The Best Smart Mug - 2021
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Our Picks For The Top Smart Mugs
Weight-Activated WarmingWith its matching ceramic mug, this simply designed warming plate will keep your coffee or tea at the perfect temperature.
Bluetooth-Connected and PortableMotion and temperature sensors help this mug set intelligently keep your drink at at the temperature you want for three hours at at time.
All-Purpose BoilingFrom college students to those traveling for business, this 11.8-ounce smart thermos with variable controls is a must-have.
Lasting HeatWhether you plan to go camping, embark on day-long retreats or travel to multiple work sites, this smart mug is a reliable companion.
Smart mugs are an innovative way to drink your favorite beverage. — and make sure it’s at the perfect temperature from start to finish. There are effectively two kinds of smart mugs: those with an internal battery and heating element, and those that heat a mug while connected to a charging cable or pad. This latter type should be regularly returned to its charger to maintain its temperature.
If your primary complaint is coffee going cold at your desk, charger-dependent models may be a better option. If your main complaint is tea getting cold while in transit or meetings, you’ll want a travel mug with a battery.
All smart mugs must be hand-washed, due to their sensitive electronics. However, some feature a removable liner, which allows you to clean them with more confidence that you won’t damage the wiring or battery.
Do you prefer hot or iced coffee and tea? Some smart mugs can not only keep liquids hot but also cold, primarily due to the presence of insulation and effective seals. This allows for greater flexibility, especially if you and other members of your household prefer drinks prepared in different ways.
While battery technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, smart mugs still take up a certain amount of space in your cabinets, and they can be heavy. When purchasing a smart mug, consider the bulkiness and weight alongside the mug’s performance.
If you don’t want to carry around a thermos that weighs two pounds even before you add liquid, you may want to opt for a smaller design with less battery life. Alternatively, you could view it as exercise and use the mug as a weight for arm curls in your downtime.
The Best Smart Mugs
BESTINNKITS Smart Coffee Set Auto On/Off Mug, 14-Ounce
You'll appreciate this gravity-induction warming device, which is a simple design intended to maintain your drink at a steady 131 degrees Fahrenheit. It's effectively a small hot plate activated by weight and set to a specific temperature, which means that you can use it with any flat-bottomed ceramic or glass container. Note that use of metal cups isn’t recommended.
Features
Specifications
Ember Temperature Controlled Travel Coffee Mug 2, 12-Ounce
This paired travel mug and charging coaster keeps your coffee at a customizable temperature for up to three hours, with help from an easy-to-use phone app. Not only does the Bluetooth connection allow you to receive notifications about battery life and other data, but you can also control this mug’s temperature and even program customized presets.
Features
Specifications
Cupvenient 12V Smart Car Heating Mug
Specifically designed to work off of a 12-volt vehicle outlet, this car kettle is great for people who are always on the go. It can be set for temperatures between 50-203 degrees Fahrenheit, warming baby milk or formula, making noodles or heating coffee or tea. It features easy touch-screen access to controls and a clear temperature display.
Features
Specifications
Cauldryn Heated Smart Coffee Mug, 16-Ounce
With a battery life of up to 10 hours, this heavy-duty travel carafe can keep your drinks and soups warm or even boil them within minutes. A convenient desk-charging base allows you to keep your beverages hot while also powering it up. You can control the mug's temperature through the app or through a button on top of the LED display.
Features
Specifications
KISS KISS FISH Smart Travel Coffee Mug
This powered thermos includes a steeping basket perfect for coffee grounds or tea leaves, so you can make a fresh, hot drink on the go and keep it warm for up to six hours. The controls on the lid allow you to set the temperature and timer. The touch screen even offers a simple number guessing game to pass the time as your coffee or tea brews.
Features
Specifications
Our Smart Mug Buying Guide
Smart mugs are an innovative way to drink your favorite beverage. — and make sure it’s at the perfect temperature from start to finish. There are effectively two kinds of smart mugs: those with an internal battery and heating element, and those that heat a mug while connected to a charging cable or pad. This latter type should be regularly returned to its charger to maintain its temperature.
If your primary complaint is coffee going cold at your desk, charger-dependent models may be a better option. If your main complaint is tea getting cold while in transit or meetings, you’ll want a travel mug with a battery.
All smart mugs must be hand-washed, due to their sensitive electronics. However, some feature a removable liner, which allows you to clean them with more confidence that you won’t damage the wiring or battery.
Do you prefer hot or iced coffee and tea? Some smart mugs can not only keep liquids hot but also cold, primarily due to the presence of insulation and effective seals. This allows for greater flexibility, especially if you and other members of your household prefer drinks prepared in different ways.
While battery technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, smart mugs still take up a certain amount of space in your cabinets, and they can be heavy. When purchasing a smart mug, consider the bulkiness and weight alongside the mug’s performance.
If you don’t want to carry around a thermos that weighs two pounds even before you add liquid, you may want to opt for a smaller design with less battery life. Alternatively, you could view it as exercise and use the mug as a weight for arm curls in your downtime.
DWYM Fun Fact
Many modern electronic devices are moving away from charging ports and are increasingly utilizing wireless Qi charging instead. This allows you to casually pick up and put down a device without having to fuss with a charging cable or worry about damaging the charging port.
Qi charging is a form of induction charging, in which the charger generates a magnetic field the device is designed to harvest and store as an electric charge. While the implementation of this technology is becoming more widespread, it has existed and been used for years in devices such as electric toothbrushes with no observed ill effects.
The primary downside with induction QI charging is the charging speed. Wired chargers will power a device significantly faster than induction chargers, but you have to manually plug and unplug the cable every time you want to use it. Additionally, charging ports are susceptible to becoming clogged with everything from pocket lint to food. If the internal contacts are damaged, the entire device has essentially been ruined.
The Smart Mug Tips and Advice
- Review your smart mugs before buying to make sure that they are effective insulaters. While better batteries can ensure a longer charge to keep your coffee warm, a well-insulated mug makes the warming element more effective. Thus, you can still expect some warmth even after the charge runs out.
- Some people will be concerned about the electromagnetic energy of a smart mug being harmful to humans and pets, but rest assured that the charging field is very closely contained around the charging pad. Your mug will stop charging unless it is within a few millimeters of the pad; that is the effective range of the radiation it emits. So, unless you put it right next to your body for prolonged periods of time, you should have nothing to worry about.
- If you select a mug that claims to heat a liquid from cold to boiling, be aware that this process will consume much more battery life than if it were simply maintaining a heated liquid’s temperature.
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About The Author
Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketing expert based in New York. She has been writing on business and finance, home and garden, DIY, travel and tourism, and a variety of other topics for over a decade, and she holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. Danielle loves working on product reviews and helping others find the highest quality items and the best values. A self-proclaimed foodie, Danielle loves cooking, baking, and finding just the right products to make the kitchen a more enjoyable and efficient place.