Ember Mug 2 & Travel Mug 2 Review | Are they worth it?

Ember Mug 2: geni.us/ihB3Nzy
Ember Travel Mug 2: geni.us/nV0lEEG
Zojirushi Thermos: geni.us/XOaQ2
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The Ember Mug and Ember Travel Mug were two items that I've been intentionally been avoiding doing a review of. How could they possibly be worth the cost? Well today we finally take a look at the Ember Mug 2 and Ember Travel Mug 2 , to review whether they really do live up to the hype. And the answer surprised me to say the least.
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0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Ember Mug 2
4:58 - Ember Travel Mug 2
7:36 - Conclusion

[@LifestyleLab_]

Ember Mug 2: geni.us/ihB3Nzy Ember Travel Mug 2: geni.us/nV0lEEG Zojirushi Thermos: geni.us/XOaQ2 (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

[@cjjb]

Solid concise review. Graphing the temperature over time was a great touch. You deserve a bigger audience!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Thanks Conor! Glad it was helpful

[@lilygardner4035]

+1, I love me a good graph 🤌🏼 very helpful!

[@kalebdorweiler7279]

Great review! I actually own the Travel Mug 2 and I love it. I read something interesting about it that really improved its performance. It uses a substance in the lining of the mug that is solid when room temp and liquid when hot. This “stores” heat as a sort of heat “battery” and the mug used this in conjunction with the element to keep the beverage hot. Because of this, preheating the mug drastically increases the mug’s ability to reach its advertised 3 hr battery life. As a university student, I charge it up in the morning for my 9 am class and it’s still going at 11 or so if I’m not done drinking!

[@hosonitz]

Your reviews are fantastic; I’m grateful for the time and effort you put into them!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@wlmontag]

Thanks very much for the wonderful review. I was so motivated that I ordered an Ember Mug2 today for my Christmas present. Can’t wait to use it!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Enjoy! I think if what I said about the mug resonated with you then you'll really like it :)

[@orrinbelcher6593]

I have the original Ember Mug 10 ounces I bought in 2017, still going strong. I love it and enjoy using it as you said keeping my coffee at a consistent temperature. I also enjoy listening to music while sipping coffee. The temperature range I enjoy is from 52 Celsius to 55 Celsius. Your video was fun and informative. I agree perfectly with your comments. For me the Cup is the sweetheart of the Ember products. Also I keep a rubber cover on my Ember Cup (AvecToi) when not on it’s charging coaster and have gotten close to 3 hours before recharging.

[@vancedvanced8024]

Me too mate . Worth every cent!

[@orrinbelcher6593]

@@vancedvanced8024 great to hear ☕️☕️😊

[@kevin_segura]

Great job man. Solid review of both products in a concise amount of time

[@amiraloves04]

I was looking into these just yesterday...great timing on this review! :)

[@ziggy33399]

Very well thought out & informative. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@thesparrowsnest8343]

Great review. You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thanks.

[@alext.9527]

So worth the money. Had my Ember Mug 2 for nearly two years, using them at work FIVE DAYS a week, sometimes TWICE a day. It may require a bit more attention when using (DO NOT STIR WITH METAL SPOONS OR STIR STICKS, CLEAN WITH SOAPY WATER AND J-CLOTH & MAINTAIN THE BASE AS DRY AS POSSIBLE AFTER CLEANING), however I have never experienced a cold cup of tea or coffee. I often get called into meetings or impromptu discussions at the office and have to leave my coffee alone to tend to them. When I get back to the mug, whether it is five minute or 25 minutes, it is as very warm as when I poured it. And after 2 years, the battery is still going strong, maintaining the same amount of charged heating. Is it expensive for a mug? Yes. However, the decision is always dependent on the person. I would spend $2 a day, waiting in a drive thru at a Dunkin Donuts only to have it slightly cooled when I sit at my desk. After 3 months, that adds up to the cost of this mug. What about a Thermos mug? They work well but I hate covering up my coffee with a lid and I have yet to find a thermos mug with a leakproof lid. So there you have it. This mug is worth the cost if you enjoy the act of drinking coffee, like it to be warm all the time and do not mind a little TLC when it comes to its maintenance. And BTW, if you are wondering: I buy Starbucks instant coffee packs at Costco and mix up that at work for my morning brew. It is quick, it taste like the brewed Starbucks coffee and it cost me about 0.75 cents a cup.

[@fuenz1204]

Ember mug is a perfect gift for moms who constantly microwave their cold coffee 😅 husband gave it to me last year on Valentines and love it. Only thing is the Ember mug 1 does stain and has chipped a bit but customer service is sending a new one for free 🥲

[@themesscrew7]

Did they require you to ship the old chipped one or just new replacement?

[@fuenz1204]

@@themesscrew7 nope just sent me a new one 👌🏼

[@Bam-Bam1]

Can you put this in a microwave?

[@LifestyleLab_]

It’s made of metal and has a battery in it. Absolutely not.

[@DavidSinanan]

Love my Ember Mug2. It works amazingly with the Aeropress. 250g-260g water through 14-16g coffee is a perfect full cup for the Ember.

[@drdanTUBE]

This comparison was exactly what I wanted. Great work! L & Sed!

[@RealOmarWahdan]

Thanks for the review. Definitely all about the enjoyment of drinking you warm drinks. Was tired of cold coffee and wasting time warming it up again.

[@AdmiralBison]

That's a very good point with the travel mug. It sounds more like a big oversight with little insulation to depend mostly on active heating, it kind of defeats the whole purpose. I was looking forward to a complimentary heating cup to my cold 'blend jet' , but will have to wait until a vastly better improved Ember travel mug 3 or equivalent comes out. The complete independent mobile lifestyle is getting there 😋

[@enchanting_elizabeth]

I love my ember mug!! It keeps me motivated after a 12 hour shift ♡

[@charlietighe]

My wife loooves her travel mug 2. Favorite gift last year.

[@muradaltakrouri6373]

Thanks for sharing, you convinced me with your honest opinion and review, can’t ask for more insight.

[@soo77777]

I drink coffee very very slowly so I LOVE this !!! I have been using for 2 years and have never been disappointed... the ember customer service is great too and they have in the past sent me either a new mug or saucer if I have a problem .. .the only problem I had was the pins on the cup can stick down and therefore the saucer didn't work ... but you know ... customer service doesn't hesitate to replace it but ultimately it would be better if they fix this ... thank you for the review .. I was thinking of upgrading to the travel mug but you solved it for me ;)

[@bravefastrabbit770]

They don’t hesitate because the thing costs less than 10$ to produce lol

[@kulimeya123]

I think you missed the point why the travel mug isn't that crazy insulated. That thing is meant to hold your drink at your desired temperature, not at the highest possible temperature. So when you cook your coffee and put it in your standard travel mug at 80°C, it will be still way too hot after 1 hour, while the travel mug can let rapidly cool it (Their website says it has some phase change material that can either insulate or not insulate) and then keep your desired temperature. Still seems like a special case (Your drink must usually be too hot to drink when you fill your cup and you want it to be drinkable soon, but still at a nice temperature hours later), but I think that's the purpose.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Possibly, but I would have preferred to just open the lid, or wait for my drink to reach the right temperature before putting it in. Seems like a very small tradeoff for what would have been all day heating

[@moony2703]

Really interesting to hear your two very different takes on the mugs and how they interacted with your daily life and routines!

[@msbennet3027]

Thanks for the video. Very helpful👍

[@HorizonTr3]

i personally mostly drink coffee in my office so i baught a mug heat plate for 15$ and it works pretty well for me. But I think those ember makes can be really useful when you aren´t always at the same spot

[@seniormysterioso7552]

I keep my Ember mug around 138F. If I've got a light roast though I prefer 132 or even turning it off to experience all the flavor change that happens as it cools. For tea I go 145F and for a latte i'm usually 132-137. So I guess it depends. Thought I'd leave it at one temp always but realize that different drinks call for different temps. Still loving it 3 months in.

[@LifestyleLab_]

This is one aspect I wish I had fit into the video. Sometimes tasting how coffee or tea changes as it cools down is part of the fun! Different days call for different things :)

[@CollinRoche]

Good use case for Ember Travel Mug is working government contract support in DC. Meetings taking you around the office, to other offices / government buildings nearby, etc., but ultimately returning to the office at various points during the day. When at your desk, charge it. Better than the standard mug since it won't spill and is much more mobile.

[@jeramymckinney955]

I love the ember mug. I have the first edition travel mug and I have the travel charger that fits in the cup holder, which now makes the travel mug, in my opinion, worth it when I spend a few hours grubhubbing.

[@pepperjack6717]

Great reviews. I have a travel mug and the battery crapped out after about a year. So no return. I was offered a replacement mug for a little over half price. I now have to use it on the charger to keep it working. Also I like scalding hot beverages and this only goes to hot.

[@lour58]

My daughter got me one today and I tried it this morning while assembling a giant doll house and it worked as advertised. 10/10

[@NatPhoto56]

Great Review. Thank You!

[@KeithBalante]

Great review! I think I'll try out the Ember Mug 2 and see if I like it.

[@LifestyleLab_]

I think you will!

[@MajorSan]

Very honest comment, thanks. Also, your video was great to watch.

[@NickAlbano253]

In my opinion, it’s totally worth it because I could be sitting there for 20 minutes and the coffee or tea is still hot and drinkable. I just love kicking back and relaxing watching a movie, and 20 minutes into the movie, my coffee and tea are still hot and drinkable.

[@dudurty0652]

Great Review. I bought the first Ember Travel Mug few years back and it didn’t take long for it to not live up to the hype. I still have to this day, but I don’t use anymore. It’s back in it’s original box and on the shelf. The battery was my biggest issue. Off the charger, the battery doesn’t last long at all. Maybe 30 minutes at best. On the charger, it will stay hot at whatever temperature I set. My other issue was that it’s not well insulated, just like the second version in this video and on that note, I will not be buying another Ember Mug no time soon. The Mug looks great, but I need a lid over my cup if I’m going to be outside of my home with this thing. I’ll wait until there’s a lid for the Mug, or a better insulated travel Mug.

[@mohammedfaiisal]

I don't think they'll ever make a better version. Hopefully they do but the travel mug is the best one to buy right now I guess. But I only wish it wasn't only 12oz and if it was able to go to at 16oz it would have been ideal. Especially if you drink tea more than coffee

[@IAmYous3f]

I always forget half of my tea at work and sometimes it goes cold and i tend to drink it fast to avoid going cold, just like how you stated that in the video. I will look it up and see if it is available locally. Thank you for the review

[@arozeisarozie]

I am so tempted to get the mug, but I want it to have a lid. I can’t help it! Thank you for your thorough review. It would be interesting to see you comparing the different ones on the market should you find the time/sponsorships:

[@LifestyleLab_]

What other brands of heated mugs are you interested in? Only real competition I came across were several self heating coasters... which isn't the same in my opinion

[@kefkapalazzo1]

damn I was gonna get the travel mug. thanks for this review. these smart mugs seem pretty cool to me because I want to try to drink coffee more. maybe ill get the regular one

[@marktechsci]

My GF has the mug and I have serious hot coffee envy. I was considering the travel mug for my desk as I can drink a cup of coffee all day it seems and I worry about evaporation, plus I like the idea of being able to bring it with me on short trips. How do we feel about it for that use scenario? Thx.

[@luzacevedo3600]

Thank you for your review .

[@rebeccaclaire9291]

Thank you! This is very helpful! I have been thinking about buying the traveling mug for a while but have doubts. I can finally decided not to get it after watch your review.

[@faisalibnyounus]

Thanks for the review

[@LifestyleLab_]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ninjahat]

THANK you! This settles it. The Travel Mug STILL has a huge room for improvement. I'm glad I didn't use any money on it - yet. They MUST create a normal thermal travel mug first and THEN add their tech to it. I can't wrap my head around why they just don't do that. Their normal mugs are fine!?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brettleecubbage]

Good review. I bought two of my ember mug and travel mug on Facebook market place to save lot of money. Got the mug for 50 dollars and the travel mug for 80 dollars. I am happy with the mug and I am waiting for my travel mug the next couple days. The travel mug sounds perfect for me because my work is only 30 mins away and that’s plenty of time for me. The only down size you didn’t mention is that the travel mug is only 12 oz. ;-/ wish it was bigger though.

[@ireyga]

Hey! thanks for the video, very informative. I know I'm coming late to the discussion, but how would you rate the mug to be used with filter coffe that you are pouring from a carafe? I generally make myself a big batch of filter coffee, but if I'm serving it from a carafe, then I'm kind of like reheating the coffee in my mug, right?? would you recommend it for that use specifically??

[@LifestyleLab_]

It shouldn’t be used to “reheat” coffee. As I said in the section about trying to boil water with it, that will take a very long time and use up most of the battery

[@rlb2444]

I was waiting for Embers to hit the market and ordered immediately. Don't know how long that was, maybe 6-7 years ago? I now have three of them and use them everyday. Never had an issue. I make a 12 oz cappuccino every morning and sip on it for an hour or more and it's always the same temp 138F. Excellent product!

[@dennisprichard9557]

Great review thank you

[@Potterdood]

I have been wanting the travel mug, I only plan to use it within 3 hours or less of when I fill the cup. Mainly at work before lunch only. But it sounds poorly designed and IDK when the 3rd gen would come out but I'm thinking of buying one used to see how I like it before I invest $200, thanks for the review.

[@danielgruszczyk2232]

Thanks for the review. I won an ember mug and had to choose between the normal one and the travel one. Almost went for the travel one…

[@milowadlin]

My preferred temp for the Ember mug is 60.5 I agree with you that I take my time drinking it, and get more satisfaction from it.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Thanks for sharing!

[@TheJjoshie]

My ideal temp is 50-52 degrees Celsius. I am a bit temperature sensitive, so that temp makes me happy. Also, just sharing my experience, I hate coffee that is so hot it burns my tongue. I want my coffee to cool down before I drink it. This is a benefit of the ember travel mug: it cools the drink down, then keeps it there. Other travel mugs keep my drinks too hot, even with the lid open. I agree though that the ember mug only keeps it warm for a few hours, so if you want a drink to keep for 3+ hours, a normal travel mug is better.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Interesting!

[@Cenot4ph]

this use case makes sense I guess, otherwise double walled glass will do the trick

[@RichardSheltonCrimeFighter]

I would guess and hope the reason it doesn't hold temps that well is the mug has a temp dial.. if it was an awesome insulator turning the temp down would be almost useless. Thats my guess at least. I agree it should hold better but i guess that might be why its not holding temp that well.

[@martinwernicki9288]

Great review :)

[@edipisreks5535]

I bought a Travel mug for my partner, but she has a different use case; she makes coffee at home, pours it into the Ember, then travels to work. She drinks coffee while she teaches, then goes to her office hours, makes coffee, and plops the Ember into a charging base. She the. Lectures that afternoon, and drinks coffee from the Ember in the class. It works perfectly for this. For actual travel we use vacuum flasks.

[@art6364]

Thank you. Excellent product review. I wanted to buy a thermos, but after looking at this review ... "very cool high-tech gadget, next generation! unfortunately there is one drawback - as a thermos it is bad" 😂

[@jewelm1042]

Hello! I appreciate all your videos. I have been binge watching your channel because I am planning to buy a Breville Espresso Machine. I pretty much decided to get the Barista Touch because I am completely a novice. However my concern now is what is the best travel mug that I can use directly with the machine. My husband packs his coffee to go every morning and I usually have his travel mug directly under the spout of Keurig machine. But since I will soon be receiving my Espresso machine, I don't know which travel mug will fit under the spout of the Espresso. I appreciate and look forward your advice on this. Thank you!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Not many espresso machines can accommodate a travel mug under the spouts. You're much better off just pulling into a separate cup and transferring over into the travel mug. That's what I do every morning :)

[@jewelm1042]

@@LifestyleLab_ Thank you so much for your reply. I will definitely be following your advice. I truly appreciate it.

[@leeartrinlee5376]

At first i can't believe the price tag of ember mug would be worth it of what it can do, but now after years of using it, i can say it is super worth it. I actually drink coffee for the same purpose as you have, and have the same problem of coffee getting cold because it takes me a long time to drink a whole mug of coffee. Ember mug solves it all. Now i have the same opinion on the travel version. It just don't make any sense for me.

[@mahfah7911]

Thank You. I couldn’t understand the point of travel mug when cheaper ones last hours on similar temperature. I also have same travel mugs and I love them. Hours and hours of hot drink in coldest temp with spill proof lid. I was wondering why would I consider Ember travel cup. Thank You for this comparison and absolutely on point. What if the battery is depleted and you are traveling? On other hand I have gifted Ember cup 2 without lid. And I am glad I bought it as a gift after seeing your thorough review. I wish they would sell the lid, if they are reading this I might consider one for myself as well. Liked and Subscribed

[@linkndark]

The ember travel mug has one advantage compared to a thermos travel mug. It keeps the drink at ideal temperature for a longer period. A thermos will be too hot at first and too cold later. But of course a thermos will hold the temperature much longer overall. 3 hours is not quite long enough for me on the go. In my opinion both ways are flawed. Ideal would be some kind travel mug combining the battery heater of the ember and the insulation quality of regular thermos travel mugs. But I am not sure if this is technically possible. The workaround that did it for me was bringing a thermos bottle and the regular ember mug to the office. With that I can enjoy 2 cups of hot coffee throughout the day. The downside is of course, that I need to remind myself to finish the first cup within 40-45 minutes in order to have enough battery left for my second cup. I could bring the charger to the office as well, but bringing a third item would add to the inconvenience of this workaround.

[@abrahamstagi6766]

1st of all ty for showing the underneath the lid... nobody would ever notice this but there is a chip underneath the lid of this travel mug I have had it now with two mugs that I had to replace but I think it's standard and I don't know why and no one is talking about this but I figured maybe you can... Ember Travel Mug²

[@nicolejenny1352]

I have the travel mug and I agree. Wish it was better insulated. It was a gift so I can't complain, but I wish I had the mug. The lid is also a pain to clean, not hygenic at all. I ordered the sip lid but if it isn't charged it is worthless. I feel like it should come with a travel charger since it is a travel mug. That may justify the price difference for this poorly insulated mug.

[@JBthePAdashC]

The biggest thing I would use the travel mug for is that I bike to work and I could actually get the travel mug there because it’s spill proof. Then have the charger at my desk in my office.

[@senatemdm4]

Is the tall ember mug 2 ceramic coated? I know the smaller mug IS and that makes all the difference in the world to me. The Yeti I have is stainless steel on the inside and I'm one of those that can literally taste (or smell) the stainless steel inside mixed with my nice coffee and it's a turn off. Let me know please. Nice review!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, exact same construction on both sizes of the Mugs

[@Justin-yx4bq]

I have an ember mug 1. I really like it but for the price, I don't think I will buy another one. The first huge thing is that the charging pins on the base will get sticky over time and they will not engage the cup all the time after about a year. Now everytime I place the mug, I have to wiggle it around for about 20 seconds to make sure it starts to charge. Cleaning the pins help but it will return to the sticky behavior within a few days. The 2nd thing is that the plastic in the ember mug 1 stains really easily and is hard to wash off. Do not buy a light color or else it will look really unappetizing within a few months.

[@linkndark]

I have the white Ember Mug 2 and I don't really have any of these issues, despite using it almost daily for almost 2 years. I guess they improved significantly on version 2.

[@HaiHuynh-ww4ym]

Thanks love your video.I bought two mug

[@ksbma]

hi! what's the voltage on the charging cable?

[@glazioushell3398]

I had a travel mug with a battery that was made all metal and I couldn’t hold it because it was too cold and it was cold outside to and didn’t really stay hot . I just bought myself a thermos and stayed hot longer.

[@richterstitcher7936]

I use the mug at 136 degrees love it!

[@PastaRoshie]

LMAO

[@dylannorthrup5439]

52.5°C for me with pour-over coffee. I go warmer for French Press, for some reason I prefer 54°C - also if I ever do hot chocolate or cafe mocha, I’ll aim around the same. Warmer than that, I can’t really taste the coffee. Still, it’s been part of my daily routine for several years now. Here’s my travel tip - bring the Ember mug with you, empty. Fill it from a Contigo or other insulated travel container. Battery should last long enough to enjoy your coffee wherever you chose to bring it, as if you were at home.

[@kyronjanestepa6111]

Thanks, I am about to buy a travel mug ... You just saved me from a pocketache...

[@mscaliforniagirl135]

What is the proper way to clean the mug? I'll be using it for the first time tomorrow and am paranoid about permanent coffee stains as well as cleaning the base.

[@LifestyleLab_]

They include cleaning instructions with the mug :) Nothing fancy, just clean it after every use with a brush 🤷‍♂️ only way you could mess it up would be putting it in the dishwasher, or leave it soaking in steaming hot water for a long time

[@K0NVICTx]

I just use my yeti mug. Keeps my coffee hot for a LONG time. But I know some people don’t like drinking out of metal cups & prefer ceramic

[@TC_Prof]

Very nice review 👍👍👍👍

[@andretti10]

Great review. I'm considering getting this for my fiancee but I'm seeing quite a few reviews on Amazon claiming the ceramic coating inside the mug chips very easily. Seems kinda concerning. Thoughts?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Not if you clean it properly / don't let metal objects touch it. I have many friends whose look brand new after years. I would recommend going with the black version though. The white can get scuffed more visibly

[@julissadeleon6204]

It’s true it chips i had them send me a replacement though.

[@Dallas17]

Mine chipped, i always hand cleaned it and never used utensils. The base also broke on me which they did replace, so by the time the chipping started i was over it and threw it out. Waste of money imo.

[@paul-akers]

Excellent excellent review thank you thank you thank you

[@Uncle19]

This may be amazing for my 3oz espressos in the winter that get cold in 7 minutes.

[@Vennnaya]

Good shout on the travel mug. When i have used a thermos flask in the past for taking tea to work, it would keep it at a drinkable temerature for a good 10 hours. And it cost £10. For this reason im even very hesitant to get the ember mug - the only real advantage to it is that its more ergonomic than bringing a termos to my desk.

[@LifestyleLab_]

I just enjoy the experience of drinking from an open mug so much more than a thermos. For that reason the Mug is a no brainer for me if you’re a slow-ish drinker :)

[@Vennnaya]

@@LifestyleLab_ Yea but for that price? And what about durability? Over the years I have dropped several mugs thst have smashed and even if the mber mug doesn't smash I imagine it's either dent or the electronics might get damaged if such a fall or drop were to occur, or, due to its weight, it might even damage the floor. If it was half the price it is I would give it serious consideration but for £100? It'd take 10+ years for it to pay for itself from cold tea being thrown down the drain. Nevermind the fact that the battery might have died by then and it doesn't look very friendly to repair or to replace the battery either.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Totally has to make sense for you! Ember has been very good at sending replacements immediately to two of my friends who had charging issues after a couple years

[@SCraig-Handsome]

I have a travel mug like that, infact I used to sell them for a promotional product company. You want the double stainless steel travel mugs. Plastics alter the taste and you don’t know what you’re ingesting. I have one I use for business trips and I just find that I will use it over several hours. I get at least 4-5 hours out of it but after that I don’t like the taste. So I’m dumping it. Even if I do like the coffee, I want to heat it up so I need to find a regular cup, travel mugs never fit into a microwave and even if they did it would destroy them unless they are 100% plastic. The value I think is you could heat the thing back up later. You don’t need to find a mug and a microwave. I usually bring my travel mug, hop on the train where I get free coffee and then hit a Starbucks on the way to the office, it’s 3-4 hours later and it’s still full. It’s not hot enough though so I could definitely see how this would solve that problem. Definitely expensive though, both options. They should be 1/4 of the price.

[@kevinc161]

I have the Ember travel mug 2. Wish it held more but only about 12 oz. Wish the 3 hr battery lasted longer. Most disappointing is the travel lid that no longer stays open when you push on the center. Ember Customer Service was easy to work with as they sent me a free replacement but for the cost to purchase I would've expected it be more durable.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, as an overall package I was left disappointed by the travel mug. So much potential!

[@eazy309]

Having no way of manually adjusting temperature sucks. I can imagine if I have issues with my phone or lose it, I'm screwed.

[@LifestyleLab_]

To be fair, once the temperature is set, I haven’t touched it once since

[@JoeyVaracalli]

I love the ember mug. The travel mug seems unnecessary since so many other mugs can retain heat for a super long period of time

[@Marc5840]

The travel mug IS SUPPOSED TO LOOSE HEAT. Think about it. Coffee comes out at ~155. The avg temp people like is 135. So you gotta loose 20 degrees. How you gonna loose 20degrees if the travel mug is well insulated??? That’s why the Ember heating element is so cool. They don’t insulate the travel mug but instead let the temp bleed off then engage the heating element to stay a perfect temp. Sure the temp can’t stay there forever, but at least you’re not burning your lips for the first hour waiting for a well insulated cup’s heat to drop

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@Marc5840 fair point I can see the value

[@LifestyleLab_]

I'd rather just leave the lid open until it cools down, or wait until my drink is at the perfect temperature to put it in. Seems worth the tradeoff for what would be all-day performance!

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@LifestyleLab_ that makes the most sense

[@Wastinglotsoftime]

The travel mug makes sense for me. I’m in construction. In Wisconsin winters it’s nice to pour some cold coffee into the mug and have it heat it up.

[@MrJefferson105]

Thank you 😊

[@sidersproductions941]

How good is the standby time though for the travel mug? Like if you take it off the charger and have it off and then power it up 5 hours later does the battery have enough power to heat up the contents or does the 3 hour window regardless of if it's on or not?

[@LifestyleLab_]

It'll drop by 5-10% or so over the course of a day if turned off. Problem with heating the contents up from cold is that it would take 25 minutes, and drain the whole battery, leaving you with a cold drink again another 25 minutes later

[@sidersproductions941]

@@LifestyleLab_ ah I see. Thanks for this. I was looking for one of these for a friend that could be used in a use it when you want scenario. Any other recommendations?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Best bet for "when you want it" is just a really good thermos like the other one I linked. If you fill it up in the morning and don't touch it all day (don't let any air in, don't remove any liquid) it will be almost the exact same temperature as the morning. Make your drink, wait for it to cool a bit to just a bit hotter than you like to drink it, pour it in, forget about it until you want it. They're incredible

[@sidersproductions941]

@@LifestyleLab_ thanks!

[@Rachaelshaw7]

Does anyone have the white one and the black one by chance I just want to see if there's any difference

[@LifestyleLab_]

I have them all :) No functional differences, although the white version does start to stain a bit on the inside if you’re using it for black coffee

[@kahuna1247]

Is the mug's charging base usb or mains power?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Mains

[@Nickimpz]

What size mug were you reviewing in this video???

[@LifestyleLab_]

Smaller size, 10oz

[@theDude9750]

I'm not sure the tech in the mug and the travel mug are the same. I know that the travel mug actively cools the drink down to your desired temperture and in this process stores energy that it can later use to keep your drink at that temperature. This means you should try to pour it in as soon as possible so the thing can do it's work. In your graph it would have been interesting to pour in boiling water and compare that with a thermos

[@LifestyleLab_]

The travel mug does not “actively” cool, it has thermogalvanic cells which can recapture some energy when there is a temperature differential across them. The graph you’re describing is exactly what was shown with the video

[@SCraig-Handsome]

True most plastics melt at less than 200 Fahrenheit, aluminum is 450 and steel is 1,400

[@LifestyleLab_]

You can’t just group “most plastics” together… there are some very high temp and completely food safe plastics out there. Regardless, the parts touching hot liquid are metal on both of these products

[@SCraig-Handsome]

@@LifestyleLab_ Yeah that makes sense, metal is a great conductor of heat, plastic is not. The convenience of not having to heat up your coffee all the time, or drinking it cold, I’m not sure how you place a price on that. Or the amount of times I’ve been asked to heat up someone else’s coffee over the last year? I can definitely think of a few people who need to get this LOL

[@drewa8318]

I appreciate this review, and feel that it is very well presented. However, there is a miss about the travel mug: these are meant to be well regulated, NOT well insulated. Target temps are lower than the measured 61C your inexpensive travel mug maintained. The goal is to fairly quickly bleed the excess heat and then maintain the target, more drinkable, temp. Again, excellent review, but I do think your practical criticism of the travel mug is based on misunderstanding of the goal of the device vs its lack of performance in role.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Several people have made a similar point. However, this could also be achieved by simply putting the drink in at the correct temperature, or leaving the lid button open until adequately cooled. Having proper insulation would easily double the battery life. Having to leave the lid open to cool my drink is more than a fair trade off for that imo

[@marvinschumann6832]

Great review man! I like your critical thoughts a lot. One tip is to train your end-of-sentence pronounciation. As I was taught, you should try to lower your tone towards the end of a sentence and not stay even (or even go up) as it sounds like you never finish a sentence - and a little more exhausting to listen attentively. Best of luck!

[@RabeaAbid]

since 2019 I was waiting for them to produce a newer travel mug that has higher specs

[@LifestyleLab_]

It would be awesome! My guess is that it would be very difficult to combine a heating element, battery, etc nicely into a true vacuum insulated thermos. But they can still do so much better than this current version.

[@Spartikus247]

I would argue that the heat loss for the travel mug is a feature and not a bug. On the temperature tests you performed for your travel mug, you showed that the temperature of your 'favorite' thermos was still above 61 degrees at 90 minutes. However, your self described preferred drinking temperature is 58-60 degrees. One of my biggest criticisms of thermoses is that it keeps coffee too hot and i have to wait forever for it to cool down. With the ember, I can pour my fresh coffee in and it comes down to my desired temp in a reasonable amount of time. Increased insulation would only lengthen how long it stays at this high temperature. I think the lack of insulation was entirely intentional and for me improves my drinking experience.

[@LifestyleLab_]

It does, until you run out of battery… The way I see it, you can always open the lid to cool down the drink in any thermos, but this one can’t keep your drink warm once the battery is dead. Opinions are totally subjective though!

[@goldfever4570]

Zojirushi is the bomb. Ember travel mug seems pitched at commuters rather than for travel

[@markbowdenhyp]

The whole point of both of these is to get your coffee at the perfect heat that you like to drink it. With the Ember Travel Mug, if it takes 4 hours to drop down from scalding hot that isn't going to work. My travel mug is one of my favourite purchases. Burning your lips and tongue when using a thermos is not an experience that I want. The travel mug lets me brew my favourite coffee at home and then drink it at the best temperature and actually enjoy it on the go.

[@LifestyleLab_]

For sure! and that does makes sense However for me personally, I would much rather need to leave the lid open, or just put my drink in at the right temperature and have the travel mug last all day.

[@nocultist7050]

By the very logic of heat exchange to heat faster it needs to have substantial capability of transferring heat. So if it can be warmed easily with a small built in heater powered by a battery it must also easily cool down. Unless you can perform NASA quality work and isolate external surface from heating surface perfectly and pay extra 200% for it.

[@LifestyleLab_]

It’s not being heated from the outside though… it’s being heated from within. A heating element inside of a thermally insulated vessel requires far less energy to maintain the heat that one inside of a vessel that leaks energy. That isn’t NASA technology, it’s a vacuum sealed thermos, and you can buy them for $30

[@leecherlarry]

remarkable, the person talks (freely?) like a blogger would compose a product review, he sounds like a blog review. maybe he's reading from a script. do i _like_ this style of review/talking? i woht say. but i find it remarkable for sure.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, I do script my videos :)

[@leecherlarry]

@@LifestyleLab_ very stylish review style!

[@ping_kingz1226]

Can it keep an ice coffee cold?

[@LifestyleLab_]

No, it’s a heater

[@ping_kingz1226]

@@LifestyleLab_ thanks for the reply.

[@sohaildossa]

Re: the travel mug. I think you missed the point. It’s not a thermos. It needs to allow for the temperature dropping so that when you put boiling tea in it, it can bring it down to the drinking temperature. How would it achieve that in an acceptable time frame if it was like a thermos?????! Your “use case” is incorrect. The point about battery life is well made though.

[@LifestyleLab_]

I would leave the lid open, or wait until my drink is at the correct temperature before putting it in

[@PaddyP538]

Don’t think you considered that the Travel mug is designed to cool the temperature to actively bring too hot liquid down to the desired temperature and then maintain it. ie 155 degrees cool via phase change material to 142 degrees and heated in order to maintain that ideal temp. Don’t think it makes sense to compare Travel Mug with traditional travel mugs. IMHO.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Leaving the lid open, or waiting until the drink is at the proper temperature before putting it in would likely be a fair trade off for all day batter life

[@itsxris]

ember mug 100% the best mug for work from home!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Absoluuuuutely!

[@PaulHo]

What is that Eames-like lounger chair?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Hans Wegner Shell chair

[@PaulHo]

@@LifestyleLab_ hoo, boy! $$$

[@LifestyleLab_]

Lots of excellent replicas out there

[@PaulHo]

@@LifestyleLab_ to stay on topic, I also got both the Ember mug and tumbler and found myself using them to actually cool drinks down to 130⁰F/54.5⁰C. It's a heartbreaking and tragic realization that any vacuum insulated flask will keep drinks piping hot for practically days, but I'm a chugger once it hits a palatable temperature rather than blistering hot sipper.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Totally makes sense! That is a genuine downside of a great thermos because it stays too hot

[@pade5]

145 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature I enjoy

[@DickWigglin]

They have a car charger, so if you're traveling in a car, it will keep it at the perfect temp all day, not just 3 hours. I'd much rather use the ember travel mug over a thermos, as a thermos will keep your drink scalding hot.