I sometimes have a cup of green tea before bed; on a cold or stressful day, coffee is the best thing to have. It's decaffeinated, of course, due to my anxiety.

Jeanette Isabelle

If anyone's looking for an easy way to keep some instant coffee on hand, you could try Starbucks' Via travel mug. It stores 6 packs of their Via instant coffee in the base of the mug; its actually a pretty slick system.

I got one for Christmas and I have been using it for camping since it's an easy way to keep coffee on hand for when you're ready for that second or third cup.

It looks pretty convenient, and the coffee is yummy. I'd use it for a corporate event but I'm leary about taking it outdoors. I wonder about durability and breakability. how's it holding up?

Me too Sue! At a recent Scout leader camp, one of the other gearhead Scouters pulled out his fancy new, high tech mess kit. Someone commented on it so he pointed out all the newer, more expensive betterness about it. As he did, I pulled out the old pie plate I've been using for chow for 30 years. He laughed and suggested that trade up and move into the new millenium. I just smiled and said "mine's cheaper, the high sides make it multi-functional AND chef gave me twice as much chow because my plate is bigger than yours."

> I just smiled and said "mine's cheaper, the high sides to make it multi-functional AND chef gave me twice as much chow because my plate is bigger than yours."

That raised a grin!

Sue

Urban Survival Vest

> That raised a grin! <

Sue, a girl has to take advantage of every chance she gets to tell a guy "Mine's bigger than yours!"

I've only had it out a couple times so far but I haven't had any durability issues with it. It really only gets used when hanging around the campsite while having breakfast; so far something which doesn't appear to be too taxing on it.

Of course, now that this has been said, it will surely be destroyed on my next trip .

Knock on wood!!!

I LOVE my Starbucks travel mugs. I've got a few of an older series that never leak and seem indestructable. These ones just don't seem as tough. I am a klutz with klutz-prone kids so I have to consider these things.

I have a couple of the stainless steel Starbucks mugs and this Via one is definitely not as solid. I'd guess it's only the plastic outer body that holds the Via packets that is at risk of breaking though; the inner sleeve is still stainless steel.

Also, it doesn't hold quite as much coffee as the other Starbucks mugs I have nor does it keep the coffee warm for as long (I just noticed the site I linked to says its not insulated, which makes sense).