To get their products sold at Starbucks was no easy feat, Alexander said. There are no buttons or moving parts otherwise. A dial on the bottom allows users to set their preferred temperature on the mug. There is an optional mobile app that works in conjunction with the mug. Out of the box, the Ember mug needs to be charged one time. For a slow sipper like me, I don’t know how I’ve worked at home for this long without one.Ember temperature control mug on its charging base. It’s totally worth considering if you’re OK with the expense. Yes, it’s a lot of money for a mug (the matte ones go for a little less, $150), but it’s rare that something this techy works exactly as advertised. Both the original mugs and the metallic collection are sleekly designed, and the charging coaster on the Mug 2 was streamlined to be smaller and look more attractive.

I also found that adjusting the temperature on the app got it going, and my coffee was warm again in no time. In my case, these weren’t the issues.īut pouring in cold cream or milk can drop the temperature of a drink too quickly, tricking the sensors, so it’s best to stir in any cold liquid slowly. But after setting it aside, I realized the indicator light was off, meaning my drink wasn’t being kept warm.Ĭonfused, I turned to the Ember site and found a few possible reasons: pouring in liquids cooler than your set temperature can result in a false detection, and adding honey can block the heater if it sinks to the bottom. The next day, I made a regular cup of coffee and added a splash of cream. The first time I used the mug, I made a latte and had no trouble. When you’re not on the go, you can just set the mug on the coaster-like charging disk. The battery lasts 90 minutes, which means you can leave your desk for a quick meeting, mug in hand, and not worry about losing any heat. After a couple of minutes, the app alerted me that my desired setting had been reached and I could feel the (more palatable) difference when I took a sip.

I don’t like my drinks to be piping hot and found the default 57☌ to be a touch too high, so I lowered the temperature a couple of degrees. I was nursing a single cup for almost three and a half hours, and my coffee stayed perfectly warm and fresh-tasting the entire time. The Ember Mug 2 is equipped with four precision sensors that can detect when coffee or tea is being poured into it and regulate the temperature, while a built-in battery and heating system provide the actual warmth - and they deliver. It’s also completely safe to hand wash, and an indicator light lets you know when the mug is working or needs another charge. Out of the box, it’s set to 57☌ (considered an ideal average), so it’s ready to use after an initial charge, which takes about two hours. But even if you don’t have a smartphone, you can still use the mug.

Ember mugs are Bluetooth-enabled, so you can link up to an app on your phone and set your ideal temperature between 50☌ to 62.5☌. I recently tested out a 10-ounce Ember Mug 2 from the metallic collection ($180, amazon.ca), and here’s what I found. So, when I heard about Ember, a self-heating mug that promises to keep your beverage exactly as hot as you want it, I knew it could be the answer to my (admittedly very minor) problem.

Therein lies my problem: I drink at a leisurely pace and often pick up a cup only to be disgusted by the stale, tepid liquid that awaits me. Yes, it helps perk me up in the morning, but I also genuinely like the taste of a good brew and enjoy sipping on a cup while I work. When you make a purchase through the links in this article, we may earn a small commission. Our journalism is independent and not influenced by advertising.

Does ember mugs work