I used to get these from Costco Business for pretty cheap — my model was the 2.2L Crestware (stainless steel exterior, glass interior) and it worked perfectly for a whole 1.89L of TJ's spiced cider or two bottles of mulled wine.
These are a god-send at events. Make hot cider and mulled wine in advance on the stove and serve them in thermal carafes on a beverage table.
Keeps people out of the kitchen, no need to use messy ladles, or keep a burner on low, or struggle to get the last inch out of the pot.
This is also great if you're hosting an event without access to a kitchen, or without access to a stove. If you're serving a crowd, I also recommend putting a backup supply of cider or mulled wine in an Instant Pot (for Rice & Bone Broth) on "warm" with the lid on, which is actually a pretty great temperature for then refilling your airpot.
(This is also good for working in an office—first person makes a pot of coffee and then pours it in here for people to drink until it runs out and then you literally rinse and repeat. Prevents cold coffee and burnt coffee.)
I have a few recommendations for Thermal mugs, but at an event where you don’t have enough to go around, I would try paper insulated “ripple cups.” They don’t need sleeves and they’re stylistically fun.
A few notes:
- I wouldn’t go larger than 8oz. The Airpot is keeping things so hot that it makes more sense to refill if you want more. 4oz is very cute, and good for trying something or even having something boozy, but 6oz is probably more practical. (If you need lids, your options may be more limited because manufacturers are trying to keep their lids uniform and that means even their 8oz cup feels very “wide mouth”)
- You may need to gently pull them apart before putting them on the table: twist in the direction of the ripple.
- I’ve seen reports of them smoldering/burning in the microwave, so maybe have a setup for pouring into something else to reheat. 🔥😬
- In small numbers they can be pricey (but buying a ton before you’ve tested them can also end up being expensive). The different colors are often priced differently and there is another Amazon listing for cups with lids which can (surprisingly) be a better deal.