EQUIPMENT CORNER

Smart Mugs

offee sitting in a mug frequently becomes tepid faster than we can drink it. Smart coffee mugs, which often work with a smartphone app, promise to keep beverages hot for extended periods of time. We were intrigued, so we bought three models, priced from about $79 to about $165. From the outside, these mugs look similar to a regular mug, but their thick bases house internal heating components, a high-capacity battery, microprocessors, and various temperature sensors. Two of the models let you set specific temperatures, and one automatically holds coffee between 140 and 149_degrees. After conducting a series of tests, we highly recommend, 14 oz (model CM191400US). Besides being simple to set up and use, it was the most accurate model we tested. When on its charging coaster, it holds a set temperature indefinitely. When running on battery power, it holds a set temperature for about 70 minutes and stays above 130 degrees (the coolest temperature at which we find coffee acceptable) for an average of 90 minutes. The mug charged in about 2 hours. We also liked its built-in safety features; it automatically “sleeps” when it’s empty or after 2 hours of inactivity. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can still use this mug: It’s programmed to maintain a temperature of 135 degrees, though when we tested this function the temperature remained closer to 130 degrees (still an acceptable temperature). –C.G.