inches, which makes it very slim and fits perfectly in a pocket - even the outside pocket of a Filson computer case. The lid unscrews and I've never had a leak - of course don't try to pour a liter of coffee in - it only holds 0.5 litres. Traditional travel mugs come with a lid that you can drink from - not in this case. You must physically remove the lid and then you can drink from the canister with ease. It looks more like a small thermos than a travel mug. I have NO issues with this because cleaning the lid is something I hate about traditional travel mugs, so having to remove the lid isn't a big deal for me. Again, it's very comfortable to sit in the car - just be aware things can squirt out when you remove the lid. I ALWAYS hand wash the lid and the plastic ring/seal that holds your lips when you drink the contents of the mug. I have never put brushes in the container, just put them in the dishwasher. A couple of times I've let coffee with cream sit for 5 or 6 days and things get really nasty - you have to seal the canister. Put it in the dishwasher to clean it - maybe even run it a few times. I soak the lid (which disassembles into three pieces) and gasket (from the canister) in dish soap and hot water for 30 minutes, then wash them. If I'm itchy to wash it in the dishwasher, I'll use a paper towel, put some soap on it, slide it into the canister and shake it. I add cream to my coffee so it takes a bit more effort to clean than if the coffee was black, but it disappears very quickly (despite my long description) and cleans. I've been using it for cocktails lately and it works great. Some reviewers have noticed the smell - never noticed - but I clean this entire device every time I use it. I also wash with dish soap (Dawn) and rinse VERY WELL to get rid of the soap. What I don't like is that the inner surface of the canister is a non-stick surface. I want stainless steel. If you tend to stick the brush in, I suspect the surface has worn and I'm not sure I'd be tempted to drink from it at this point. Again, I have NEVER used a bottle brush to clean the interior. I will buy a stainless steel bottle of Snow Peak Kanpai (18 fl oz) (also more expensive) and compare the two products later.