Do you often find that you make a cup of tea or use your coffee machine to make a lovely brew, only to get distracted by work/children/life only to find a lukewarm cuppa hours later? Help is at hand with the best mug warmers, that help to keep your cup of tea or coffee warm all day long. Whether you choose an electric coaster design or one with a matching mug, treat yourself (or your busy friends) to the gift of hot tea. Browse our choice of the best mug warmers you can buy today.
A lot of us know the difficulty behind making, and drinking, a hot cup of tea or coffee; and if you're hectic at work, you can find yourself going until lunchtime without taking a sip of your morning brew. Take the stress out of drinking a cuppa before it goes cold by making sure it stays warm - with a mug warmer. If you're trying out some new coffee grounds - and want to savour the cup, a mug warmer is a great choice.
Best mug warmers at a glance
• Budget mug warmer: Legami USB Panda Mug Warmer - View now at Ryman
• Best overall: BTOYM Smart Cup/Mug Warmer with 3 Temperature Settings - View now on Amazon UK
• Best mug warmer and mug set: Coffee Mug Warmer with Mug - View now on Amazon UK
Mug warmers are different from thermal flasks or reusable coffee cups. It typically consists of a flat, heated surface on which you can place your mug or cup on top. When plugged in and turned on, the warmer uses a low-level heating element to maintain the temperature of the beverage inside the mug. Genius, right? We've rounded up the best mug warmers on the market and answered all the questions you may have about using them and cleaning them.
The best mug warmers
Perfect for night-time
www.menkind.co.uk
Cuppa gone chilly? We can't bear that. Starting with a fresh cup of coffee or tea makes any day more bearable. This cute USB Sleepy Bear Cup Warmer keeps your drink warmer for longer whilst adding a wild flavour to your workspace. We love it.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Cute design perfect as a gift or to make your desk more fun!
- Simple, USB plug
Cons
- For flat-bottomed mugs only
- One reviewer reports that it doesn't get as hot as they would want it to
Best for temperature variety
With three temperature settings to choose from, you can really get your perfect hot drink with this GREATCHI Mug Warmer. It'll keep your drink warm for a few hours and there's a shut-off function after four hours for safety. The glass panel top is waterproof, fireproof and a decent size making it suitable for certain cups, mugs, carafes and bowls (you can stop that lunchtime soup from going cold too!) It'll remember your temperature preferences, too.
**Customer review: "**I’ve had this on my wish list for a while not but only recently purchased and done because I work from home dealing with calls. By the time I’ve made a cuppa and taken a call, the brew is cold. With this device, I’m able to go for two-three hours without the coffee being affected. Still perfectly hot and sometimes even hotter than I prefer it so have to turn it down (even without a flat bottom cup)."
Pros
- Has 3 temperature settings and remembers your preferences
- Automatic shut-off with no cup
- Perfect shape for all mugs
Cons
- Wood is not everyone's style
- Not suitable for plastic or double-vacuumed cups
- Works with a pressure point centre so may not be suitable for light cups
Budget mug warmer
www.ryman.co.uk
If you can't bear your drink getting cold, we love this Legami USB Panda Mug Warmer. This craft little panda is the perfect solution to a coffee break at your desk. Simply plug it directly into your laptop or a USB port, but place your flat-bottomed mug or glass on top. Here, you can take your time sipping without worrying about it going cold.
Pros
- Easy to use
- USB-powered
- Cool design
Cons
- No customer reviews
- No auto shut-off
- Ideal for flat-bottomed mugs only
Best Overall
This BTOYM mug warmer is super sleek with 3 levels of temperature, with the maximum can be heated to 176°F. It is super easy to use, just touch the button slightly to turn the warmer on and you can start keeping your drink warm in an instant.
Customer review: "My husband loves a good hot cup of tea and normally has to drink it straight away for it to be hot enough for him, so, if he has to go away and do something after he's made his cup of tea it will be too cold for him. Now he flicks this on with his tea on top and it keeps it hotter for longer.
I got this as a gift for him as we had been looking for one for a while and they were always so expensive that they didn't seem worth the money. This one is definitely value for money."
Pros
- Value for money
- Sleek design with easy controls, including ones on the side to avoid touching the heating plate
- 3 temperature settings with an automatic shutdown should you forget to turn it off
- On the larger side for mug warmers so great for any big cups you have
Cons
- Some reviews say the button is very sensitive
- Some say that after a while the heat that it gives off tends to fade
Best for retro style
Keep your hot drinks warm whilst spinning your favourite records with this Mustard Hot Tracks Mug Warmer. Perfect for the music lover in your life, this mug warmer is designed to replicate a traditional LP. It plugs into any PC or Mac via USB and will keep your hot drink toasty for longer. Result.
Customer review: "This is great at keeping my drink warm especially when partnered with those silicone tops. As long as you only have that plugged into the computer it heats up considerably. My drink with this and the silicone topper is silk warm enough an hour later."
Pros
- Cool design which is perfect as a gift or adding some nostalgia to your room
- Convenient USB charge
Cons
- Best for flat-bottomed mugs and some mugs cannot be used because of their material
- Does not reach temperatures as high as some other warmers
Best mug warmer set
www.menkind.co.uk
With a stylish design, this Muggo Temperature Control Heated Mug can keep your coffee warm no matter where you are - with special built-in heating tech. If it hasn’t been used for more than two hours it will automatically switch off to save power. Smart and sleek. It'll make teatime just right...
Pros
- Control the temperature of your drink
- A great gift for coffee lovers
- Powered by USB with the cable included
Cons
- No customer reviews
Best for gifting
With three temperature settings, this DoubleCare Coffee Mug Warmer will make the perfect gift for a loved one. It will keep your chosen hot drink temperature to 120℉-176°F(40-80℃). It does not support boiling liquids.
Customer review: "Love this mug warmer. Keeps coffee etc hot. Purple setting adequate for really hot drink. Quite difficult to see the difference in the colour of the red and purple settings. Instructions say works best with flat bottomed cup. Searched through all our mugs and couldn’t find one with a completely flat bottom. All are slightly concave. Still works perfectly."
Pros
- Robust and well made with ventilation and a scratch-resistant and waterproof plate
- Good value for money
- Three temperatures with a safe automatic shut off
Cons
- Touch sensitive button is a little temperamental
- The shut off is after 4 hours and some reviewers say that this is too long
Best mug warmers FAQs
What type of mug retains heat the most?
Even though mug warmers are great little gadgets for keeping your beverages wrong, the material of your choice of mug plays a part too. Ceramic loses heat at a slower rate as conduction occurs slower in these mugs. Since ceramic is more porous than glass, it retains heat better and your freshly-brewed espresso stays warm for a long time.
How does my mug warmer get power?
From mains electricity or by a USB charging cable that you can connect to your laptop or wall plug.
Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Yours. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's rennovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle, three cats and a tortoise called Bobby.