Priced far below the competition, the IonMug is a self-heating mug that's actually affordable. This one sells for around $25 and lets you choose between three temperature settings. Alas, the benefits there are pretty negligible, and in fact many insulated non-self-heating travel mugs can keep coffee warm for just as long - for a fraction of the price.Īnd speaking of price, if your budget simply won't accommodate any of the products in this story, you could at least try a mug warmer for your home office. They're specifically designed to be used with lids, which you'd think would translate to better battery life (because there's almost no heat escaping through the top). The two heated travel mugs, from Ember and Muggo, were a bit different because they're, well, travel mugs. After a quick rinse and dry (unsurprisingly, these things can't go in the dishwasher), it was back to the dock until I was ready for my next hot beverage. I'm glad to report that every mug here sailed through that simple test. Sometimes I'd get pulled away, maybe to let the dog out or answer nature's call, and the consumption would stretch closer to an hour. I tested each mug by making it part of my morning routine: filled it with hot joe (from a pour-over carafe, if you're curious), set the temperature as closely as possible to around 140 degrees, then proceeded to sip it over the course of about 30 minutes. I don't love that option, as it robs coffee and espresso of its all-important aroma, but it might save you a trip back to the dock. If you use a lid (which helps keeps the heat in, natch), these times can double or even triple. You might understandably balk at that if you typically drink multiple cups throughout the day, as the mug won't last you far beyond the first one. So take note of each mug's rated battery life, which indicates how long it'll keep the heat flowing after it leaves the dock.ĭepending on your set temperature, battery life can range from around 40-80 minutes. I feel like that defeats the purpose, though, as stated above. (Think: coffee from the pot or tea from the kettle.) If you place it back on its charging coaster after each sip, you can keep that temp steady all day. They're typically charged by placing the cup on a "coaster" (cute!) or heating plate that plugs into an AC outlet, though there is one product here that relies on an ordinary USB-C plug.Ībout that heating element: It's important to understand that these mugs don't turn cold drinks into hot ones - they're not electric kettles - but rather keep an already hot drink at temperature. These cups have two features normal ceramic mugs don't: a heating element and a rechargeable battery, both embedded in the base. Hot stuff, coming through! From left to right: self-heating mugs from Vsitoo, Ember, Muggo and Tsumi.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |