Ceramic coating and stainless steel are both popular materials of travel mugs.Are you struggling to decide which material to choose for your business? Just stop here and listen to me. This article will analyze from five aspects and you will know which to choose to achieve better sales results.
Heat Retention
The mainstream manufacturing process of stainless steel travel mugs is Double-wall vacuum, which ensures excellent heat retention performance for them. Hot drinks can keep warm for six to twelve hours, and cold drinks can maintain the coolness for twelve to twenty-four hours.
The common ceramic travel mugs dissipate heat more quickly. The current mainstream craft is applying a ceramic coating on the inner wall of the stainless steel travel cup, which enables the mug to combine the advantages of ceramics with excellent heat retention properties. Its price is 20% to 30% higher than stainless steel travel mugs.
In one sentence, If your customers are sensitive to the price, choose stainless steel. If your products are targeted at high-end customers, the ceramic coating is your choice.
Durability and After-sales Cost
The ceramic coating is a little bit fragile so improper clean methods or metal products like spoons may cause damage to it. Even with careful maintenance, it still has the risk of peeling off on its own after being used for twelve to eighteen months.
As a result, although the exterior is made of stainless steel and will not break like ceramic mugs when bumped, still need to avoid bumps as possible.
But stainless steel is extremely tough and resistant to bumps and does not deform easily. This material of travel mugs have a long life span, usually between three years and five years or even longer. At the same time, it can withstand almost all kinds of cleaning methods.
In terms of durability, stainless steel is superior and it can also be seen that its after-sales cost is lower.
The influence on Taste
Ceramic coating is smooth and pore-free at the microscopic level that can preserve the original taste of the drinks and have no odor. That’s why many people, extremely seasoned coffee ritual, prefer to use ceramic mugs to make tea or coffee. In addition, it will not retain the taste of the drinks that were contained within.
Low-quality stainless steel may give off an unpleasant odor because of its rough surface. However, our products use BPA-free, food-grade 304/316 stainless steel materials, and the inner wall of the stainless steel is smooth and corrosion-resistant with electrolytic polishing.
So it hardly allows the liquid inside to pick up any odors. A small number of people who are highly sensitive to smells may still be affected.
Therefore, if your customers have an extremely high demand for the flavor of the drinks, the ceramics are the better choice with no doubt.
Styles and Customization
Since the ceramic coating is attached to the inner wall of the stainless steel travel mugs, there is almost no difference in appearance between the two. The only difference is the surface with ceramic coating appears white and ceramic texture.
Our stainless steel cups can present various styles by customizing the color and design. Stainless steel is suitable for laser engraving, screen printing, embossing and frosted logos, presenting a modern, professional and outdoor style.
If you are looking for purchase company gifts, or your brand emphasizes an outdoor aesthetic, stainless steel would be very suitable. We can also provide logo printing services for you.
There is no high or low aesthetic style, just choose the more suitable one to meet your needs. Or you can create your own product style by customizing the appearance.
Cost and MOQ
Due to the higher cost and more complex process of ceramics, the minimum order quantity (MOQ) will be higher. Moreover, due to the fragile nature of ceramic coating, more losses may occur during production and transportation, thus the overall cost is also higher.
The stainless steel is stable and the supply chain is more mature. And stainless steel is lighter than ceramic. So the cost and MOQ are usually lower than those of ceramics.
If cost-effectiveness is your top priority, then please don’t hesitate to choose stainless steel.
FAQ
Is the Ceramic Coating Safe?
Some low-quality ceramic coating may have harmful substances but our products meet the standard and are very safe. However, if the ceramic coating becomes worn or cracked, the safety will be compromised, even if they met the FDA or EU standards when they were manufactured.
Can I put a Ceramic Coating Travel Mug in the Dishwasher?
The ceramic coating products are not advised to put in the dishwasher because the coating may be damaged during the wash. You can also remind your customers not to touch the inner wall with a metal spoon or straw to avoid damaging the ceramic coating.
Which Material Has a Lower Return Rate?
Stainless steel.
Return reasons for ceramic mugs include poor heat retention, chipping/cracking during shipping or daily use, and coating peeling after dishwashing.
Stainless steel returns mainly come from “metallic taste”. But it can be solved by using high-grade 304 with electrolytic polishing or a ceramic coating liner.
Can you print my Logo on Stainless Steel Travel Mugs?
Of course. Kreat supports logo techniques including silk screen printing, laser engraving, embossing, and sublimation transfer.
What is the Typical MOQ for Custom Travel Mugs?
We offer a flexible, negotiable MOQ for wholesale orders. Send us your inquiry today—we’ll reply within 12 hours and provide you with excellent service.
Final Thoughts
Overall, stainless steel is the better choice for the majority of travel mugs’ applications.But if your customers care a lot about the taste, ceramics would be better.
Kreat is a travel mug manufacturer in China which has over 10 years experience. We can provide OEM service to meet your specific needs. If you want to know more or inquire about the quotation, welcome to contact us!
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