What is it?

A digitally controlled mug to keep your favourite drinks at the right temperature. Maintaining liquid warmth of tea and coffee can be tricky without a thermos and keeping a continuous temperature is nigh-on impossible. The Ember Ceramic Mug tackles this problem head on.

Good Points?

It resembles a typical coffee mug with the 295ml capacity ideal for most beverage types and drinking habits. Heat is powered by a built-in battery at the base which lasts for around an hour. Re-charging of the device is provided by a wired USB coaster aimed at home and office desk locations.

An accompanying smartphone app allows you to set and control the temperature which can have a range of between 50°C and 62.5°C. It will also alert you when your beverage has reached the desired heat level.

Once programmed the device will remember the settings so you don't have to keep inputting the same data. You can also choose to display the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Bad points?

Although the mug is rated IPX7 and can be fully submersed in water, it is prohibited from dishwasher cleaning which may put some off.

The cost seems a tad high without being able to compare it to another product as Ember are unique in a self-sustaining temperature mug.

Best for ...

Those who like to prolong their morning cuppa without worrying about it losing its warmth.

Avoid if ...

The thought of software updates on a mug drives you to another type of drink.

Score: 8/10.

Ember Ceramic Mug, £79.95 (ember.com)