Many gadgets get the ‘smart’ moniker added without much justification, but not the Ember Smart Mug. This super-intelligent drinking vessel is American business magnate Jeff Bezos' favorite smart mug for a reason.
In a conversation with Vogue, Lauren Sánchez stated: 'Wherever they are, there’s the same agreement: Whoever gets up first, that person makes the other person coffee,' she says. Bezos takes his black or with Laird Hamilton’s superfood nondairy creamer, in a self-warming Ember mug.'
So what is so special about this so-called smart mug? We've all experienced pain at either end of the heat scale when it comes to our daily mugs of coffee and tea. It either blisters out tongues from being too hot, or it is left unattended for too long to go stone cold. Well not anymore – this expensive drinking vessel can be programmed to stay at the desired temperature, will let you know via LED or app alert when it reaches this level, and even comes with a handy charging saucer so you are never caught short.
But it is as good as they say? I put it to the test, and the short answer is yes. What's more, the Ember Black Friday sale on Amazon means you can invest in one for less.
Shop Ember deals
Say goodbye to tepid tea!
This is the same mug that I have and now couldn't live without. Controlling the Ember Cup is a breeze, thanks to its paired app. Dial in your chosen temperature, set presets for different coffee types, and receive notifications when your brew is drinkable.
As you’d expect from the price, this is no ordinary travel mug: made from stainless steel with a ceramic outer and coated in soft-touch silicone for a non-slip grip, its 355ml drink carrying capacity is supplemented by a 360° non-leak lid, and plenty of onboard smarts. For one thing, it comes with its own microprocessor-controlled heating system that’ll keep your favorite beverage warm for up to three hours.
This travel option has replaced my trustworthy Contigo, which I have used for numerous years, it is that good.
This small 6oz coffee (or tea) cup offers extended battery life to keep your drink at your preferred temperature (between 120°F – 145°F) for up to 90 minutes on a full charge or all day on its charging coaster. It is the perfect gift.
Clever app-controlled mugs, such as the Ember Mug 2, can be used at home or in the office, but allow you to set a custom constant temperature for your coffee, not only meaning you can enjoy your brew from first sip to last drop, but you can choose the exact temperature, between 50-62.5°C, that you like to drink it at.
Brilliant, right? And yes, it works as expected, especially for the arguably hefty price tag. The 10oz version that I have, when tested, lasted for up to 1.5 hours – a period even a procrastinating coffee drinker like myself would struggle to not have finished within.
Your coffee (or tea – I like my green tea to maintain a consistent drinking temperature of 135˚F (57˚C) will never be too hot or too cold with this nifty device. It might seem like a gimmick. But it works exactly as described and I no longer feel the need to hover at the tea point every half hour trying to make a cup of joe, or wasting numerous cups of undrunk tea because I had to step away from my desk. I am the envy of the office.
If you are investing in the best coffee maker, your brew deserves the best mug to drink it from, and going for a heated option will ensure it tastes better for far longer.
For me, the Ember Mug only has one negative – it is not dishwasher safe – but as it is so easy to clean, it shouldn't massively impact your daily routine. The
