Just returned from my annual Sept. weekend get together with a select group of relatives. We all draw slips of paper and get the name of ONE relative to whom we owe a Christmas gift this year. I like it. Makes it a lot easier (and cheaper) than trying to come up with something for each and everyone. However, this year, the slip i drew had in big red letters the name: KEVIN. For those of you that don't follow my family closely (LOL), that is my husband. I immediately came up with an idea. I know it is tough to believe, but he wears a suit to work each day and sips coffee to keep going with a career that would had bored me to distraction. But he loves it and is apparently good at it. He sips black coffee for the entire drive to work and for the first hour or so at office. He tanks up again for the ride home. I have heard about the Ember brand heated coffee travel mugs that have a lithium battery, keep the coffee at your desired temperature for as long as you desire and you can track the mug with an Apple tag in the event they are pilfered or decide to go on walkabout. They are $200. Again Ember Travel Mug 2 | Heated Travel Mug 12oz | Ember® I think he would love it, but not paying $200. Another company (actually a lot of other companies) have done their own knockoffs and if I get the moon in the right phase, could maybe get a NEXTMUG for around $70-$115. Notice only three screams. Yeah, I know ... but it is Christmas -- or will be. Anyway, anyone with experience with these things. Oh, it hurts to think about those prices. If I hit the University of Oregon Bookstore, I might be able to get a mug with Puddles on it for a much lower charge.
During the lockdown, instead of hanging out at the local coffee shop, I started buying their locally-roasted beans and grinding and brewing them at home. And sometimes I would get distracted before finishing a cup ... and come back when it had cooled ... ... and find it freakin' delicious. No one had ever told me coffee could cool down and taste better. Anyway, now that I know, I suppose I wouldn't be in the market myself for a fancy keep-it-hot mug.
lots of folks love iced coffee. I don't like it hot, warm, lukewarm or cold, but will drink it if social situation requires or if I REALLY want a boost in the morning. but that is rare. I normally awake ready to hit the trails.
An insulated travel mug isn't adequate? They'll keep coffee hot for a while and you won't have to worry about lithium batteries bursting into flames and destroying a car, house, or business. Best of all, a good vacuum insulated one, made out of stainless steel, shouldn't cost more than 40 or 50 bucks.
Well, maybe I am coming to my senses, as I am beginning to rethink this $$$$ idea. Think just "talking" it out here helped. But now I am stuck for a gift idea. Well, have three months. BTW, still have my dad's old Stanley vacuum bottle. I sometimes still use it for soups. kris
They are American made, improved vacuum mugs and travel tumblers. Pour scalding hot liquid in, and it is cooled to a drinkable temperature. That heat taken out of the liquid is then used to keep the drink warm for hours. Not electric. The link has the details on how it works. Prices run $50 to $80. edit: I'm not seeing the link. It's burnoutmugs.com if not there for others.
Interesting concept. You should buy one and tell us how it works, lol. Since I retired I don't really drink coffee in the car anymore, rather espresso from a cheap Cuisinart machine. I did like my stainless Thermos tumbler though. Kept the coffee hot or cold for a long time. A great feature is that you can turn it upside down and it doesn't leak. I would think charging up a coffee mug would get tedious, over time.
Single-mug hotplates are maybe $25 new and $2 at goodwill. They aren't all as fancy as this one, just a random photo to illustrate example. They work with lots of ordinary mugs. Good luck!
