Ember Launches Smaller iPhone-Controlled Coffee Cup With Temperature Control

[Think|Different]

Sorry, I naysay'd this and got the (bigger) version as a Christmas gift and has since fallen in love with it. I rarely, if ever, open the app – not need since my coffee is typically the same. Weird people are saying this is not "solving anything" - that's correct, it's added convenience like 9/10 of most modern day consumer products.

 

[tweaknmod]

My first white mug did flake. However, my new one has no issues and I was told my Ember that they improved their manufacturing process a few years in. I have also been using a soft plastic spoon for three years on my current mug.

After reading a few comments here, I just reached out to Ember, and they're sending a replacement free of charge! They said the same to me about improving their processes.

Excellent support, and I will continue to recommend this product line

 

[marco114]

Oh look, over engineered thingy

 

[madrigal77]

I got a couple of metal coffee mugs called Reduce from Costco for $30 Canadian for two. They keep the coffee hot for a very long time. No app needed.

 

[icommutesf]

I wish Ember would actually MAKE a 14oz mug. What is advertised as 14oz only holds about 12oz, so WTF? I have both a 12oz travel and 14oz mug.

I do like Ember above other heated (e.g. Cauldron) or double walled cups. The key to the Ember is that the total time the coffee is at drinking temperature is far more than other types of non-heated mugs. If you look at a temperature graph over time, the Ember mug is non-linear in the temperature decay profile. It spends far more time in the drinking temperature range than even a double-walled mug. So while I agree that the first cup of the day goes down fast, the second and third cups take far longer to consume and thus, in a non-heated mug these tend to get cold along the way. With the Ember mug, it stays in the drinking zone for hours if it is on the charging pad, maybe an hour away working on just the battery. I do wish they would ACTUALLY make a larger mug and travel mug, 12oz is barely enough.

 

[dannyyankou]

$99.99 is the price of what the 10oz one used to be, and they bumped the price of that up to $129.99 I believe.

Don't get me wrong, I have an Ember mug and I love it. But that's quite a price hike. I know inflation has been bad, but not 33% bad.

 

[dannyyankou]

Why not just use an insulated mug with a lid? Like $20 or less…

Because those will just keep the coffee insanely hot, Ember mugs can quickly cool the coffee down to a specific temperature. I use both regular open mugs and an ember mug, and the ember mug cools it down quicker and keeps it at a specific temperature.

 

[maxoakland]

This is dumb and I hate it

 

[Jumpthesnark]

I literally created an account to say:
I hate this. I hate everything about it.

Welcome to the forums. I appreciate your reason for joining.

 

[4jasontv]

This reminds me of coozies. Who takes so long to drink something it drops to near ambient temperature.

 

[4jasontv]

Don't get me wrong, it's overpriced to be sure, but it solves at least a couple of problems:

• Slow drinkers wanting to keep their drink warm, without having to microwave it.
• Want to track how much you drink (HealthKit), such as the caffeine intake.

Sorry, I naysay'd this and got the (bigger) version as a Christmas gift and has since fallen in love with it. I rarely, if ever, open the app – not need since my coffee is typically the same. Weird people are saying this is not "solving anything" - that's correct, it's added convenience like 9/10 of most modern day consumer products.

If you take so long to drink coffee that it gets cold then you are brewing too much. Make less. Reheating coffee influences the flavor.

How does this track caffeine intake? Does it measure how much caffeine is in the drink?

 

[jav6454]

To keep it hit for a while it's a good thing, any longer? No.

 

[Return Zero]

One does not leisurely sip an espresso, one drinks it in seconds. If anyone expects to sip it slowly while standing at any counter in any cafe in Italy, you will be trampelled by the swarm of on their way to work locals who order, pay, drink and get out in under a minute.

One can drink their espresso at any speed they wish--however they enjoy it most. I would agree quickly is best for espresso, though.

This specific product does not appeal to me, as I drink mostly drip coffee and tea. On the topic of Ember in general... it's difficult to really understand the benefits until you own one. I have used one daily for almost 3 years (not a single issue, btw). This is not in the same category as a WiFi toothbrush or something stupid like that. It is a unique solution to real "problems" that most drinkers of hot beverages (which is the majority of the world) would actually appreciate if they gave it a chance.

Some say get an insulated thermos. The entire point of this thing is to let your coffee cool quickly to a perfect temp, then keep it in that sweet spot for good while. With a thermos, you either have to add ice (yuck), wait forever, or sip ever so slightly to not burn yourself. Also, drinking from open-top ware is far more enjoyable and sensory than drinking from anything with a lid. There's a reason you don't see wine connoisseurs drinking from a cooled thermos, and it's not just because it looks classier.

Some say get a heated coaster. A couple minutes of thinking through actual use cases proves this to be a completely invalid comparison. Can you take your heated coaster into a conference room at work? Can you curl up with it on a couch while you watch TV? Please.

In my humble opinion, if you're picky about hot drinks, an Ember is absolutely worth it. There is also no other product which does the same thing, or does it anywhere near as well (that I'm aware of). Yes the app can be buggy, but once you get your temp set you never have to fiddle with the app again anyways. It's all automatic and works magically well.

 

[samcraig]

Ember is best used for people who don't drink their coffee quickly - or get on a call and come back to coffee that's no longer hot. A smaller version seems even sillier to me. I have two (corporate gifts) and like them, but it's not something I would buy for myself.

 

[=Alb=]

Utile come un brufolo sul culo. (sorry can't translate)

 

[Pankeborg]

In my humble opinion, if you're picky about hot drinks, an Ember is absolutely worth it.

If you're actually picky you would want to drink from a proper ceramic cup, and you'd drink it before it gets cold. Coffee kept hot just isn't the same thing.

 

[cocky jeremy]

That seems weird and unnecessary.

 

[AstroRexaur]

"While the Ember Cup is the most affordable Ember model today, it is worth noting that the original Ember Mug used to start at $79.95 when we reviewed it several years ago. Ember Mug pricing has since increased to $129.95 for the 10-ounce option and to $149.95 for the 14-ounce option. There is also an Ember Travel Mug available for $199.95."

I'm guessing that they discovered their only buyers were rich folks who make frivolous purchases and they realized that's the kind of customer base who would still buy it whether it's $80 or $200.

with big sacrifice i bought the ember cup 14oz, for "always cold" indoors and cold climates it's the best thing you can buy. i bought it at Costco for $99 + tax.

 

[nawk]

Am I the only one who sees this as a solution in search of a problem?

While the phone connection is a little crazy, the ember mug is really incredible.

I'm a consultant who sits in my upstairs office at home all day long. Pour a cup of coffee, and 10 minutes later it has cooled off less then the optimal temperature and that continues until about 20 minutes laters you either toss it out or microwave it and just to enjoy that perfect temperate for 5 or 10 minutes. I find myself racing to drink the coffee while it is enjoyable - and end up driving too much too fast - before it cools off.

The ember mug has allow me to slow down - savour the coffee I have as EVERY sip is the perfect temperature - even 45 minutes later. I drink less coffee and enjoy it far more.

"Am I the only one who sees this as a solution in search of a problem?" is nearly what Steve Balmer said about the original iPhone.

I too scoffed at the ember mug also until I decided to give it a shot. It literally changed the way I enjoy coffee.

 

[AstroRexaur]

I feel the need to chime-in, as I absolutely love my Ember Mug. (I have the 10 14oz one, I think Edited)

Though I was initially hesitant, due to the price, I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I drink my coffee and tea relatively slowly, and having it at the perfect temperature - no matter what - is fantastic.

Considering how much coffee and tea I drink, and how much it improves my day-to-day work and/or relaxation time, it's a small price to pay, really - I've paid far more for gadgets, clothes, and other bits that I use far less often.

If you drink your hot drinks a bit slowly, yet like them hot, this is the product line for you, my friend.

Note: I find the irony of people freaking out about other people spending more than average on a gadget, while on an Apple-based forum, to be deliciously hilarious.

... and you dont get burned because the app notifies you when is at YOUR temperature.

 

[Lioness~]

I've had Klean Kanteen's insulated mugs, bottles etc. in various sizes for ages.
They keep the heat just long enough for espresso, tea etc. to still be fresh and delicate.
Battery mugs, no need for that.

 

[harrisondavies]

I’ve had 3 cups from Ember. One a replacement. Very bad, particularly the tall sealer variety. Bad software. Bad at keeping stuff hot.

 

[Surf760]

I have had an Ember for a few years now. It works, but not great. It always seems like while the coffee is fresh the heater is catching up. Then as I get to the bottom of the cup, the coffee is nearly boiling hot. Perhaps I should lower the preferred temperature, but I can never keep it at the sweet spot.

 

[Ms6boost]

While the phone connection is a little crazy, the ember mug is really incredible.

I'm a consultant who sits in my upstairs office at home all day long. Pour a cup of coffee, and 10 minutes later it has cooled off less then the optimal temperature and that continues until about 20 minutes laters you either toss it out or microwave it and just to enjoy that perfect temperate for 5 or 10 minutes. I find myself racing to drink the coffee while it is enjoyable - and end up driving too much too fast - before it cools off.

The ember mug has allow me to slow down - savour the coffee I have as EVERY sip is the perfect temperature - even 45 minutes later. I drink less coffee and enjoy it far more.

"Am I the only one who sees this as a solution in search of a problem?" is nearly what Steve Balmer said about the original iPhone.

I too scoffed at the ember mug also until I decided to give it a shot. It literally changed the way I enjoy coffee.

Likewise. Thought it was the dumbest thing ever until I received the original mug as a gift. Next thing I knew I'm buying the travel mug and travel charger for my commutes (now vacations after moving to a WFH model), and it keeps the coffee at a my optimal temp until empty.

Prior to that I was at the mercy of the temperature curve of the coffee in an insulated mug. Brutal at first with a decay that meant I had to down the whole damn thing during that window of opportunity. No ideal to say the least.

There are all sorts of niche products, apps, software, etc. that people like or don't like. Going on a forum to watch others find endless ways to just say "it doesn't appeal to me" is always an entertaining endeavor.

 

[nutmac]

If you take so long to drink coffee that it gets cold then you are brewing too much. Make less. Reheating coffee influences the flavor.

How does this track caffeine intake? Does it measure how much caffeine is in the drink?

You are right about the first part. But making coffee can be tedious (I use an espresso machine) and I rather drink less flavorful coffee an hour after it has been brewed than not drink at all.

Ember has 2 sensors, temperature and liquid level. I am not really sure how precise their sensor and algorithm are, but the Ember app uses the liquid level sensor and "what style of drink" setting to estimate your caffeine intake. It's obviously not an exact science. And it is also questionable how useful this information is for an average drinker (even if it's accurate enough).