We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

What is an Electric Mug Warmer?

By Shannon Kietzman
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

An electric mug warmer is a piece of equipment that looks much like a coaster on which a drink would be rested in order to prevent rings from forming on a table. An electric mug warmer, however, is generally thicker than a coaster and may be slightly larger in circumference than a standard coaster. An electric mug warmer is designed to provide a person with a place to set his or her hot drink, such as tea, coffee, or cocoa.

When placed on an electric mug warmer, the drink maintains its desired temperature regardless of how long it takes to finish the drink. Therefore, the user never needs to worry about the drink getting cold. At the same time, the electric mug warmer does not cook the drink or heat it beyond its original temperature.

Although the electric mug warmer was originally designed with drinks in mind, it may also be used to keep bowls of soup warm. The circumference of an electric mug warmer is generally large enough to accommodate the bottom portion of a soup bowl. In some cases, however, it may be necessary to eat the soup from a mug in order to take advantage of the benefits of an electric mug warmer. A high-quality electric mug warmer also comes complete with an easy to clean surface. In this way, any accidental spills can be easily wiped away from the surface.

Another form of an electric mug warmer is a stainless steel mug designed to be plugged in. This type of electric mug warmer has a receiver in the bottom of the mug that allows a plug to be inserted in order to heat up the mug. While the liquid inside becomes heated, the insulation around the mug prevents the outside from heating up and burning the user’s hands. Generally, this type of electric mug warmer has an automatic shut off point once the liquid inside reaches a pre-determined temperature.

An electric mug warmer is not the same as a thermos. A thermos does not utilize electricity in order to keep liquids inside warm. Rather, it relies solely on the insulating properties of the materials used to make the thermos. In addition, liquid in a thermos will eventually get cold. Liquids heated with an electric mug warmer, on the other hand, will never get cold as long as the electricity is present.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

By MrsPramm — On Jul 21, 2014

@pastanaga - I've heard the opposite is the main problem, especially with USB mug warmers. Every time one of my friends gets one they end up complaining that they just don't do very much. They aren't hot enough to make all that much of a difference to the drink.

If I was going to get one I'd read the reviews very carefully to make sure it's not going to be a dud.

By pastanaga — On Jul 20, 2014

@irontoenail - Well, being warmed from the bottom means that they would take advantage of convective heat transfer, so I don't think that would be an issue. That means that the liquid that was warm would rise to the top, and the liquid that was still cool would sink, so it would be closer to the source of the heat.

As for a desktop mug warmer being safe or not, considering how hot my laptop sometimes gets, that's probably not that much of an issue. You couldn't keep a cup at the same temperature it would be right out of the pot, but then you probably don't want to drink it at that temperature anyway.

By irontoenail — On Jul 20, 2014

I don't know about having a mug warmer. I tend to think that if a cup of coffee isn't drunk relatively quickly, it's not going to taste all that good, even if it is still warm.

And I doubt that a mug warmer could keep it at a good temperature without becoming dangerously hot anyway. Most hot beverages need to be hot, not just warm and if they are being warmed from the bottom, it would need extra heat to make a difference.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.