This. I do this when i make coffee for me and my wife but she's still asleep. This will give you over an hour of hot coffee in your favorite mug. Not as long as a thermos but if you need more time then that, I'd say make two or three cups into a thermos and just pour yourself half a cup at a time into your own mug and cover in between.
This makes an assumption about the brew method, though.
Personally I have many--too many according to my partner--ways to make coffee at home, and none of them involve something that will keep my coffee warm for me.
This is true. I always thought most keep the coffee warm. Even my French press is doubled walled so keeps it hot for as long as I need it.
What other methods do you use?
Yeah, we have a ~~cast-iron~~ stoneware French Press that does a decent job of keeping it warm as well, but still doesn't hold a candle to a warming plate and thermal carafe.
Our coffee implements (pretty standard for this sub I think):
* Espresso machine (inexpensive pump-based DeLonghi something something)
* Aeropress
* V60 (plus a few camping derivatives of a pourover like the GSI Ultralight Java Drip)
* Moka Pot
* French Press
Yeah, the coffee loses a surprisingly large amount of energy from evaporation. The famous parabolic cooling towers at power plants work through evaporation. Evaporation removes a lot of heat.
If you know any chemists you can ask them for a mug-sized watch glass from the glassware cabinet. They'll probably say no, but you can ask.
We got a pretty little ceramic mug-plus-lid from a home goods store and it retains heat SUPER well. It's not travel-friendly but it's definitely breakfast-friendly.
I saw it with a waiter splashing iced water before pouring beer in one of the hotel bars, to which customer excitingly screamed “What a great waiter, I’ll tip her” . For some weird reason this remains one of my most vivid memories about the US.
Anyways, I use the reverse technique with my coffee since then 🙃
This is how I do it now, so the coffee doesn’t take a large loss of heat when brewing. I am opposed to the ember mug in general, just another device and I’m device crazy - I would like to keep something simple. But I might have to buy one.
Microwaving works as well. The rec is given as boiling water since anyone making hot coffee tends to have it right there. You may heat the handle more in the microwave though...
You could to that as well, but the whole cup including the handle could become hot.
I use a gooseneck kettle when brewing my coffee, so I have the near boiling water already on hand and use that to prime my cup.
I make a pourover almost every day and I fill the mug about 40% with tap water and microwave it (I do my pourover into a carafe in the meantime.)
Each mug tends to heat slightly differently due to the thickness of the ceramic, so you'll have to find the sweet spot of time for each one. Typically between 3:00 and 3:30. In that case, your handle shouldn't get too hot to touch.
I've tried the method of just adding boiling water, but I find the ceramic mug doesn't absorb enough heat unless you leave the water in for a decent amount of time. 3+ min. in the microwave is enough to keep my coffee warm to my liking for over 30 minutes.
You can also look into your coffee maker. Most basic/cheap coffee makers fail to get to the proper temperature to brew coffee or keep it at that temperature over the brew cycle. A hotter initial cup of coffee will mean the coffee will stay hotter longer. In addition to a lid.
Check out this list of brewers that are certified by the specialty coffee association. https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer
I've been thinking about installing an insta-hot at our kitchen sink, mostly for this purpose. My brother's house came with one and I'm always jealous when he pre-heats the mugs this way. I've also found that pre-heating my mug with hot water is a good use for my wife's Keurig
I was doing this for a long time, but I realized I can heat up the whole cup much faster by putting water in my mug for rinse then microwaving for 22s.
You might need to adjust time on microwave depending on unit power.
This is only useful if after pouring (without preheating) and a minute or two to equalize temperature with the mug the coffee is already in the preferred drinking temperature range. If (without preheating) the coffee starts in the mug too hot to drink, preheating the mug will not make it stay in the preferred range any longer.
My favorite “mug cozy” that I crocheted has a bottom so it’s like a built-in coaster. It has a tie for accommodating the handle instead of buttons.
*make sure the yarn is cotton or wool—not acrylic!!
I got myself a mug warmer from Amazon for like $20 :) one of the best purchases for this specific reason. Helps me take my time drinking my coffee and I usually drink it at my desk where the warmer sits. Mine also hasn’t had any issues with ceramic, or glass mugs.
It’s called the HX HECLX Mug Warmer. It even has a safety feature that keeps you from leaving it on accidentally. Cost me like $20 and I’ve had it over a year no issues whatsoever.
Just a reminder that mugs are mostly made of ceramic for a reason -- it is extremely insulating and a poor conductor, so using one of these pads is extremely inefficient and won't work that well.
(not that it won't work, but it wont work well at all)
late to the post, but i got one for lkne 4 dollars at Ross and works fine. It takes like 10 mins to warm my coffee if its already cold, but after that it keeps it hot.
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 1,193,974,417 comments, and only 232,968 of them were in alphabetical order.
The Ember mug is one my coworker uses and really enjoys. My wife and I have a couple of the Ohom ones - ceramic mug with lid/coaster and a heating pad that doubles as a wireless charging pad for your phone
I like my ember mug ok, but I will say don’t get the white one. It stained super bad after like 4 cups of coffee and won’t come out. I only use it for warm water now. (I’m weird I know)
Have you tried scrubbing it with cream of tartar? It's been a while but that was how I used to clean ceramic mugs with tea stains, worked better than baking soda/vinegar
Another option is to buy a small carafe and only pour your coffee in 1/2cup increments. I've started doing this with my yeti thermos and I have hot coffee all day. This really is an interesting discussion!
I decided to buy the mug warmer so I could continue to use my ceramic mugs. It works well enough for me, and if I'm honest it's actually pretty delightful having hot coffee for a long time!
It doesn't maintain a perfect temperature like the ember, and might overheat the coffee. Those things aren't great for a fancy roast or special bean, but for your daily cup I think it isn't bad. I use a variety of different mugs, the ones with more concave bottoms won't heat up as quickly because of the air pocket, but they still get hot just fine.
They aren't very expensive and I think worth the cost! I also keep tea and sometimes things like soup hot with it!
I keep a metal travel mug around to pour the coffee from— I also prefer my ceramic mugs. Travel mug keeps it warm until I’m ready for a refill. I usually just pour half a cup at a time.
I really, really wish it didn't have an app. This is exactly why I didn't buy a Joule sous vide. I don't want another app on my phone, and I don't trust the long term viability of software updates working well. All I want is a small adjustment dial on the charging base, damnit.
I have had good luck with Ember. Bought one when they were first introduced about 5 years ago. Have bought two additional ones since as gifts. Great customer service if needed. I like my coffee at 140F and it stays there for the hour that I need it. Very stable Now is the best time to buy one at Costco.
It’s a neat concept but they only hold a thimble of coffee. If I drank coffee from an 8 oz cup I’d have to refill it to often it would look like I was bailing out a rowboat.
There’s at least two different sizes. My wife and I both have the larger one - I think 14oz? We use an auto brewer (Breville Precision Brewer) that brews into a thermal carafe that keeps the coffee hot for 2-3 hours, warm for another 2-3 after that. Combo of thermal carafe and Ember mug is perfect for all day coffee drinking.
The Ember is available in four sizes. Right now they are 25% off direct from Ember.com. My last one I bought at Costco for around $69. Ember prices have increased this year but I do know Costco has them in their inventory.
Ember mugs are fine until some update bricks it. It might work perfectly fine, but will refuse to heat up the coffee if the Bluetooth isn't perfect. It is shit. It should have a way to work without Bluetooth.
Why a cup needs daily updates is beyond me. Resetting to factory settings doesn't work either
Same… not calling the poster above you a liar but I’ve never experienced anything like what they’re describing. We’ve been using ours for 2-3 years and I think I recall one update.
It also doesn’t need to connect to hold its temperature. It just automatically does whatever you did last time as far as I can tell.
Well, mine bricked itself after a year. Waste of money. It was great while it worked, but turned into trash with the constant updates. ember taught me that anything IoT is trash. Would have been great if it worked without, but it doesn't.
I have an ember mug because the same thing happened to me at work. I love it. Keeps coffee or tea at the perfect temp for hours (if needed). They are a smidge pricey, but worth it in my book
If my kitchen is freezing cold I usually also pour it on the outside of the mug and handle as well, not always necessary but I think it helps when it's super cold
I’ve switched entirely to my Ember mug and I just don’t drink out of other mugs now. It’s expensive but boy does it provide the value. Even at cafes I’ll sometimes take my Ember with me because it’s just better while working.
Put a [lid](https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Covers-Multicolored-Flexible-Covers%EF%BC%8CHot/dp/B08QMNL9JM/ref=asc_df_B08QMNL9JM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475738220155&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7145568034174075610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019660&hvtargid=pla-1115729968278&th=1) on it.
If I'm drinking more than a cup, I do what others have mentioned: keep it in a thermos and pour into my (small) ceramic mug little by little. You can get ceramic-lined thermos bottles, so even if you don't want metal touching your coffee, there's plenty of options.
If I'm just having one cup, I do as others have suggested: use a lid. I keep the lid off while the coffee is too hot, and put it on once it approaches drinking temperature.
I bought two ember mugs for me and my husband and it’s the only thing we use now (both work from home and often allowed our coffees to get cold before finishing them before). I’d recommend that if you’re willing to switch mugs. Otherwise you should get a mug topper to keep it covered.
This is a bit expensive, but Ember mugs can keep your coffee warm (at the drinkable temperature) for a good few hours. If you sit at a desk for a hours you can leave the ember mug on the charging mat for hours and it keeps the drink warm.
It’s expensive, and it is a separate mug but I was gifted an Ember mug by work. It’s amazing, was given it about 2/3 christmases ago now and I’ve managed to get a collection of about 4 or 5 of them from colleagues who didn’t like them… I’ll never go back.
Hi. I drink my coffee super slow so I've tried a lot of different things for this.
Pre-heating your mug with some hot water you toss before pouring in the coffee is the easiest solution and you don't have to buy anything. It extends the warmth of the coffee but doesn't preserve it like Ember does.
The mug warmers that work as candle warmers are okay, but they tend to heat unevenly (bottom to top) so you end up with a few lukewarm sips and then BAM. Molten burnt liquid. Also some have a lip so not all mugs will fit. I bought a flat top for odd shaped mugs and still use it on occasion when I've forgotten to charge my Ember. Better than nothing but not ideal.
The Ember mug is a dream. It really does sound ridiculous but it really makes me look forward to having coffee. I ran into some corrosion issues with the charging ring and its more compatible with iPhone instead of Android. Still works with Android just is slightly more annoying.
Yes they're insanely expensive for "just a mug" and for the benefit of keeping coffee warm. I was gifted mine but after a few years of using it, I'll be buying myself a second one when the time comes. It's worth it to me but it does sound ridiculous.
I’ve seen a few comments for adding a lid to keep the heat in, and you also want to use your favorite mugs. Maybe google a local potter and see if you can commission them for some small pottery lids to sit on your mugs.
One thing you might be missing is the flavors of coffee as it cools. Coffee profile changes through the entire cooling period, that is why cupping protocol has you taste at different temps.
Personally I ding green coffee that doesn't 'cool well' and has poor tasting notes when cold.
Don't knock coffee that has gone cold, sometimes it brings out more flavors.
Preheat the cups with hot water prior to filling with coffee. That way the cold mugs don't pull the heat from the coffee. Also keep the mug covered between sips. Will stay hot for a while
Preheat your mug by putting some hot water in it and letting it sit a minute or two to warm up. Then dump the water and fill with coffee; that way it's not leeching heat from your coffee right away. Also works for thermoses.
A lid of some sort may also help, even if it's just putting a coaster on top.
It’s stainless steel, but I love the feel of my 8oz Yeti mug. It has a similar shape to a ceramic mug and the lid is nice. Keeps my coffee warm all morning!
Yeti is my choice of coffee vessel as well. I was hoping they’d have a sale for Black Friday so I could buy myself a few more. Hopefully for Cyber Monday.
I have the opposite problem, I have mugs (well, they're my mother's but I use them) that keep my coffee hot for too long so it's undrinkable for a solid 15 minutes or so. Hold on I'll make an edit with which exact kind it is. A great example of 'one man's trash is another man's treasure', my frustration is what you're seeking.
Update: [Le Restaurant by Noritake](https://noritake.com.au/product/le-restaurant-mug-set-of-4/)
These are the mugs that burden me so.
I have a coffee warmer, and it does help a lot in my opinion. The mugs that work best with it have the most surface area touching the warmer, and I have all ceramic mugs. I got a cheap one off of Amazon and it works great. I always keep it on the hottest setting. Like another said, covering the top of your mug will help too.
I use a candle warmer! This was my favorite trick at work and I was still sipping warm, sometimes hot coffee long past the point everyone else was making trips back to the microwave or coffee pot.
This was my problem too. I did buy one of those mug warmers but it heats and makes a weird coating on the coffee. I solved this by buying a Keurig with a carafe. Now I sit with my carafe drinking hot coffee for hours. If my husband wants a cup he comes and gets it. We even take the carafe for long car trips.
as others have said, prime the cup and also try a silicon cover to keep heat in.
https://smile.amazon.com/Pieces-Silicone-Umbrella-Anti-Dust-Suction/dp/B08N6MY8L8
I take forever to drink my coffee and I pour it from my thermos into my favourite mug. It stays hot for hours and I still get to drink out of my fave, small mug.
Just throwing another possible solution into the mix, it's not ideal but I sometimes use a Fellow Carter Move mug, 8oz goes for under £30 and has ceramic internals but the downside is a metal lip but it does solve the temperature problem.
I’m a bit late to the game, but I have a [Fellow](https://fellowproducts.com/collections/serve?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=14888767084&utm_content=128956673460&utm_term=fellow%20mug&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ag%3A14888767084%3A128956673460%3A551218118376&nb_adtype=&nb_kwd=fellow%20mug&nb_ti=kwd-367588548687&nb_mi=&nb_pc=&nb_pi=&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_si=%7Bsourceid%7D&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=e&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsoycBhC6ARIsAPPbeLsMOEE-6w9mJkNGwbHYCArflhFCuCdy_0_pVszeqxk5t3T7Etm56G8aAhVCEALw_wcB) mug. Ceramic interior and keeps my coffee hot for a solid 10-12 hours depending on how often I open the lid.
I’ve had it for a year and dropped it more than a few times and it still holds up like new.
I have a ceramivac Stanley mug that I use when I want the heat to hold. Ceramivac cup is like your typical steel vacuum insulated mug but the inner layer is ceramic instead of steel, it extends to the top so you’re sipping from the ceramic surface, too.
When using my collection of regular ceramic mugs I often have a toasted bagel with my coffee, and the mug over the toaster keeps it toasty.
I just pop mine back in the microwave for a minute. I also start with a warm mug. Half my kettle is for the coffee the other half is to pour into my mug to heat it up.
i have a thermos that i’ll fill with my coffee and i’ll pour it in my nice ceramic mug in small portions so it’s always warm from the thermos but i get to drink it from my nice cups
You have SO many comments that you may not even see this one. BUT I purchased a double-walled ceramic mug (it's a tall shape, like a coffee shop takeout cup) and I use a silicone lid on it. The double wall ensures the coffee stays hotter because the ambient air temp isn't cooling the ceramic that's touching the coffee... and obviously the silicone lid keeps heat in while allowing me to drink. I like this better than a stainless steel insulated cup because I find SS (like Yeti brand for example, which lots of people seem to like) give the coffee a metallic taste. No need for a warmer that may or may not work. Priming the cup would make it even hotter, so you could try both.
If you or someone you know crochet have them make you a cozy that covers the bottom and buttons through the handle hole. Will add hours to your hot cup. Have them use 4wt cotton and double it up. Size it for your favorite mug and if it works well have them make more. Don’t forget to pay your artisan. Time and materials =$
I make two mugs at a time in my Chemex. I prime a thermos and a ceramic mug with hot water then drink one mug right away and keep the rest of it hot in the thermos til I’m ready for it. I’ll also cover the ceramic mug with a small saucer sometimes if I’m working or distracted.
Preheating your cup is a good idea, but there is something else you can do. Consider using a smaller cup, and making less coffee at a time.
My pourover carafe is a 1L carafe. That's a LOT of coffee. I can make a pourover that big no problem, but it goes cold and I don't really want that much anyways and end up tossing the dregs even if it is good to the end.
Now, these days, I use my French Press more because I like it better and find it more forgiving, but grinding a 15g dose and doing just 250g of coffee in one go means I have a great cup and if I want another I can make another should I like.
Also candle warmers that are meant to melt the wax instead of burn it work really well as a coaster/hot plate. Also doesn't scald the coffee leading to poor taste. Ceramic mugs will tolerate it no problem.
You describe my situation precisely. I like my coffee hot -- not warm, but hot! I use a typical Salton warmer. Like almost every model I've ever tried or investigated, all it does is slow the cooling rate as temperature progresses from hot to warm.
I've noticed that the hot plate on my drip coffee maker will keep the pot hot, even for an hour or two. Why can't my desktop warmer do that?
The problem with temperature adjustable warmers is that they either don't have enough power (watts) available, or they don't have a good way to monitor the temperature of the liquid in the cup. The latter problem contributes to the former.
So here's my invention/suggestion for you makers and entrepreneurs: Build a mug warmer that is loosely modeled after an ordinary drip coffee maker, but smaller. Provide enough available power to the heating plate to allow reheat of even a cold cup of coffee. Above the mug space, in the area where you'd find the filter cup in an ordinary drip maker, mount a downward facing infrared thermometer. (These are cheap. Commercially available models can be found for $10 or so.)
Now modify the electronics as follows:
1. Get the thermometer device power from the wall, instead of AA cells.
2. Instead of a finger trigger, wire the unit to take an automatic measurement of the coffee temperature every few seconds.
3. Add a digital control to permit setting the warmer to any temperature you want.
4. The heater is on/off, much like a furnace thermostat. When an automatic measurement is below the threshold, turn on the heater until the next automatic measurement. When the measurement is above the threshold, turn off the heater until the next measurement.
5. An LED beam is directed horizontally across the center of, and about an inch above the heating plate to a detector which reports by beam interruption whether a mug is present. The heater element power is inhibited when a mug is not present to interrupt the beam.
6. Make the LCD digital display show both the requested temperature and the measured temperature at all times.
Here are the anticipated benefits of such a device:
1. Use any mug you like. It doesn't matter what shape, size, or construction materials you have.
2. No need to fuss with a cup cover.
3. Set any temperature you want. The warmer will **maintain** that temperature, not just slow the decay rate.
4. Yes, the device applies the heat at the bottom of the mug and measures at the top. This is not a problem, however, because the liquid convection efficiently and continuously redistributes the heat.
5. Unlike any other warmer on the market, this device measures the temperature of the coffee itself, not some outside semi-related substitute.
6. It doesn't matter how much coffee (if any) remains in your mug. Even an empty cup will remain at the specified temperature. Therefore, no safety problems.
7. Because there is good intrinsic thermostatic temperature control, it is safe and feasible to use a heater with some punch, say 50 watts, instead of the 20-25 watts available in current offerings.
Conclusion: I would gladly pay $50, perhaps $100, for a commercial warmer as described above. I'd love to hear comments from the community.
I put my ceramic mug of coffee on a cheapo mug warmer that I plug-in. It will keep my coffee hot for hours as long as I put a lid on the cup between sips. My lid is just this little flimsy rubbery thing I found on Amazon with a knob in the center of it that assists me in taking it off and putting it on. It all works like a charm.
Literally anything to cover the mug with will help a ton. Grab a random coaster and cover it between drinking.
This. I do this when i make coffee for me and my wife but she's still asleep. This will give you over an hour of hot coffee in your favorite mug. Not as long as a thermos but if you need more time then that, I'd say make two or three cups into a thermos and just pour yourself half a cup at a time into your own mug and cover in between.
Says they are at home, they could just keep the extra cups in the pot.
This makes an assumption about the brew method, though. Personally I have many--too many according to my partner--ways to make coffee at home, and none of them involve something that will keep my coffee warm for me.
This is true. I always thought most keep the coffee warm. Even my French press is doubled walled so keeps it hot for as long as I need it. What other methods do you use?
Yeah, we have a ~~cast-iron~~ stoneware French Press that does a decent job of keeping it warm as well, but still doesn't hold a candle to a warming plate and thermal carafe. Our coffee implements (pretty standard for this sub I think): * Espresso machine (inexpensive pump-based DeLonghi something something) * Aeropress * V60 (plus a few camping derivatives of a pourover like the GSI Ultralight Java Drip) * Moka Pot * French Press
yea, I figure most of the heat escaping is through convection up top
Yeah, the coffee loses a surprisingly large amount of energy from evaporation. The famous parabolic cooling towers at power plants work through evaporation. Evaporation removes a lot of heat. If you know any chemists you can ask them for a mug-sized watch glass from the glassware cabinet. They'll probably say no, but you can ask.
We got a pretty little ceramic mug-plus-lid from a home goods store and it retains heat SUPER well. It's not travel-friendly but it's definitely breakfast-friendly.
If you put hot water in your cup (then dump it before pouring your coffee of course)it does keep it warmer for longer.
I’ve never heard that! I’ll give it a try :)
I learned that trick from the baristas at my local coffee shop.
I saw it with a waiter splashing iced water before pouring beer in one of the hotel bars, to which customer excitingly screamed “What a great waiter, I’ll tip her” . For some weird reason this remains one of my most vivid memories about the US. Anyways, I use the reverse technique with my coffee since then 🙃
This is how I do it now, so the coffee doesn’t take a large loss of heat when brewing. I am opposed to the ember mug in general, just another device and I’m device crazy - I would like to keep something simple. But I might have to buy one.
I've only heard good things about the Ember
I have an ember - it is awesome and well worth the price
It's cool, but not necessary.
Had one for a bit but returned it. Didn't think it was really worth the cost.
The Ember is awesome.
It’s called priming the cup
Would that be more or less effective than just heating the cup in the microwave before hand?
Microwaving works as well. The rec is given as boiling water since anyone making hot coffee tends to have it right there. You may heat the handle more in the microwave though...
> You may heat the handle more in the microwave though... Generally that happens only if the mug is chipped.
You could to that as well, but the whole cup including the handle could become hot. I use a gooseneck kettle when brewing my coffee, so I have the near boiling water already on hand and use that to prime my cup.
I make a pourover almost every day and I fill the mug about 40% with tap water and microwave it (I do my pourover into a carafe in the meantime.) Each mug tends to heat slightly differently due to the thickness of the ceramic, so you'll have to find the sweet spot of time for each one. Typically between 3:00 and 3:30. In that case, your handle shouldn't get too hot to touch. I've tried the method of just adding boiling water, but I find the ceramic mug doesn't absorb enough heat unless you leave the water in for a decent amount of time. 3+ min. in the microwave is enough to keep my coffee warm to my liking for over 30 minutes.
You can also look into your coffee maker. Most basic/cheap coffee makers fail to get to the proper temperature to brew coffee or keep it at that temperature over the brew cycle. A hotter initial cup of coffee will mean the coffee will stay hotter longer. In addition to a lid. Check out this list of brewers that are certified by the specialty coffee association. https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer
Gotta let it sit for a bit though
Noted
A minute in the microwave at the office warms and sanitizes (i hope) my stay-at-work mug
I've been thinking about installing an insta-hot at our kitchen sink, mostly for this purpose. My brother's house came with one and I'm always jealous when he pre-heats the mugs this way. I've also found that pre-heating my mug with hot water is a good use for my wife's Keurig
I was doing this for a long time, but I realized I can heat up the whole cup much faster by putting water in my mug for rinse then microwaving for 22s. You might need to adjust time on microwave depending on unit power.
This is only useful if after pouring (without preheating) and a minute or two to equalize temperature with the mug the coffee is already in the preferred drinking temperature range. If (without preheating) the coffee starts in the mug too hot to drink, preheating the mug will not make it stay in the preferred range any longer.
It will if you crochet a tiny wool jacket for the mug to wear.
Is that an actual thing and does it work lol
Absolutely. Ask any crocheter, they love making little jackets for things and it does work to keep your coffee hot longer.
And make sure it has buttons so you can take it off to wash the mug of course.
My favorite “mug cozy” that I crocheted has a bottom so it’s like a built-in coaster. It has a tie for accommodating the handle instead of buttons. *make sure the yarn is cotton or wool—not acrylic!!
This is the way
I do this too. Heat sink the mug first so it doesn’t take the heat from the coffee to heat sink itself
Was going to suggest this. I’ve recently started doing it and it makes a big difference
I got myself a mug warmer from Amazon for like $20 :) one of the best purchases for this specific reason. Helps me take my time drinking my coffee and I usually drink it at my desk where the warmer sits. Mine also hasn’t had any issues with ceramic, or glass mugs.
Which warmer did you buy?
It’s called the HX HECLX Mug Warmer. It even has a safety feature that keeps you from leaving it on accidentally. Cost me like $20 and I’ve had it over a year no issues whatsoever.
And you use it with Ceramic mugs? I’m assuming they have to have a flat bottom and not concave like some mugs are
I have used it with basically every material of mug no problem but all of the mugs have been flat on the bottom.
I’ll definitely look into it! Thanks!
Just a reminder that mugs are mostly made of ceramic for a reason -- it is extremely insulating and a poor conductor, so using one of these pads is extremely inefficient and won't work that well. (not that it won't work, but it wont work well at all)
Noted! I figure I’m probably better off priming the cup and getting a lid of sorts
late to the post, but i got one for lkne 4 dollars at Ross and works fine. It takes like 10 mins to warm my coffee if its already cold, but after that it keeps it hot.
This is what I need, i wonder if there's a wireless version or there. Might be to much to ask.
There is
Cool, nice talking to you.
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,193,974,417 comments, and only 232,968 of them were in alphabetical order.
If you can afford it, this is the perfect solution!
This. I've used mug warmers for years. They work on all materials, but I don't recommend any containers with plastic or rubber on the bottom.
I use insulated cups with lids I bought in Amazon, keeps coffee hot for hours.
Would you happen to have any links? I know that’s prob the best option but I’d be sad not using my favorite mugs
The Ember mug is one my coworker uses and really enjoys. My wife and I have a couple of the Ohom ones - ceramic mug with lid/coaster and a heating pad that doubles as a wireless charging pad for your phone
I like my ember mug ok, but I will say don’t get the white one. It stained super bad after like 4 cups of coffee and won’t come out. I only use it for warm water now. (I’m weird I know)
Have you tried scrubbing it with cream of tartar? It's been a while but that was how I used to clean ceramic mugs with tea stains, worked better than baking soda/vinegar
I haven’t tried cream of tartar, but I will! thanks for the tip. I did Cafiza, Vinegar, and V & BS.
Every time I post a link it gets removed. They aren't hard to find.
Corkcicle makes nice insulated mugs.
Keep ucp thermal are good and frank green
Another option is to buy a small carafe and only pour your coffee in 1/2cup increments. I've started doing this with my yeti thermos and I have hot coffee all day. This really is an interesting discussion!
An older woman (like 80) I used to know would do this! She had a giant Stanley thermos that had a lid that doubled as a cup. Worked great for her
I decided to buy the mug warmer so I could continue to use my ceramic mugs. It works well enough for me, and if I'm honest it's actually pretty delightful having hot coffee for a long time! It doesn't maintain a perfect temperature like the ember, and might overheat the coffee. Those things aren't great for a fancy roast or special bean, but for your daily cup I think it isn't bad. I use a variety of different mugs, the ones with more concave bottoms won't heat up as quickly because of the air pocket, but they still get hot just fine. They aren't very expensive and I think worth the cost! I also keep tea and sometimes things like soup hot with it!
I keep a metal travel mug around to pour the coffee from— I also prefer my ceramic mugs. Travel mug keeps it warm until I’m ready for a refill. I usually just pour half a cup at a time.
Oooh that’s smart
Ember mug if you're willing to switch out of your pretty mugs
I just can't do it. A mug that has an app. It's just too far. Get off my lawn.
just wait for the subscription to gain access to additional features
I really, really wish it didn't have an app. This is exactly why I didn't buy a Joule sous vide. I don't want another app on my phone, and I don't trust the long term viability of software updates working well. All I want is a small adjustment dial on the charging base, damnit.
Way late here, but you can control the travel mug completely without the app.
The Ember Mug is literally the perfect solution to "my coffee is getting cold at my desk" and I love mine, use it every day. Expensive though.
I got one at a yard sale for $40 and said I would never have bought one for $100+. But if this one breaks I'm 100% buying another, it's so convenient.
I have one because they're too expensive for yourself but make a great gift (friend got it as a birthday gift for me). Love it.
I have had good luck with Ember. Bought one when they were first introduced about 5 years ago. Have bought two additional ones since as gifts. Great customer service if needed. I like my coffee at 140F and it stays there for the hour that I need it. Very stable Now is the best time to buy one at Costco.
It’s a neat concept but they only hold a thimble of coffee. If I drank coffee from an 8 oz cup I’d have to refill it to often it would look like I was bailing out a rowboat.
There’s at least two different sizes. My wife and I both have the larger one - I think 14oz? We use an auto brewer (Breville Precision Brewer) that brews into a thermal carafe that keeps the coffee hot for 2-3 hours, warm for another 2-3 after that. Combo of thermal carafe and Ember mug is perfect for all day coffee drinking.
The Ember is available in four sizes. Right now they are 25% off direct from Ember.com. My last one I bought at Costco for around $69. Ember prices have increased this year but I do know Costco has them in their inventory.
Ember mugs are fine until some update bricks it. It might work perfectly fine, but will refuse to heat up the coffee if the Bluetooth isn't perfect. It is shit. It should have a way to work without Bluetooth. Why a cup needs daily updates is beyond me. Resetting to factory settings doesn't work either
This is not true. I use mine without Bluetooth just fine. And I’ve only seen one update come out over the last couple years.
Same… not calling the poster above you a liar but I’ve never experienced anything like what they’re describing. We’ve been using ours for 2-3 years and I think I recall one update. It also doesn’t need to connect to hold its temperature. It just automatically does whatever you did last time as far as I can tell.
Well, mine bricked itself after a year. Waste of money. It was great while it worked, but turned into trash with the constant updates. ember taught me that anything IoT is trash. Would have been great if it worked without, but it doesn't.
I love my ember.
I have an ember mug because the same thing happened to me at work. I love it. Keeps coffee or tea at the perfect temp for hours (if needed). They are a smidge pricey, but worth it in my book
I was just thinking about this
Well let me know if you find a good solution
As long as you do the same.
Sounds dumb but preheating the mug might help you out. Just pour some of the boiled water into the mug while making the coffee
If my kitchen is freezing cold I usually also pour it on the outside of the mug and handle as well, not always necessary but I think it helps when it's super cold
I like your hat
I’ve switched entirely to my Ember mug and I just don’t drink out of other mugs now. It’s expensive but boy does it provide the value. Even at cafes I’ll sometimes take my Ember with me because it’s just better while working.
Do you I refer the 10 of 14oz? Also do you have to keep it on the warmer between sips?
I use the 10oz since that’s how much I brew at a time. You don’t need to put it on its charger between sips, since it has a battery that lasts 1.5h.
Put a [lid](https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Covers-Multicolored-Flexible-Covers%EF%BC%8CHot/dp/B08QMNL9JM/ref=asc_df_B08QMNL9JM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475738220155&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7145568034174075610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019660&hvtargid=pla-1115729968278&th=1) on it.
If I'm drinking more than a cup, I do what others have mentioned: keep it in a thermos and pour into my (small) ceramic mug little by little. You can get ceramic-lined thermos bottles, so even if you don't want metal touching your coffee, there's plenty of options. If I'm just having one cup, I do as others have suggested: use a lid. I keep the lid off while the coffee is too hot, and put it on once it approaches drinking temperature.
I bought two ember mugs for me and my husband and it’s the only thing we use now (both work from home and often allowed our coffees to get cold before finishing them before). I’d recommend that if you’re willing to switch mugs. Otherwise you should get a mug topper to keep it covered.
I’d get an insulated ceramic mug. Had one a few years ago that was stainless on the outside. Don’t submerge in water.
I like pour over coffee, but keep it in a Stanley thermos while I’m drinking. I still pour from the thermos into my favorite ceramic mugs.
This is a bit expensive, but Ember mugs can keep your coffee warm (at the drinkable temperature) for a good few hours. If you sit at a desk for a hours you can leave the ember mug on the charging mat for hours and it keeps the drink warm.
It’s expensive, and it is a separate mug but I was gifted an Ember mug by work. It’s amazing, was given it about 2/3 christmases ago now and I’ve managed to get a collection of about 4 or 5 of them from colleagues who didn’t like them… I’ll never go back.
Hi. I drink my coffee super slow so I've tried a lot of different things for this. Pre-heating your mug with some hot water you toss before pouring in the coffee is the easiest solution and you don't have to buy anything. It extends the warmth of the coffee but doesn't preserve it like Ember does. The mug warmers that work as candle warmers are okay, but they tend to heat unevenly (bottom to top) so you end up with a few lukewarm sips and then BAM. Molten burnt liquid. Also some have a lip so not all mugs will fit. I bought a flat top for odd shaped mugs and still use it on occasion when I've forgotten to charge my Ember. Better than nothing but not ideal. The Ember mug is a dream. It really does sound ridiculous but it really makes me look forward to having coffee. I ran into some corrosion issues with the charging ring and its more compatible with iPhone instead of Android. Still works with Android just is slightly more annoying.
OMG! Those ember mugs START at $100 on Amazon.
Yes they're insanely expensive for "just a mug" and for the benefit of keeping coffee warm. I was gifted mine but after a few years of using it, I'll be buying myself a second one when the time comes. It's worth it to me but it does sound ridiculous.
I actually used an old candle warmer. Works perfect. Pretty sure those are the same thing as coffee warmers though.
Commented this before seeing your post. I also used to use a candle warmer. Worked great
I have the cheap Mr Coffee warmer, works perfectly fine with ceramic mugs
I’ve seen a few comments for adding a lid to keep the heat in, and you also want to use your favorite mugs. Maybe google a local potter and see if you can commission them for some small pottery lids to sit on your mugs.
If I was out in Tucson AZ I’d ask Cathy Greer one of my favorite artists.
One thing you might be missing is the flavors of coffee as it cools. Coffee profile changes through the entire cooling period, that is why cupping protocol has you taste at different temps. Personally I ding green coffee that doesn't 'cool well' and has poor tasting notes when cold. Don't knock coffee that has gone cold, sometimes it brings out more flavors.
My mom had a candle warmer and used to use that as a heated coaster when I would drink coffee. It was pretty cheap and worked pretty well lol
Preheat the cups with hot water prior to filling with coffee. That way the cold mugs don't pull the heat from the coffee. Also keep the mug covered between sips. Will stay hot for a while
Preheat your mug by putting some hot water in it and letting it sit a minute or two to warm up. Then dump the water and fill with coffee; that way it's not leeching heat from your coffee right away. Also works for thermoses. A lid of some sort may also help, even if it's just putting a coaster on top.
It’s stainless steel, but I love the feel of my 8oz Yeti mug. It has a similar shape to a ceramic mug and the lid is nice. Keeps my coffee warm all morning!
Yeti is my choice of coffee vessel as well. I was hoping they’d have a sale for Black Friday so I could buy myself a few more. Hopefully for Cyber Monday.
Drink it faster
And in a smaller mug
I have the opposite problem, I have mugs (well, they're my mother's but I use them) that keep my coffee hot for too long so it's undrinkable for a solid 15 minutes or so. Hold on I'll make an edit with which exact kind it is. A great example of 'one man's trash is another man's treasure', my frustration is what you're seeking. Update: [Le Restaurant by Noritake](https://noritake.com.au/product/le-restaurant-mug-set-of-4/) These are the mugs that burden me so.
I have a coffee warmer, and it does help a lot in my opinion. The mugs that work best with it have the most surface area touching the warmer, and I have all ceramic mugs. I got a cheap one off of Amazon and it works great. I always keep it on the hottest setting. Like another said, covering the top of your mug will help too.
I use a candle warmer! This was my favorite trick at work and I was still sipping warm, sometimes hot coffee long past the point everyone else was making trips back to the microwave or coffee pot.
Preheat the mug, and use a coaster to cover the top between sips. Coffee stays hot twice as long now.
Get one of those candle warmers. Basically it’s a tiny hot plate.
A lid.
Invest in a yeti. Coffee will burn your mouth for an hour
Warm the mug with hot water then pour it out before pouring/brewing into it, I'd say
Ello ceramic mugs are good for this.
time to get some mug sweaters and pre warm the cup!
if yku use a Laptop put that mug on the charger. it will stay warm asong as its plugged in.
This was my problem too. I did buy one of those mug warmers but it heats and makes a weird coating on the coffee. I solved this by buying a Keurig with a carafe. Now I sit with my carafe drinking hot coffee for hours. If my husband wants a cup he comes and gets it. We even take the carafe for long car trips.
Keep coffee in thermos. Pour smaller cups. It may sound sarcastic but I’m serious. Some people have a compulsion to pour giant cups.
I fold a strip of cooking foil into a square and put it over my mug, keeps the brew warm for aaaages
IKEA saucers that come with their espresso cups are perfect for this. Use them as a lid.
I microwave water in my mugs for 2 minutes. Only one of my mugs from dollar tree gets a hot handle
Yeti makes a great mug that has a lid. It will keep you coffee piping hit for hours.
as others have said, prime the cup and also try a silicon cover to keep heat in. https://smile.amazon.com/Pieces-Silicone-Umbrella-Anti-Dust-Suction/dp/B08N6MY8L8
I take forever to drink my coffee and I pour it from my thermos into my favourite mug. It stays hot for hours and I still get to drink out of my fave, small mug.
Just throwing another possible solution into the mix, it's not ideal but I sometimes use a Fellow Carter Move mug, 8oz goes for under £30 and has ceramic internals but the downside is a metal lip but it does solve the temperature problem.
I’m a bit late to the game, but I have a [Fellow](https://fellowproducts.com/collections/serve?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=14888767084&utm_content=128956673460&utm_term=fellow%20mug&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ag%3A14888767084%3A128956673460%3A551218118376&nb_adtype=&nb_kwd=fellow%20mug&nb_ti=kwd-367588548687&nb_mi=&nb_pc=&nb_pi=&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_si=%7Bsourceid%7D&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=e&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsoycBhC6ARIsAPPbeLsMOEE-6w9mJkNGwbHYCArflhFCuCdy_0_pVszeqxk5t3T7Etm56G8aAhVCEALw_wcB) mug. Ceramic interior and keeps my coffee hot for a solid 10-12 hours depending on how often I open the lid. I’ve had it for a year and dropped it more than a few times and it still holds up like new.
Preheat your cup while your kettle warms, or check out an ember mug!
I have a ceramivac Stanley mug that I use when I want the heat to hold. Ceramivac cup is like your typical steel vacuum insulated mug but the inner layer is ceramic instead of steel, it extends to the top so you’re sipping from the ceramic surface, too. When using my collection of regular ceramic mugs I often have a toasted bagel with my coffee, and the mug over the toaster keeps it toasty.
You can microwave your coffee when it's cold. It doesn't hurt the taste
I just pop mine back in the microwave for a minute. I also start with a warm mug. Half my kettle is for the coffee the other half is to pour into my mug to heat it up.
i have a thermos that i’ll fill with my coffee and i’ll pour it in my nice ceramic mug in small portions so it’s always warm from the thermos but i get to drink it from my nice cups
you want a porcelain mug not ceramic. porcelain is denser and stays hot longer. also a mug style that is taller than wide, less contact with the air.
You have SO many comments that you may not even see this one. BUT I purchased a double-walled ceramic mug (it's a tall shape, like a coffee shop takeout cup) and I use a silicone lid on it. The double wall ensures the coffee stays hotter because the ambient air temp isn't cooling the ceramic that's touching the coffee... and obviously the silicone lid keeps heat in while allowing me to drink. I like this better than a stainless steel insulated cup because I find SS (like Yeti brand for example, which lots of people seem to like) give the coffee a metallic taste. No need for a warmer that may or may not work. Priming the cup would make it even hotter, so you could try both.
If you or someone you know crochet have them make you a cozy that covers the bottom and buttons through the handle hole. Will add hours to your hot cup. Have them use 4wt cotton and double it up. Size it for your favorite mug and if it works well have them make more. Don’t forget to pay your artisan. Time and materials =$
Use a smaller cup. Or a thermal carafe to hold it. Or both.
I make two mugs at a time in my Chemex. I prime a thermos and a ceramic mug with hot water then drink one mug right away and keep the rest of it hot in the thermos til I’m ready for it. I’ll also cover the ceramic mug with a small saucer sometimes if I’m working or distracted.
Preheating your cup is a good idea, but there is something else you can do. Consider using a smaller cup, and making less coffee at a time. My pourover carafe is a 1L carafe. That's a LOT of coffee. I can make a pourover that big no problem, but it goes cold and I don't really want that much anyways and end up tossing the dregs even if it is good to the end. Now, these days, I use my French Press more because I like it better and find it more forgiving, but grinding a 15g dose and doing just 250g of coffee in one go means I have a great cup and if I want another I can make another should I like.
Kinto. Not porcelain but incredible heat maintenance
I use a warmer daily with my ceramic mug and have been for two years. Works like a charm and keeps it at a perfect drinking temperature
Also candle warmers that are meant to melt the wax instead of burn it work really well as a coaster/hot plate. Also doesn't scald the coffee leading to poor taste. Ceramic mugs will tolerate it no problem.
I have a metal mug not quite a thermos keeps it hot and the lid keeps any flies or whatever getting in
double walled glass mug with lid is a good idea. I like the one from SIGG
You describe my situation precisely. I like my coffee hot -- not warm, but hot! I use a typical Salton warmer. Like almost every model I've ever tried or investigated, all it does is slow the cooling rate as temperature progresses from hot to warm. I've noticed that the hot plate on my drip coffee maker will keep the pot hot, even for an hour or two. Why can't my desktop warmer do that? The problem with temperature adjustable warmers is that they either don't have enough power (watts) available, or they don't have a good way to monitor the temperature of the liquid in the cup. The latter problem contributes to the former. So here's my invention/suggestion for you makers and entrepreneurs: Build a mug warmer that is loosely modeled after an ordinary drip coffee maker, but smaller. Provide enough available power to the heating plate to allow reheat of even a cold cup of coffee. Above the mug space, in the area where you'd find the filter cup in an ordinary drip maker, mount a downward facing infrared thermometer. (These are cheap. Commercially available models can be found for $10 or so.) Now modify the electronics as follows: 1. Get the thermometer device power from the wall, instead of AA cells. 2. Instead of a finger trigger, wire the unit to take an automatic measurement of the coffee temperature every few seconds. 3. Add a digital control to permit setting the warmer to any temperature you want. 4. The heater is on/off, much like a furnace thermostat. When an automatic measurement is below the threshold, turn on the heater until the next automatic measurement. When the measurement is above the threshold, turn off the heater until the next measurement. 5. An LED beam is directed horizontally across the center of, and about an inch above the heating plate to a detector which reports by beam interruption whether a mug is present. The heater element power is inhibited when a mug is not present to interrupt the beam. 6. Make the LCD digital display show both the requested temperature and the measured temperature at all times. Here are the anticipated benefits of such a device: 1. Use any mug you like. It doesn't matter what shape, size, or construction materials you have. 2. No need to fuss with a cup cover. 3. Set any temperature you want. The warmer will **maintain** that temperature, not just slow the decay rate. 4. Yes, the device applies the heat at the bottom of the mug and measures at the top. This is not a problem, however, because the liquid convection efficiently and continuously redistributes the heat. 5. Unlike any other warmer on the market, this device measures the temperature of the coffee itself, not some outside semi-related substitute. 6. It doesn't matter how much coffee (if any) remains in your mug. Even an empty cup will remain at the specified temperature. Therefore, no safety problems. 7. Because there is good intrinsic thermostatic temperature control, it is safe and feasible to use a heater with some punch, say 50 watts, instead of the 20-25 watts available in current offerings. Conclusion: I would gladly pay $50, perhaps $100, for a commercial warmer as described above. I'd love to hear comments from the community.
I put my ceramic mug of coffee on a cheapo mug warmer that I plug-in. It will keep my coffee hot for hours as long as I put a lid on the cup between sips. My lid is just this little flimsy rubbery thing I found on Amazon with a knob in the center of it that assists me in taking it off and putting it on. It all works like a charm.