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Save $30 on the self-heating Ember 14-ounce smart mug

Quite possibly the best gift you can give Mom. Or Dad, if you're planning ahead.

Rick Broida Senior Editor

Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").

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Rick Broida

April 28, 2021 12:55 p.m. PT

2 min read

I count my Ember mug among my most prized possessions. It keeps my morning coffee hot from the first sip to the last -- which may sound like a trivial thing, but once you've tried it, there's no going back. It was a gift, thankfully, because I could never bring myself to spend $100-$130 on one.

This story is part of Mother's Day Gift Guide, CNET editors round up the hottest gadgets for Mom this year.

Worse still, discounts are extremely rare -- but thanks to Cheapskate reader Earl, I just discovered this one: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Costco has the Ember Mug 2 14-ounce smart mug for $100. Regular price: $130. Yes, alas, you need a Costco membership to grab this deal

See it at Costco

This second-edition Mug features an 80-minute battery, though it can last indefinitely if you set the mug down on its "coaster" charging base between sips. You use your phone and the Ember app to set your desired temperature, track your caffeine consumption and even customize the status LED.

I know: $100 is still an insane price, especially when you can buy, say, a travel mug or mug warmer for considerably less. I'm just telling you, if the house was on fire, this would be among the first three things I'd grab. (Not going on record about the other two.)

That's because there's something joyous about stepping away from your mug for 10 minutes and coming back to find it just as steaming hot as when you left it. So, yeah, if you need a great gift for a coffee lover, look no further.

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