This coffee mug keeps your drink hot for hours. I tested the new dishwasher-safe version
The Ember Mug 3 adds manual temperature controls and dishwasher-safe cleaning, but is it enough to convince long-time owners to upgrade?
The new Ember Mug 3 continues to do what the first two iterations did so well: keep coffee and tea hot with a no-fuss, elegant design. But this product goes further by adding manual temperature control and dishwasher-safe washing.
I’ve been using the Ember Mug 3 since before it was released, and there’s very little to complain about. It works as advertised, and the included lid is a nice touch. It’s a little annoying that this update comes seven years after the Mug 2 was released, without revamping much about the overall product.
The Ember Mug 3 is great for newcomers. Long-time owners looking to upgrade or hoping for more, however, might feel disappointed by the subdued revision.
The Ember Mug 3 is a slow evolution
Like past models, the Mug 3 features a built-in heater and precision sensors to detect the temperature and then hold it at your desired level for up to 80 minutes without the lid or 3 hours with the included lid.
The temperature range is still 125°F to 145°F, but with the Mug 3 you can manually change the level by pressing the bottom button. Each LED indicator is a 5-degree jump, up to the max. If you prefer even more precise temperature control, you can set that in the mobile app.
To charge the Mug 3, you use the included induction coaster. There’s nothing with the charging coaster on the face of it. Personally, I would have liked to see it evolve more. Whether that meant using USB-C for the port type to allow more flexible placements, a faster speed, or some other improvement to what has been static for a long time.
Probably the most significant change to the Mug 3 is that it’s top-rack dishwasher safe now. If you run your dishwasher daily or don’t use your coffee cup regularly, this will be great for you.
Since I use the Ember Mug daily—and don’t run the dishwasher daily—I've mostly stuck to handwashing it. But I did throw it in the dishwasher, and it survived as advertised.
The Mug 3 comes in 10 or 14 ounces, and in several color options, just like the Mug 2.
Daily use of the Ember Mug 3
I’ve been using various models of Ember’s Mug or Cup nearly every day for over six years. So, despite its premium price, it’s right up there, value-wise, with any other product I use frequently.
I haven’t run into any problems with the charging coaster or heating elements over the years. The worst things I’ve experienced have been discoloration of a white mug and the app disconnecting from the mug and needing to re-pair it.
The new manual temperature control alleviates the need for the app. You can use the Mug 3 out of the box and set the temperature range from the bottom button.
For people using the Mug 3 for all kinds of different drinks, this could be huge. But if you only use it for morning coffee and don’t deviate from your preferred temperature, like me, then you might not touch the feature much. Still, I don’t hate the idea of relying on an app less than is necessary.
Should you buy the Ember Mug 3?
The Ember Mug 3 is the best version of the self-heating coffee mug the company has ever made. It works well, heating consistently. Its new dishwasher-safe material will be a welcome addition for a lot of people. Even the manual temperature control, which allows side-stepping the mobile app, is nice to have.
It’s a good product that’s hard to ignore if you’ve ever lost a cup of coffee to distractions. I couldn’t imagine my morning coffee without it.
The one caveat is that owners of existing Ember Mugs will probably feel different. It doesn’t offer enough differentiation to justify an instant upgrade. Its changes are subtle and minor compared to the Mug 2. So, if you’ve been waiting years for a major upgrade, unfortunately this isn’t it.
But if you want an excuse to get a new Ember product then you should check out the Ember Tumbler 2.