The brewer lid allows coffee to drip into the coffee maker during the brewing process and minimizes the heat loss holding the coffee. The brew lid is also a pour lid, so there's no need to take it off. If you use it properly, your coffee will stay warm for up to 1 hour. The travel lid of the coffee maker is used for keeping your drink warm for a longer time or for traveling with your carafe. It's a pour thru style, but you will need to loosen it by 1/ 4 to 1/2 to expose the pour spout within the lid.