THE self-heating travel mug once sported by Rishi Sunak could be the perfect gift for the ‘techy’ friend or family member who just seems to have it all.
The Ember Travel Mug 2+ keeps tea or coffee at the perfect temperature for hours, and connects to Apple’s Find My network – making it impossible to lose.
This leak-proof flask uses an app on your iPhone or Android to control the internal temperature, and make sure you don’t scald your mouth on a hot cuppa.
On the flipside, it can stop the ice cubes from melting and diluting your iced coffee in the summer.
Ember, which also makes cups and baby bottles with the same technology, unveiled the Travel Mug 2+ at the Las Vegas-based Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2023.
Rating 4/5
While this is not exactly an essential product – it is pretty cool.
While a traditional flask keeps a beverage hot for a long time – it starts much too hot, and gets cooler much more slowly.
And only for a brief moment will your beverage be the ideal temperature – before it gets too cold.
The Ember flask quickly cools your drink to the perfect temperature – and holds that temperature for roughly three hours.
I certainly don’t miss burning my tongue on a molten flask of coffee, either.
As part of the test, I used the Ember travel mug for three weeks – both at home and on my commute to work.
The Ember app tells you the optimal temperature for your beverage, with a herbal tea (my go-to) being 57degrees.
Although, 355ml of soup works too.
On first impressions, this is a semi-luxury product.
While you might not immediately associate the Ember Travel Mug 2+ with luxury, the sleek design, packaging and price point suggest otherwise.
Inside the box is the mug itself, a charger, charging cable, instructions – plus stickers with the Ember logo.
As soon as I opened the box, I put the flask on its charging station.
Two hours later, it’s fully charged – indicated by the full battery logo that glows through the mug.
It was easy to set up, despite the flask not having any physical buttons.
Occasionally, flashy products that rely on an app can have the iOS or Android platform let them down.
But the Ember app is easy to navigate.
Each morning I would take the Ember mug off its charging station, and fill it with herbal tea.
The tea would clock in at a temperature just below boiling.
Through the app – or the touch-assisted temperature dial on the flask – the Ember mug would quickly bring the heat down to the ideal sipping temperature.
The app also has tips to improve the battery life, as well as trendy tea and coffee recipes.
The flask kept a herbal tea hot at a steady 57degrees exactly from 7:40am to 11am – so slightly longer than the advertised battery life.
The tea stays hot for a few minutes, but by 11:30 it is barely warm and bordering on cold.
It is heavier than a traditional flask – but that’s no issue.
It’s also a similar size to a normal travel mug, making it easy to store.
The Ember Travel Mug 2+ is £199.95/$199.95 in the UK and the US.
Although the product is currently reduced at Currys, where it is only £159.
It has been even further reduced at Healf, where it is available for £144.99.
The high-tech travel mug is available to buy at a handful of retailers – even Apple’s online store, thanks to its Find My integration.
There aren’t too many alternatives around.
The Smart Travel Mug from UK-based Nebula Appliances is its closest rival – with the same battery life and fitting the same 355ml worth of liquid.
The Nebula alternative typically costs £99 on Amazon – but is now reduced to £79.99.
As someone who is a nightmare for forgetting a cup of tea until it’s stone cold – I was impressed by the Ember Travel Mug 2+.
It’s incredibly easy to use, has a smooth set-up – and looks pretty sleek and stylish on the walk to the train station each morning.
The price is lofty, and while it isn’t exactly an essential, it is a nice gadget to have on hand.
If you want to splurge, or need a gift idea for a techy friend who seems to have everything, it’s a cool option.
