Do Mug Warmers Really Keep Your Coffee Hot?
There’s nothing worse than a lukewarm cup of coffee on a frosty winter day. The last thing you want is to come home from work only to sip on your favorite beverage in utter distaste. When the temperature drops, people buy mug warmers to keep their coffee hot. But does it really work or do buyers simply make peace with a useless purchase? Let’s find out.
What Are Mug Warmers?
Mug warmers are small hot plates that heat the bottom of a vessel and keep the liquid inside it hot. These are wire operated and can be conveniently perched on the desk. Similar to electric kettles, coils under the plate’s flat surface heat up and transfer thermal energy to whatever is placed on top.
But wait, electronic options aren’t the only type around. As your grandma would have it, knitted mug warmers also fall inside the category. They don’t, however, hold a candle to what mini hot plates can do. Sure, twisted strands of fabric will trap heat and prolong energy loss but constant reheating is out of the picture. Instead of buying a mug warmer, just position your cup of coffee over the blanket inside your hands — at least you won’t have to pay for that.
Now that we have the technical definition out of the way, it’s easy to judge whether electronic mug warmers are worth the buck. Think about it this way — if you can cook food on a hot plate, why can’t you heat a mug of coffee on it? The answer is simple: you can! Regardless, there’s a valid reason why many people don’t buy into this logic even though it is backed by the laws of thermal physics. They’ve bought poor-quality products in the past with little to no promise.
Are Mug Warmers Dangerous?
As cute as they look, mug warmers can be dangerous. Risks arise when manufacturers skimp on essential features like overheating protection. Quality options in the market have auto-shutdown functionality that uses in-built sensors to turn off when the mug heats up too much. Naturally, when the mug warmer detects a drop in temperature, it turns right back on again without the need for manual intervention.
What Mugs Can’t You Put on a Mug Warmer?
Ceramic, metal, glass and enamel are all safe to be used on a mug warmer. Even some plastic mugs with temperature-resistant qualities are fine. Anything with a vacuum seal inside it, for instance, travel mugs, is a big no.
Why Everyone Needs a Mug Warmer in Their Life
Whether you like hot chocolate, tea or coffee, a mug warmer feels like a fuzzy hug. This nifty gadget is great for the workplace as well as your home. It saves you the effort of reheating beverages in the kitchen and also serves as a gentle reminder that your mug still isn’t empty.
If you work from home or live in a dorm, the first thing you should do is place an order for a mug warmer online. We all need a little caffeine to keep us productive and that’s reason enough to invest in smart technologies designed to enhance human convenience. Plus, mug warmers are budget-friendly too!