Ember launches third-generation smart mug with a button for changing temperature
Ember has released its Mug 3 smart mug, which keeps a drink at a chosen temperature and lets users change it with a button on the base. The company also introduced a new travel vessel, the Tumbler 2.
Ember, a US company that makes temperature-controlled smart drinkware, has released Mug 3, the third generation of its smart mug. It is aimed at tea and coffee drinkers who don't want their drink to go cold. The main novelty is a physical button that changes the temperature without opening the mobile app. The launch was covered by the technology outlet TechCrunch.
Temperature control
Ember first introduced its smart mug in 2016 to solve a familiar problem: a person gets distracted for a few minutes and returns to a lukewarm drink. On the new model, a button on the bottom of the mug cycles through five preset temperatures, starting at 125 degrees Fahrenheit (about 52 °C). Each press raises the temperature by five degrees, up to a maximum of 145 degrees.
The TechCrunch reviewer says this ended up being the feature she used most, since her phone is often across the room at night. She also names a drawback: the button sits on the underside, so it is not easy to press and the mug has to be tilted.
The app is still available. After pairing with a phone over Bluetooth, users can pick presets by drink type. Ember recommends 136 degrees for black coffee, 132 for green tea and 142 for lemon water. Custom presets can also be created.
Other upgrades and pricing
Mug 3 also has a sliding lid meant to reduce spills, and it can hold the chosen temperature for up to three hours on one charge. It is the first Ember mug that can go in the top rack of a dishwasher, though it is not microwave-safe.
The mug comes in two sizes: a 10-ounce (about 300 ml) model costs $129, and a 14-ounce (about 410 ml) model costs $149. The smaller one is offered in black, white and stainless steel, the larger in eight colors.
Alongside the mug, the company introduced the 16-ounce Tumbler 2 at $179 in black. It replaces the Travel Mug 2 and the original Tumbler, and its slimmer, taller shape is meant to fit standard car cup holders. Travel Mug 2 stays available while supplies last. The products are sold on Ember's website, at Target and on Amazon.
