Any links to online stores should be assumed to be affiliates. The company or PR agency provides all or most review samples. They have no control over my content, and I provide my honest opinion.
Ember has been around for a few years now, being the worlds first and only temperature control mug.
I have always read good things about them, but the relatively high price has always made me reluctant to commit.
I am a bit of a coffee addict, consuming far too much, but with work being crazy the past year, I often find myself forgetting about my coffee and having the unpleasant experience of drinking cold coffee without realising it.
I have finally now got an Ember, and it is their latest Mug 2 in a beautiful copper colour, but is it worth the money?
Specification / Features
- Size: 295ml (10 oz) and 400ml (14 oz)
- Battery: 90mins for 295ml or 80mins for 400ml
- Temperature Range: 120°F – 145°F (50°C – 62.5 °C). Select your temperature on the mug or with the Ember app.
- Smart LED: Indicates when the beverage has reached its perfect temperature and more.
- IPX7 rated, but it is recommended to only handwash this
- Colours:
- Copper, Rose, Gold, Stainless Steel
- Grey, White, Black
Ember Mug 2 vs Ember Mug 1 Differences
The biggest difference with the Ember Mug 2 is that the battery life has been significantly improved from 60 mins to 90mins.
It also looks like the charging coaster has been redesigned to be slightly smaller.
Then, the new range also comes in the metallic range of colours which I have been using.
Design & Mouth Feel With Metallic
The cup itself looks fantastic in the copper colour and a
With this being battery powered, you have a thicker than normal bottom, but it doesn’t to much size to the overall cup.
One concern I had about the Ember was that the metallic material would have an unpleasant mouthfeel or even metallic taste in comparison to porcelain. Tapping the side of the mug gives off a metallic sound rather than metal colour plastic or porcelain. However, the overall drinking experience is the same as a normal coffee mug.
App
Amazingly and ridiculously, the mug has a dedicated app. I even had to update the firmware when I first connected.
There is certainly no need to use the app, but it is worth it if you want to set the temperate for your drink.
The app itself has terrible reviews, and I can confirm that the experience is not pleasant. The mug regularly disconnects, and I was unable to switch between Fahrenheit to Celcius. It is not a major issue, though, the default temperature is set for coffee, and I assume most people will need to set it once then not bother again.
Performance / Battery
When I first received the mug, I never really considered the battery life, I just assumed it would keep my coffee warm for ages. In hindsight, that was a poor assumption because heating things uses loads of energy.
The Ember Mug 2 is rated for 90 mins. Depending on your style of drinking, this should be more than enough. I, however, use a filter machine with an insulated jug and chug through about a litre of coffee in the morning.
Normally I get through my first cup of coffee quickly, but by the end of that, the caffeine is kicking in, and my productivity picks up, and I inevitably get distracted by work. This is when I’d normally get a cold cup of coffee halfway through. I then get furious about having to trek all the way down to the kitchen to microwave my coffee, wasting precious minutes during my most/only productive time of the day. Ember has eliminated that, and therefore I love it.
However, as it normally takes me a few hours to finish off my massive jug, I will run out of battery if I don’t remember to place the cup back on its coaster. I have therefore adjusted my behaviour and now place the coaster in front of my so I naturally place the cup there.
I assume I am not a normal user, and if you have a couple of cups of coffee in the morning, I would expect the battery is more than capable of keeping things warm.
Ember Mug Price and Alternative Options
The Ember Mug² in a metallic colour is £129.95 for the smaller mug or £149.95 for the larger.
Full range of colours available direct from Ember
The standard colours are then £99.95 for the smaller mug and £129.95 for the larger.
Ember also does a travel mug with 355ml capacity, which will keep your drink at the correct temperature for 3 hours and costs £179.95.
There isn’t really any direct competition. The only similar options are mugs that lack heating themselves but heat up via a coaster. I have previously tried a mug that does this, and I found they were a bit rubbish. They are a lot cheaper, though:
POWERGIANT Coffee Mug Warmer – Well reviewed, doesn’t include a mug and is not as attractive as Ember for under £25
COSORI Coffee Mug Warmer & Mug Set – this looks to be the best alternative option and comes with a mug designed to perform as well as possible with the heating plate. Not very attractive though and costs £39.99
Overall
The Ember Mug 2 is most definitely a luxury purchase for people with first world problems. Spending £130 on an app-controlled battery powered coffee cup seems insane, but I love it.
For me, I could argue that the time I now save from reheating my coffee in the microwave will easily justify the cost of the Ember over the next year.
This is the sort of thing that would make a perfect Christmas gift for someone that loves tech but already has everything, but also any busy professionals with a bad habit of forgetting about their brew.
Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2 Review Rating
Summary
An app-controlled, battery-powered smart mug that costs £130 may seem absolutely ridiculous, but I love it. it will genuinely save me time from regularly reheating my forgotten about coffee, which therefore justifies the expense. This is also the sort of tech item that would make a perfect Christmas gift next month.
Overall
85%-
Overall - 85%85%
Pros
- Reliably keeps your drink warm without needing to remember to place it on the coaster
- 90 mins battery should be plenty for most people
- Metallic copper colour looks great
Cons
- Expensive
- Poor app
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
