With evenings growing cooler, I’ve found myself reaching for tea more often. A warm drink that stays warm can turn a crisp fall night into pure comfort, and Ember’s latest offering, the Mug 3, aims to do just that. The company first launched its smart mug in 2016 to address a common annoyance for coffee and tea lovers: the disappointment of a drink turning lukewarm after a brief distraction. The third‑generation version arrives with several practical improvements.
The most noticeable update is the removal of the need to open the app to change the temperature. A button on the base of the mug now lets users cycle through five preset settings, beginning at 125 °F. Each press raises the temperature by five degrees, with the highest setting at 145 °F, allowing a quick boost for a cooler sip. During my testing, this proved to be the feature I used most. At night, curled up with a book, my phone is often on the other side of the room, so being able to adjust the heat without getting up felt like a genuine convenience. It also sidesteps the connectivity and pairing frustrations some users have reported with the Ember app.
The placement of the button does present a drawback. Positioned on the bottom of the mug, it can be awkward to press when the vessel is filled with hot liquid. I frequently had to tilt the mug and press firmly to register a change. While the on‑mug controls are welcome, a more accessible location would improve the experience.
For those who still prefer using a phone, the Ember app remains fully functional after pairing via Bluetooth. It offers preset temperatures tailored to different beverages—136 °F for black coffee, 132 °F for green tea, and 142 °F for lemon water—and lets users create custom settings if they favor hotter or cooler drinks.
Additional enhancements include a sliding lid designed to reduce spills, a battery life that maintains the chosen temperature for up to three hours on a single charge, and top‑rack dishwasher compatibility, a first for Ember’s line. The mug is not microwave‑safe, however.
The Mug 3 is offered in two capacities. The 10‑ounce model costs $129 and comes in black, white, and stainless steel. The larger 14‑ounce version is priced at $149 and is available in eight colors: sage green, lavender, powder blue, salt blue, sandstone, white, black, and matcha green.
At the same time, Ember introduced the Tumbler 2, which consolidates the previous Travel Mug 2 and the original Tumbler. This 16‑ounce tumbler features a slimmer, taller profile intended to fit standard car cup holders and is sold in black for $179. The Travel Mug 2 will stay on the market until existing inventory is depleted. All of these products can be purchased through Ember’s website, Target, and Amazon.
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Lauren Forristal covers media, streaming, apps and platforms at TechCrunch. She can be reached at the protected email address or via encrypted message at laurenforris22.25 on Signal.
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