Mug 2, 14 oz, Black

Why it works as a gift

The Ember Mug 2 solves one specific, familiar annoyance: the drink that goes cold halfway through a meeting. The listing says it keeps a drink between 120°F and 145°F for up to 80 minutes on its battery, or all day on its charging coaster. It works without the app at a default 135°F and remembers the last setting; with the Ember app, the recipient can set an exact temperature and get notifications.

That narrow focus is what makes it a good gift rather than a gadget. It is something most people would never buy for themselves, yet would use every working day, and the small details are sensible: it wakes when hot liquid is poured in, sleeps when it senses no motion, and an LED shows when the drink has reached temperature, per the listing. The listing is sold by Ember itself.

Against a well-made ceramic mug at a fraction of the cost, the Ember asks for more care: it is hand wash only, the coaster takes a spot on the desk, and it is one more thing to charge. Ember's own website now leads with a newer Mug 3, so this is the established model rather than the latest one. For someone who works from home and drinks two slow cups a morning, it is a well-judged upgrade.

Who it’s for

• A colleague or manager who works at a desk and lets coffee go cold between calls
• A parent or grandparent who drinks tea slowly through the morning
• A friend who has just started working from home and is setting up a desk
• An office gift exchange with a higher budget, when you know the recipient drinks coffee or tea

Skip it if

• They drink coffee quickly or mostly on the go; a travel mug or tumbler suits that better
• They want everything to go in the dishwasher: the listing says hand wash only
• They dislike apps and chargers on the desk; much of the appeal is the coaster and the settings
• You want the newest model; Ember's own site now features the Mug 3

Giving it

• Pair it with a bag of good beans or loose-leaf tea so it can be used the day it is opened
• Mention on the card that it works without the app at 135°F, so nobody feels obliged to download anything
• Check the colour and size on the listing; this is the 14 oz model in black
• Keep the receipt and check the return window in case they already own one

The facts

Capacity

14 oz

Temperature range

120°F to 145°F; defaults to 135°F without the app

Battery

Up to 80 minutes, or all day on the charging coaster

Care

Hand wash only; IPX7, submersible to 1 meter; not for the dishwasher

Sensors

Wakes when hot liquid is poured; sleeps on lack of motion; LED shows when the drink is at temperature

Sold by

Ember Technologies

Consider instead

• Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Kettle — A bigger coffee and tea upgrade for someone who brews at home
• Fellow Ode Gen 2 Coffee Grinder — For the coffee drinker who cares more about the brew than keeping it warm
• Everlane The Cashmere Scarf, Heathered Toffee — A winter comfort gift with no app or charger, for someone who would rather not add a device