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Review: Ember's iOS-Connected Ceramic Mug Keeps Your Coffee and Tea Warm for Hours
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I have their travel mug. Love it, but I wish the battery lasted longer, or a coaster puck car charger.
Right. And then, I have to source where the insulated mug was made, and what material it's made out of. Most inexpensive ones are made in China with a high lead content, or otherwise plastic, which might have BPAs, or other chemicals which could leach into the hot acidic beverage. And finding a good one can cost just as much as this mug. There are specific use cases where mugs such as you suggest are necessary. The office is not one of them. A ceramic mug, approved by the FDA, with temperature control if the perfect vessel for keeping the coffee at the correct temperature over a sustained period of time, to be enjoyed as intended. If the technology exists to do it, what's your objection?
I agree about the size of the cup. It only holds 10oz. and realistically, 9 without spilling. The mug should be designed to hold 12, assuming it will only be filled to about 10oz., and have some room for cream and sugar, to avoid spilling.
I too had my saucer replaced quickly by Ember for free. I have no problem with 1 hour battery life. Typically that's as long as I will nurse my coffee while away from my desk and the charger.
As for the chipping, the minute mine did, I contacted Ember who replaced it quickly for free, while assuring me it was FDA approved, safe and non-toxic. I couldn't be happier with their customer service.
Is it a gimmick? A gimmick is something totally unnecessary for the enjoyment of something. One thing that's necessary for the enjoyment of coffee, is serving it and drinking it at the correct temperature. So, it's hardly a gimmick. It solves that problem. Is it an expensive solution? Of course it is. I likely would have never purchased this for myself, but having received one as a gift, I truly love it. When I pour my coffee, I can let it sit until it reaches the perfect temperature without burning my mouth. It maintains the temperature so when I have rush to my bosses offie, I don't have to then take a trip to the microwave to warm it up again when I get back to find it's cooled off too much. I can take it to a meeting and sip on it slowly without it getting too cold by the end of the meeting. And on and on. These are really problems that coffee drinkers have to solve. Are there less expensive ways to solve them? Sure. But none solve them as elegantly, as satisfactorily as this mug.
It seems like this would be really great if it had wireless charging.
For example, it worked with the air power mat that is supposed to support the watch, iphone and AirPods.
Or just Qi in general. I wonder why they opted for pins.
Also I think there are people itt who don’t understand that these beverages have an optimal temperature range. The point of this product isn’t just to heat it up like a microwave, but to maintain a very specific temperature.
For example, it worked with the air power mat that is supposed to support the watch, iphone and AirPods.
Or just Qi in general. I wonder why they opted for pins.
Also I think there are people itt who don’t understand that these beverages have an optimal temperature range. The point of this product isn’t just to heat it up like a microwave, but to maintain a very specific temperature.
Love them. Have a travel mug on my desk at work and a ceramic mug at home. I nurse a single mug of coffee all day at work, and it’s so much nicer to pick it up and actually have it hot..
Like the others I’m on my second ceramic mug and coaster because of the early problems, but again, wonderful to pick up a cup of tea and not have it cold.
A luxury I really enjoy. They make me smile.
Like the others I’m on my second ceramic mug and coaster because of the early problems, but again, wonderful to pick up a cup of tea and not have it cold.
A luxury I really enjoy. They make me smile.
I love the idea of this but for it to work for me it would need to be able to handle a few sloshes on that charging saucer. I have slight nerve damage to my hand and I get a twitch and slosh. I’m definitely a person who needs coasters or saucers.
And it would need to be dishwasher safe. I like that my Yeti mugs can go into the dishwasher. I even shelled out for Yeti thermoses because I was tired of handwashing other types of thermoses and water bottles for kids.
It’s a great idea though. It just needs another couple generations of refinement to make it even more convenient.
ps thank you for the review. I’m liking these product reviews before the holidays.
And it would need to be dishwasher safe. I like that my Yeti mugs can go into the dishwasher. I even shelled out for Yeti thermoses because I was tired of handwashing other types of thermoses and water bottles for kids.
It’s a great idea though. It just needs another couple generations of refinement to make it even more convenient.
ps thank you for the review. I’m liking these product reviews before the holidays.
“A perfect gift for the man who has everything.”
That’s me and believe me this kind of gadget is lowest on my wish list. Using any “off line” cup is no big deal for me.
That’s me and believe me this kind of gadget is lowest on my wish list. Using any “off line” cup is no big deal for me.
This is the opposite office or bedside table toy which keeps your can or glass chilled if anyone is interested.
The convenience of hot drinks vs the inconvenience of having useless mains adapters plugged in 24x7.
Would have been nice if they included a solid built insulated travel mug on the graph.
Edit: graph citation: Gizmodo review of said mug
Pretty sure that was sarcasm.
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Kind of like: get up, turn the volume up or down on your TV, sit back down.
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https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...a-warm-for-hours.2153422/page-2#post-26781459
I agree about Qi. I was stunned when I realized the charging saucer was not liquid resistant. Pins simply must be cheaper. Considering the cost of this, they likely were trying to hit an acceptable price point.
The saucer is misleading. It’s a cute way to incorporate the charger into the product, but in reality, can’t be used as a saucer. In my experience, I use the mug just like I used my old ceramic coffee mug — sans saucer. I only use the saucer to charge the mug after I finish my coffee. If I’m going to leave the office for any length of time without taking the mug with me, I’ll put it on the charger to keep it from running out of juice and allowing the temperature to drop, but I’ve usually already drank most of the coffee, so spills aren’t really a problem.
The dishwasher issue is actually of very little concern for me, considering where I use this — the office, where there’s no dishwasher. And, unlike a travel mug/thermos, much easier to clean. I have big hands and can barely fit my hands down into a deep insulated tumbler. a simple wipe of the interior of the mug with a sponge at the sink cleans it right up. Even at home, I usually just rinse my ceramic coffee mug at the sink, with a quick rinse with the sponge — I have one mug I always use so I rarely want to take it out of commission to put it through a dishwasher cycle.
As much as I love this ember mug at the office, I don’t really have the same need for it at home, and probably would never get one. The real value of this mug is at the office where sipping on a relaxing cup of coffee is often interrupted by work. Home is a little more predictable. I could see this being useful for a travel mug, especially when going though the drive through at Starbucks while on the road. I love how the mug reaches a safe temperature and notifies you, so you don’t scald your mouth or spill the coffee because it’s too hot. I also love that it maintains the perfect temperature without overheating it or burning it, the way some dumb charging cups can do, which is great on a road trip where you might load up on a Venti to nurse over several hours, and don’t want to have to fumble with unscrewing a thermos to drink from it while driving, or deal with heat escaping with each sip, dropping the temperature before the coffee is finished. I also like to smell the brew, which allows for the cap to be removed without sacrificing heat.
Agreed but it's nice to be able to sip it over 20 minutes or so. Like other have said, if you put your coffee in a thermos you have too long for it to cool. If you use a normal cup the temperature drops so rapidly the optimal temperature range seems to only be for a few minutes.
I have one and rarely use it. Doesn’t hold much coffee and without sitting on the charging saucer doesn’t stay charged very long. Also not a very comfortable design. Looks good but doesn’t feel good. I would not recommend it.
Buy a Zojirushi travel mug (or any decent insulated device) fill it with hot coffee, pour it into a mug a little at a time.
Buy a Zojirushi travel mug (or any decent insulated device) fill it with hot coffee, pour it into a mug a little at a time.
Mine holds a 10oz Kuerig coffee pour, which is all I ever use. But there is a risk to spilling when it’s that full before air take a few sips.
Mine stays charged for a full hour after pouring, a year after daily use, which is all I really need in most cases.
The handle could be more comfortable, but after a year of daily use, I’m used to it and don’t even think about it anymore. I’d love a thicker walled mug so it’s more like a real mug, but I’ve gotten used to that too.
Unfortunately, an insulated container when pouring out coffee ultimately suffers from the same issues at the office for me. Even if the coffee is the right temperature when I pour it out, if I have to leave my desk for any length of time without my coffee, it will cool below an acceptable drinking temperature. And I won’t be able to nurse that coffee during a long meeting. At the correct temperature. The only advantage to an insulated tumbler for me, is the ability to have a fresh cup of coffee without leaving my desk — which might be great for productivity, but not for my sanity. Walking to the coffee machine is sometimes the only relief I get during the workday.
Soo... Two of these plunked on my doorstep via an Amazon.com "Brushing" scam. Since, in these circumstances, Amazon says there's very little the recipient can do, and they've technically been paid for, I kept them, lol.
I've used them on and off for the past couple months, and generally agree with this review - though, as someone who likes a *large* cup of coffee, I find I use them for sipping tea more often than not, especially when I'm in and out of doors and it's chilly (nighttime) outside.
They work, they're fun, and I'd have bought maybe one for myself at half the price as a Geek toy.
I've used them on and off for the past couple months, and generally agree with this review - though, as someone who likes a *large* cup of coffee, I find I use them for sipping tea more often than not, especially when I'm in and out of doors and it's chilly (nighttime) outside.
They work, they're fun, and I'd have bought maybe one for myself at half the price as a Geek toy.