What if, in addition to controlling the house light bulb or the robot vacuum cleaner, we were also able to handle a cup from the mobile phone? This is exactly what Ember has been proposing for a long time with her smart cups , a rather unnecessary accessory a priori but that can become the best friend of those who consume coffee or tea regularly (and always want it at the optimal temperature, Clear). After drinking more than two (and three and four …) coffees in one, I think the time has come to tell you about my experience. Settle in and keep reading.
Your drink always hot with your smartphone
The first thing you will like as soon as you see the Ember mug live will be its design. It is very beautiful and attractive, with very rounded lines that invite you to pick it up and hold it in your hands. Its finish is also a polished ceramic type, so it is quite pleasant to the touch and in terms of its dimensions, it looks like a regular cup but its weight already indicates the opposite: on the scale it marks no less than 410 grams -without counting the drink, of course. As for its capacity, it is practically the same as a conventional cup, so in that sense you will not have problems when serving a good cup of coffee or tea.
And if it looks like a cup and acts as such … where is the secret of its operation? Well, at its base, where is the system that is responsible for keeping the drink hot and establishing a connection with your mobile. Right there is where you will start your Ember the first time, pressing on its bottom button and waiting for a blue indicator that will let you know that it is ready for pairing with your phone. In this you will have to have installed an application, available for Android and iOS , thanks to which, you can set the configuration of your cup and leave it ready for use.
Its operation is very good and it never fails. It is able to instantly detect if it contains liquid inside and its temperature sensor is very accurate, continuously measuring the inside and being able to maintain the liquid that we pour just at the temperature that we want in a range of between 50 and 62, 5th. The interface is very simple and intuitive and you can even receive alerts on the phone when the temperature has reached its target (although you can also check it thanks to the LED on its base).
Beyond this you can also set timers to know when to remove the tea bag and even create profiles so you do not have to select a number on the meter, but directly click on one and know that it has to be in Green Tea mode at 59º- It is the temperature at which it is recommended to drink- or Capuccino at 56º. In case you use an iPhone, there is a very interesting extra addition: the Ember app is synchronized with iOS Health, which will allow you to keep an estimate of the caffeine you are consuming (and record it in your summary of data from the Complete Apple Solution).
As for its battery, it is capable of holding for about an hour (although this estimate will vary more or less depending on the temperature at which it is working, of course). To load it has a base, shaped like a plate, in which you only have to leave the cup to initiate contact.
What I liked the most ? How well it works and how efficient it is at the level of synchronization with the mobile application (seriously, it’s instantaneous). The least? That you have to be careful that its lower connectors are perfectly dry before putting it in the charging base. The white version has not convinced me too much either, because it tends to dye more easily (it is what tea and coffee have), so if it is something you care enough, I recommend that you opt for the black version .
Is your purchase worth it?
Taking into account that the price of this mug is 99.99 euros and that it responds to a geeky whim, the truth is that you have to think hard about whether it is worth the investment. The product presents a rather original idea, has a fantastic build quality and perfectly fulfills its mission, to keep the drink at a certain temperature, with the addition of tea timer management or its integration with iOS Health.
Even with all this, and as I reflect in the video that you have at the beginning of this article, the Ember cup is still a whim, 100% unnecessary and that only people who drink a lot of coffee or tea will appreciate and also appreciate the fact. keeping the drink at a suitable temperature – as a gift for someone with this profile is a sure hit. Its function is 100% fulfilled, it is up to you to decide if it compensates you.