Ember Temperature Control Mug Adds Support for Apple Health, Exclusive Colors Now Sold in Apple Stores

[MacRumors]

Ember today announced that its temperature control mugs will now sync with Apple's Health iOS app, allowing users to track their caffeine consumption throughout the day alongside other Health app statistics. The updated Ember app introduces this Health integration, with features like setting a maximum caffeine intake measurement for the day that will warn users when they near the limit.

The company explains that users will also be able to use the Health app's information to understand how their caffeine consumption affects other data tracked in Health, like heart rate and sleep patterns. Version 3.0 of the Ember iOS app [Direct Link] is available to download now on the iOS App Store.

"As a design-led brand, we are committed to delivering world class innovation that is as human and intuitive as possible. The updated Ember app with the Apple Health feature will give consumers a simple, easy way to track their caffeine consumption during the day, in order to make more informed decisions about what they are drinking. It's one more step Ember is taking to provide the best experience for coffee and tea lovers."

Ember's mugs allow the user to set a precise drinking temperature to ensure that their coffee or tea remains at the perfect level of heat. Both the Travel Mug and Ceramic Mug support caffeine tracking, favorite drink presets, and integration with the Health app. The Ceramic Mug maintains the ideal drinking temperature for one hour (or all day if set on the charging coaster), while the Travel Mug maintains temperature for two hours (and similarly for all day on a charging coaster).

The Ember iOS app syncs to the mugs, allowing users to set their desired temperature, receive notifications when the temperature is reached, create and customize temperature presets, set timers when making tea, and more. Up to three mugs can be paired with the app at once.

Additionally, Ember announced that its mugs will be available in select Apple stores starting today, in countries including the United States, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore. Apple will also gain the new Ember Travel Mug ($149.95) in white as an exclusive on Apple.com and in Apple Stores in the U.S. and Canada. The Ember Ceramic Mug ($79.95) in black will be sold as an exclusive in select Apple stores across Europe, the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore and on Apple.com.

Article Link: Ember Temperature Control Mug Adds Support for Apple Health, Exclusive Colors Now Sold in Apple Stores

 

[barnaby117]

I love, love my Ember mug! So awesome.

 

[earthTOmitchel]

I love, love my Ember mug! So awesome.

I was hoping someone would comment about using it, they look really interesting. Do you have the Travel or Ceramic?

 

[barnaby117]

I was hoping someone would comment about using it, they look really interesting. Do you have the Travel or Ceramic?

I have the ceramic version on my desk at work. Use it every single day and love it! My only advice is don’t use anything abrasive (even a sponge) when you clean it, as the finish can scratch. Also, Ember’s customer support is excellent.

 

[earthTOmitchel]

I have the ceramic version on my desk at work. Use it every single day and love it! My only advice is don’t use anything abrasive (even a sponge) when you clean it, as the finish can scratch. Also, Ember’s customer support is excellent.

Nice nice. I'm a slow drinker when it comes to tea/coffee (and have been more conscious of my caffeine intake lately), so I think this is right up my alley.

 

[TRICKorDEVICE]

I have the ceramic version on my desk at work. Use it every single day and love it! My only advice is don’t use anything abrasive (even a sponge) when you clean it, as the finish can scratch. Also, Ember’s customer support is excellent.

How many ounces can the mug hold?

 

[roncron]

I never would have imagined there would be a market for such a thing.

 

[Mydel]

Whats the problem with regular thermal mug for 20USD? It keeps temperature for hours at fraction of the cost. Not to mention that it is impossible to calculate caffeine concentration in the brewed coffee. Variation are huge depending on the beans, temperature etc.

 

[Axxl]

Brought my account out of somewhat retirement to say I’ve had a somewhat negative experience with this mug (the non-travel one). I am also a slow drinker but after no more than 30 minutes my coffee started tasting off, a combination of burnt and some unidentifiable flavor that I assume came from the mug. Any standard vacuum travel mug will keep my coffee warm much longer without impacting the flavor.
Their service is indeed excellent as I received a refund no questions asked, so you are free to try it yourself!

 

[MacRetina]

I had an Ember ceramic mug for a few months. The charging coaster is not reliable. After 2 or 3 weeks, it will stop charging because of a faulty charging connector. The interior of the mug will scratch easily and the ceramic coating will chip off. Ember's customer support is great though. They sent replacements quickly.

 

[Mac 128]

How many ounces can the mug hold?

Exactly 10oz. to the rim. This is one of my biggest complaints with the mug. It really needs to hold 12oz, to give enough room for a proper cup of coffee, so that it doesn’t spill as you carry and drink. The Kuerig coffee maker at work puts out 10oz coffee servings, and fills the mug to the rim, so that I have to take a few sips before I can walk away from the brewer, and no room for cream or sugar. Really annoying.

I never would have imagined there would be a market for such a thing.

It’s a pure luxury indulgence, which I would have never bought for myself. But I have to say, the first time I got called away to a meeting and returned to my desk to find my coffee piping hot, proved its worth. It’s also great during a meeting where I can sip on my coffee and not having to worry about it getting cold halfway through the meeting, without being able to otherwise warm it up.

I had an Ember ceramic mug for a few months. The charging coaster is not reliable. After 2 or 3 weeks, it will stop charging because of a faulty charging connector. The interior of the mug will scratch easily and the ceramic coating will chip off. Ember's customer support is great though. They sent replacements quickly.

My charging coaster had uneven pins, a known defect. Ember replaced it quickly with an improved coaster. Not an issue at all. I have not had any issues with chipping or scratching in a year of daily use.

MY MAJOR COMPLAINT:

The charging saucer must be kept dry at all times, it’s not water resistant. Now this is possibly the stupidest decision I can imagine. The mug is too small to hold a standard 10oz pour without spilling, and you can’t use the saucer without wiping all moisture from the mug for risk of damage. For a product which entire purpose is to carry liquids, no part of it should be at risk from liquids! Especially the saucer which is traditionally designed to catch spliled liquids and protect the furniture and carpets. The saucer is meant only to be used as a charger, not an actual saucer.

My other minor complaint is that the walls of the mug and handle should be thicker ceramic — more like a real coffee mug. It’s not bad but it takes a little getting used to if you’re used to drinking out of a normal sized mug.

EDIT: As irony would have it, I wrote this, and walked into my office to find after my first cup of coffee that the ceramic coating had begin flaking for the first time in 10 months. I initiated a chat with Ember and a new mug is on the way. I was told that there was an issue with a batch of mugs which had the ceramic coating applied improperly, and that they had improved the formulation since my mug was made and the new one should not have any more problems, though there was a small chance it would happen again. They also said that if I experienced this again in the further they would take care of me. Can't complain too much about that.

 

[cknibbs]

I never would have imagined there would be a market for such a thing.

I have a couple of these for my wife and I. They are amazing for morning coffee while we have to constantly put it down to help the kids with stuff. I haven’t microwaved my coffee in ages!

 

[Mac 128]

Whats the problem with regular thermal mug for 20USD? It keeps temperature for hours at fraction of the cost. Not to mention that it is impossible to calculate caffeine concentration in the brewed coffee. Variation are huge depending on the beans, temperature etc.

I generally agree with you. However, at home or work I don’t care to drink my coffee out of a closed thermal mug ... I like to smell the brew as I drink, and that means removing the lid. Once you do that, the temperature drops rapidly. And, in practice, a thermal mug will keep the coffee warm, but not at my preferred temperature of 140 degrees. Also, if you drink it and let cool air into the container, it loses its effectiveness, as it loses heat to the air, so you can’t really sip on it over an hour and have it remain hot. In addition, I don’t really like drinking coffee out of a metal container. You have to be careful with the stainless containers you put beverages into especially hot or acidic beverages which can latch impurities out of low grade stainless, the kind one is likely to find for $20 made in China where there’s little regulation over lead content in such things. And I won’t under any circumstances drink a hot beverage out of a plastic container.

I totally agree about the caffeine content, especially since I have decaf mixed in with my regular coffee. Not to mention those who drink other caffeinated beverages like soda. At best it will give me a general estimate of how much caffeine I’m drinking — all part of people tracking everything they do these days ... but the app is already on the phone to control the mug, so why not?

 

[x-evil-x]

am I the only one that drinks their coffee super fast? I never just sip. This also needs to be 32oz. I stopped using small mugs years ago

 

[bstpierre]

[SNIP]

MY MAJOR COMPLAINT:

The charging saucer must be kept dry at all times, it’s not water resistant. Now this is possibly the stupidest decision I can imagine. The mug is too small to hold a standard 10oz pour without spilling, and you can’t use the saucer without wiping all moisture from the mug for risk of damage. For a product which entire purpose is to carry liquids, no part of it should be at risk from liquids! Especially the saucer which is traditionally designed to catch spliled liquids and protect the furniture and carpets. The saucer is meant only to be used as a charger, not an actual saucer.

[SNIP]

Sounds like they should have wireless charging.

 

[busyscott]

Nice nice. I'm a slow drinker when it comes to tea/coffee (and have been more conscious of my caffeine intake lately), so I think this is right up my alley.

I’m a slow drinker as well, but a zojirushi keeps my tea hot for 6 hours easily. Before you spend an absurd amount of money on a mug with a warmer in it, try a zojirushi which accomplishes the exact same thing, but for way cheaper, plus you’ll look like less of a tool. Lol

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I never would have imagined there would be a market for such a thing.

There have been a market for heated travel mugs for a VERY long time, my grandad had one. His connected to the car cigarette lighter.

 

[dk001]

am I the only one that drinks their coffee super fast? I never just sip. This also needs to be 32oz. I stopped using small mugs years ago

Don't drink "super fast", but I get about a cup and a half from my French Press - yes, I use a bigger mug

 

[roncron]

There have been a market for heated travel mugs for a VERY long time, my grandad had one. His connected to the car cigarette lighter.

Sorry, yes, you’re absolutely right.

I meant about the smart cup functionality that syncs with the iPhone.

 

[justperry]

Additionally, Ember announced that its mugs will be available in select Apple stores starting today, in countries including the United States, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore. Apple will also gain the new Ember Travel Mug ($149.95) in white as an exclusive on Apple.com and in Apple Stores in the U.S. and Canada. The Ember Ceramic Mug ($79.95) in black will be sold as an exclusive in select Apple stores across Europe, the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore and on Apple.com.

Article Link: Ember Temperature Control Mug Adds Support for Apple Health, Exclusive Colors Now Sold in Apple Stores

Bold: it should be "in countries including the United States, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, and across Europe."
Europe is not a country therefor the bolded part is wrong, further down (in Red) it's done the right way.

As for the Mug and App, .

am I the only one that drinks their coffee super fast? I never just sip. This also needs to be 32oz. I stopped using small mugs years ago

Don't mean to scare you but I read somewhere drinking really hot beverages is not good for your throat, it may cause cancer, but hey, what doesn't nowadays.

 

[MrJeffreyGee]

This is really cool. Love how it interacts with Apple Health and tells you how it affects your body. Reminds me of the Vessyl by MarkOne that never happened. It was supposed to measure the nutritional value of everything you drink one sip at a time.

 

[cknibbs]

I don’t use the app much, just set it and forget it to my favourite temperature. I had my coaster replaced on one of the ceramic mugs we have and it was hassle free and excellent customer service. I’d easily buy them again if they died. When I leave home and stay at the in-laws I miss my ember every morning. You really don’t realize how wonderful the mug is until you own one. I thought it was ridiculous at first too, but my mind was swayed pretty quick. I’m not sure if I’d buy the tumbler, as many tumblers do a good job already, in my mind the mug is where it’s at!

 

[patseguin]

I have a cheap travel mug that I use for taking my coffee to work. Stays hot for 3-4 hours. Is this mug really worth $150 to keep it warm for half that time?

 

[Mac 128]

Sounds like they should have wireless charging.

Yes. But then the price would increase substantially. Maybe v.2.0.

I’m a slow drinker as well, but a zojirushi keeps my tea hot for 6 hours easily. Before you spend an absurd amount of money on a mug with a warmer in it, try a zojirushi which accomplishes the exact same thing, but for way cheaper, plus you’ll look like less of a tool. Lol

I'm not sure you'll look less like a tool. People with pretentious drinking vessels pretty much all look like tools. That said, I guess it depends on what kind of tool you want to look like! ;-)

The reviews are definitely good for that brand. But most say things like keeping it hot for prolonged periods unopened. If you're pouring out cups of tea, rather than constantly opening it and sipping on it, I can imagine it might last longer as well. I also can't find any information about the quality of the stainless or plastic. The plus side of a mug with a warmer in it, is that it will actually heat a beverage up from cold or room temperature.

There have been a market for heated travel mugs for a VERY long time, my grandad had one. His connected to the car cigarette lighter.

Yup. I had one that was plastic interior that was great on trips when I'd pick up that Venti Starbucks on a road trip and stayed warm for hours. It was also great for heating hot water when camping, so I could use my instant coffee in the morning. But I had to stop using it when I realized how bad the plastic could be for me leaching into the coffee.

I have a cheap travel mug that I use for taking my coffee to work. Stays hot for 3-4 hours. Is this mug really worth $150 to keep it warm for half that time?

Depends. If you're sipping it with the lid on so you don't smell the aroma, then maybe not, as you're limiting the heat escape. Other things to consider is whether it's keeping it at the optimal drinking temperature the entire time, and what material the mug is made out of. When you say cheap, that usually means China, and they have been known to include some dangerous amounts of lead in their alloys, including stainless. A hot acidic beverage like coffee will leach those elements into the drink.

Since I take the lid off mine to drink it, it cools off very quickly. But even if you nurse it a long time, the air that enters also cools it down. So all of those things make the Ember a great solution for me.

 

[x-evil-x]

Bold: it should be "in countries including the United States, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, and across Europe."
Europe is not a country therefor the bolded part is wrong, further down (in Red) it's done the right way.

As for the Mug and App, .




Don't mean to scare you but I read somewhere drinking really hot beverages is not good for your throat, it may cause cancer, but hey, what doesn't nowadays.

If it scolding I don’t. I usually have my stuff hot but not to the point I have to sip. Or iced.