One challenge that coffee and tea drinkers face is finding and maintaining the ideal beverage temperature. There’s a fine line between tongue-scorching warmth and lukewarm mediocrity. A temperature-control mug can solve this issue. And the Ember self-heating coffee mug is a fantastic solution for keeping your drink at the quintessential temperature. Learn why the Ember smart mug is a must-have for coffee and tea enthusiasts in our hands-on review!
What is the Ember Temperature Control Mug?
The Ember smart mug is a temperature-controlled coffee mug with app control. Onboard, there’s a battery with up to 1.5-hours of use on a single charge. It’s available in two different sizes, a 10oz. mug and a 14oz. option. The temperature-control ceramic mug can reach and maintain temperatures between 120°F and 145°F. IPX7 water resistance ensures that the Ember mug is fully submersible up to 1 meter deep for safe handwashing. An auto-sleep functionality conserves battery life. Ember’s self-heating coffee mug consists of three main components. First, the mug itself. Then, there’s a charging coaster. And finally, there’s an Ember companion app for Android and iOS.
Ember smart mug specs:
- Available in 10 oz. and 14 oz. sizes
- 1.5-hour battery life
- Reaches and maintains 120°F-145°F temperatures
- IPX7 water resistance – fully submersible up to 1 meter for safe handwashing
- Auto-sleep functionality for battery conservation
- Companion app for Android and iOS
Hands-on With the Ember Self-heating Coffee Cup
Getting started with the Ember mug is pretty simple. First, make sure to charge the Ember mug to 100%. With the Ember app downloaded, fire up the app and select your device. You can pick either Ember mug or the Ember travel mug. Now, put your smart coffee mug into pairing mode. Under Bluetooth devices, look for the Ember mug and select it. Then, walk through some basic configuration in the Ember companion app such as personalizing your LED light color.
Once the initial setup is complete, you can begin using Ember to keep your drinks hot. The smart coffee mug can reach and main temperatures ranging from 120°F to 145°F. You can select temperatures manually, or pick from several different presets in the Ember smart mug app. Various presets include latte at 131°F, cappuccino at 133°F, coffee at 135°F, green tea at 137°F, and green tea at 138°F. When the Ember ceramic self-heating coffee mug reaches its temperature destination, you’ll receive a push notification letting you know your beverage is ready for consumption.
The built-in heater is shockingly robust. Heating up a room temperature cup of coffee or tea takes just around an hour depending on your desired temperature. In addition to various heating presets, you can select your own custom temperature. And the Ember app is surprisingly good. Not only is it simple to navigate and use, but it’s chock-full of features. A tea timer lets you track how long you’re steeping your tea. Aside from green tea, black tea, and herbal tea timer presets, you can create a custom timer.
I tested out the 14 oz. Ember ceramic coffee mug which was perfectly-sized. Although the 10 oz. option is probably great, as a heavy coffee drinker, the 14 oz. model held enough coffee to safe me frequent trips back to the kitchen for a refill. It’s decidedly taller than the average coffee mug because of the battery located on the bottom of the cup. While the highlight of Ember is its ability to keep hot drinks such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate at an even, desired temperature, it works perfectly well as a “dumb” mug too.
Is the Ember Mug Worth it?
Although the concept of a self-heating coffee mug may seem a bit unnecessary, the Ember mug is totally worth it. Especially for sippers, Ember is a great choice for keeping hot beverages warm, and moreover at a desired temperature. In the mornings, I prefer to make a large French press or pour over of coffee and enjoy it for a couple of hours rather than gulping it down. With the Ember mug, I avoid lukewarm coffee. Additionally, a notification when my mug hits my preferred temperature of 135°F for black coffee, I know it’s safe to drink without scalding my tongue, a mistake I’ve made often in my haste to get some caffeine bound to my adenosine receptors.
Battery life is pretty decent. I’m able to get about two or three mugs worth of coffee downed at a modest pace before Ember needs a recharge. Though battery life could be somewhat improved, that would require a larger bottom-located battery and accordingly a heavier mug. As is, Ember remains heavy enough to feel durable but not so hefty that it’s uncomfortable to lift. Over the course of my extensive testing, I only ever had one issue with my Ember smart mug failing to connect, and that was easily solved by simply rebooting my phone.
The 10 oz. mug clocks in around $99 normally, with the 14 oz. Ember mug typically retailing for $129. As such, you’ll pay a premium for a smart mug. Provided that you’ll actually utilize its self-heating functionality, it’s nevertheless a good investment. Unfortunately, the Ember Mug isn’t dishwasher safe. While that should be expected considering its built-in and non-removable battery, it’s worth noting. Still, with IPX7 water resistance, the Ember smart ceramic coffee mug is completely safe to handwash and submersible up to 1 meter.
Is the Ember smart mug an absolute need? Perhaps not. But is it an excellent way to avoid room temperature drinks, and to brew the perfect cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa? Absolutely. If you’re a big coffee or tea drinker that prefers to enjoy a beverage over the course of the morning or afternoon, Ember is a solid drinking vessel.
Ember Smart Mug Review – Final Thoughts
While I predicted I’d appreciate the convenience of a smart mug, I didn’t expect to be wowed. However, Ember has quickly become my go-to coffee receptacle. I like the ability to set my preferred temperature which Ember keeps my coffee at for the morning. Particularly since my French press isn’t insulated and therefore cools off to room temperature quickly, the self-heating capability is a great solution. If, like me, you’re a coffee or tea enthusiast, you should make room for an Ember smart mug in your cupboard.
Ember Mug
Pros
- Heats up quickly to between 120°F-145°F - warms room temperature beverages up in about an hour
- IPX7 water resistance, submersible in up to 1 meter of water for safe handwashing
- Good battery life
- Easy to use
- Great companion app
Cons
- Battery life could be a bit longer
- Somewhat expensive
- Not dishwasher safe
Recent Comments