Like everyone who reads these pages, I’m into gadgets in a big way. Anything that can be digitised or connected to the internet is alright by me, but sometimes there are some gadgets that even push us hardy folk at CSP Towers to the limit. Enter Ember, ‘The world’s most advanced temperature adjustable mug for enjoying your coffee exactly the way you like it.’ I had to reproduce the quote verbatim from the manufacturer’s website there as I was slightly at a loss for words. I get the wifi-enabled kettle or coffee machine, or those old skool USB heat mats that could keep your cuppa warm, but this?
Enter the Ember. Picture the problem: you’re a little bit fussy and like your hot chocolate supreme (with marshmallows, obviously) at a specific temperature but, shock horror, it is now a degree too cold to drink. Your only solution prior to the Ember would be to bin the drink and start again. But hold on, what’s this? The clouds part and a solution appears in the form of a matte black digital coffee mug that not only allows you to select a temperature and maintain your drink at that temperature but, if that wasn’t enough, there is an associated app (for Android and iOS) to customise notifications to let you know when it is ready to drink. It will also allow you to ‘name’ your ‘mug’ (no jokes please) and set three presets for different drinks. The built-in battery will keep your beverage hot for 2 hours, or the accompanying ‘charging coaster’ will last all day.
The price for such a piece of potable necessity – $129 ( approx £84). If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, you’ll need to import the mug as it doesn’t seem to be available in the UK, and you’ll need to convert your temperatures to Fahrenheit as the selfish buggers don’t have it in Celsius. In case you’re still reading and are persuaded by such a necessary bargain, further details can be found at the Ember site here.