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Ember Mug², 14 oz
Ember Mug², 14 oz
If your wake-up routine relies on a cup of coffee or tea, listen up. Those first steaming-hot sips are bliss, but then life and science come into play, and before you know it, your perfectly hot drink is a tepid, lukewarm brew (faster if you add dairy). So you zap your mug in the microwave (which likely results in bitter, astringent coffee) or quickly drink it down before it gets any cooler. Neither is very appealing. Smart mugs, which often work with a smartphone app, can reportedly keep a hot beverage at a specific temperature for an extended period of time.
Ember Mug², 14 oz
WINNER - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
This smart mug is simple to set up and easy to use, and when used with its app, it is the most accurate model we tested. It kept coffee at the temperatures we set for an average of 70 minutes and within our ideal temperature range of 130 to 160 degrees for an average of 90 minutes. We liked that the app sent an alert when the coffee had reached our set temperatures. It charged in just 2 hours, one of the shortest charging times in our lineup. We also liked its built-in safety features; it automatically “sleeps” when it’s empty or after 2 hours of inactivity. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can still use this mug: It’s programmed to maintain a temperature of 135 degrees, though when we tested this function the temperature remained closer to 130 degrees.
We maintain strict objectivity in all testing.*
CLEANUP AND DURABILITY ★★★
EASE OF USE ★★★
PERFORMANCE ★★★
KEY: GOOD ★★★ FAIR ★★ POOR ★
DETAILS
Includes: 1 Ember Mug², 2 charging coasters
Capacity: 14 fl oz
Materials: Stainless steel, ceramic
Charging Time: Approximately 2 hours
Adjustable Temperature: Yes, with Ember smartphone app
Temperature Range: 120–145°F
Item Number: ATKEMBR
Item Weight: 2.6 pounds
SHIPPING
How We Tested Smart Mugs
We tested three models of smart mugs. Two models were made of ceramic-coated stainless steel and one was made of bone china. All were priced from about $79 to about $165. In addition to evaluating their ability to keep our coffee at the perfect temperature, we considered how easy the mugs were to set up and noted if they were comfortable to hold, pleasant to drink from, durable, and easy to clean.
Winning Traits
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Keeps coffee within 2 to 3 degrees of set temperature
- Keeps coffee above 130 degrees Fahrenheit for longer than an hour when fully charged and removed from charging coaster
- Long-lasting battery
- Mug is made from durable ceramic-coated stainless steel
- Smartphone app is easy to use and is compatible with iOS and Android
- Easy to clean
- Resists stains, odors, and chipping
* OBJECTIVITY FIRST, LAST, AND ALWAYS.
America’s Test Kitchen does not accept advertising and conducts equipment tests without the knowledge of product manufacturers. Exclusive equipment offers are sourced only after the test results have been published in our magazines and on our websites.