Nextmug - Temperature-Controlled, Self-Heating Coffee Mug (Slate Blue - 14 oz.)

I have an Ember and Nextmug. I’ve had the Ember over two years and the base broke. One of the tiny little spring-loaded nibs lost its springiness. A weakness in design if you ask me. But, the Nextmug uses the same little nibs. Their design is a little stronger in that one nib is right in the center of the cup-base. But still, a weakness in design that you cannot (and I stress CANNOT) get the baseplate wet.I’m not sure what happened to my ember, but I ended up making a solid nib out of solder for the one that lost its spring. It’s holding, but I’m not confident in it. I’m guessing at some point, the Nextmug base will do the same thing.That aside, the Nextmug is superior for a few reasons. One, it has a definitive on and off option. Where the Ember has a sensor to know when you’ve added liquid, it’s hit or miss. The Ember on/off switch is also inconveniently located underneath the cup. And it also is hit or miss. Where it gives you a tactile response that you’ve clicked it, it’s unclear most of the time what you’ve actually done. Sometimes a light comes on, sometimes not. Sometimes it’s blinking red, sometimes it’s solid red, green, white, blinking…The Nextmug on/off is located on the side (superior) and it’s easy to know when the cup is off (no lights) and which option you are picking.The Ember app? Garbage. It is unreliable. If it works, it’s fantastic. The trouble is that it rarely connects no matter what you do. When I went shopping for a replacement, I specifically looked for cups that did not have an app. “App” means IT developers, means more cost, and generally for a product like this, average developers (I mean, it’s a cup not an air-traffic control system). Plus, the Bluetooth chips they must use have to be the bottom of the barrel (aka, unreliable). Therefore, all the features that the app provided (heating options most notably), were useless to me.The Ember cup size (10 oz) was a little small. There’s now a 14 oz option, but the train had left the station!The Ember on/off button on the bottom of the cup, again, is a nuisance.And here’s something I didn’t think I would care for… the Nextmug lid! I have to say, it’s great! It helps keep the coffee warmer without using as much energy (longer charge when it’s away from the base). Also, it nearly erases evaporation. And, I’m not 100% sure, but the coffee seems to be much less bitter because of it. Maybe my imagination, but the coffee taste better from the Nextmug cup. Plus, no spills (or at least, less chance of splashing).The Nextmug light indicators where intuitive and having a button for “warm, hot, and piping” versus an app… Way to go Nextmug!Between the Nextmug and Ember, it was an easy decision for me. I’m still concerned about the little nibs losing their springiness… But, there you have it.

This NextMug is a very well thought out mug. I previously had an Ember Mug which I will compare to this mug. The NextMug is well worth the cost. In my opinion, the Ember is not worth its cost. The NextMug is larger, holding 12 ozs of coffee, and comes in different colors. The Ember holds about 10ozs and comes in more colors. NextMug doesn't require an app, which kept unpairing with the Ember, to set a desired temperature. The on/off and temp controls are on the NextMug. There are LED indicators on the NextMug for battery life and to indicate heating to desired temp and when reached. There are no controls on the Ember. The Ember has different colored steady and flashing light indicators in which one must know their meaning. The highest temp on the NextMug is five degrees hotter than that of the Ember. The NextMug continuously charges while docked while the Ember mug only charges when on the dock and empty. So, with the Ember, as soon as one pours the coffee, the battery starts discharging and whether walking around or on the charger you have maybe around sixty minutes, depending on ambient temperature, and the coffee is cold. Then the mug needs to be recharged while empty before using again. The Ember does not come with a lid. With the NextMug and included lid, my coffee stays piping hot for over ninety minutes (that's as long as I tested it) while walking around and piping hot while docked. One does not need to recharge the battery on the NextMug before using when placed on the charger. I enjoy hot coffee or tea all day with the NextMug, without having to microwave in another cup. The NextMug has an auto safety shut off. The NextMug is not fully immersible for washing while the Ember is, although I believe it is not recommended. Neither are dishwasher safe. That is not a deterrent for me as both mugs are easily hand washed but the NextMug appears to look cleaner after washing. Neither cup is microwave safe which would have been nice for the Ember and not necessary with the NextMug. It makes sense why they are not. I am more than happy with the NextMug's performance and was many times aggravated with the Ember. I have not had to call for support with the NextMug at this time so I cannot attest to whether or not they stand behind their product. I did have to contact Ember support, which was easily done, due to one of the pins on the charger breaking. Ember immediately sent me a new charger at no cost. I can attest that Ember does stand behind their product. If you are an avid coffee/tea drinker, I highly recommend the NextMug. It's got a lot going for it.

I didn’t realize how much I needed a temperature-controlled coffee mug until I started using this one—now I can’t go back. It keeps my coffee at the perfect temperature (I prefer 135°F) for hours. No more reheating or rushing through my drink. The app makes it super easy to set your preferred temp and adjust it anytime. Sleek, modern, and feels premium. It looks great on my desk and fits well in hand—though it’s a bit heavier than a standard mug, which is expected with the tech inside. Lasts about 1.5–2 hours unplugged, which is enough for me. I usually keep it on the charging coaster during work hours, so it’s always ready. Easy to rinse out, but it's not dishwasher-safe (minor downside). Still, it wipes clean quickly and doesn’t stain.Definitely a splurge, but if you drink coffee or tea every day, it’s absolutely worth it. Great for remote workers or anyone tired of lukewarm drinks. It works well and the cup is thick and sturdy.