Ciups Mug

The coffee cup next to the keyboard is almost as essential to us photographers as the shutter button on the camera. We all know the scenario all too well. You come back from a shoot, the memory cards are full, and your head is buzzing with ideas for the look of the images.

You sit down at the computer, import the data into Lightroom or Capture One, and brew yourself a fresh, hot coffee or tea. You get absorbed in your work. The sliders are moved. You get into that tunnel vision, that wonderful flow where time plays no role.

And then, after what feels like an eternity, you reach blindly to the side to take a sip. Your face contorts because the drink is ice-cold and stale. The moment of enjoyment is gone, and reality hits you in an unpleasant way.

The Ciups Mug addresses exactly this problem. It’s a heated mug designed to keep your drink at the perfect drinking temperature for hours. But is this really necessary? Is this technology we need, or just another gadget that consumes electricity?

I took a closer look at the Ciups Mug and integrated it into my daily work as a photographer to find out if it has what it takes to be a constant companion on the desk.

How it Works

The principle of the Ciups Mug is fundamentally simple, but technologically quite cleverly implemented. The base of the mug contains an integrated battery and a heating element. Unlike simple heating plates that you place under a normal cup, the liquid is heated directly in the vessel here. This ensures much more efficient energy transfer.

The scope of delivery includes a lid, charging base, and charging cable.

Fortunately, operation is not via a complex app that you first have to install and pair. There is no dependence on a smartphone, which I find very liberating. We already have enough devices demanding our attention and requiring updates. The Ciups Mug works autonomously.

Touch-sensitive buttons are located on the mug itself, allowing you to set the desired temperature. A small display shows what’s happening.

So you fill your coffee or tea and select the target temperature. The mug then heats up or maintains the temperature if the drink was already filled hot.

Of course, it’s also possible to reheat a cold drink. This takes a moment and, of course, consumes more battery power than just maintaining the temperature, but it works flawlessly. So if you’ve forgotten your coffee and the battery still has juice, you can save it without having to go to the microwave.

The mug is charged via an included charging base, the so-called Coaster. You simply place the mug on it, and it charges.

Here, it would be nice if the charging base had a USB-C port. Especially at the desk, you want to keep the number of cables to a minimum. This would significantly reduce cable clutter and you wouldn’t need another free slot for a plug, nor would you be limited by cable length.

When the mug is on this station, it can provide heating power all day long, as it is permanently supplied with power. When you take it off, it uses the internal battery.

The insulation of the mug is excellently executed. Despite the heat inside, the outer wall remains pleasantly cool. The mug is well-insulated, so you can hold it with a hot drink without burning your fingers.

Another technical detail is its stability. The base is rubberized, so the mug stands securely on the table. This gives a safe feeling, especially when expensive equipment like hard drives or lenses are nearby.

Use for Photographers

Now let’s get to the actual practical test in my daily life. The Ciups Mug blends seamlessly into a modern work environment. It has a very modern look, sleek and without unnecessary frills. With a capacity of 470 ml, it offers enough space for a decent latte or a large tea.

When you pick up the mug, the craftsmanship is immediately noticeable. It is well-made and has a good weight, not too heavy and not too light.

In my test, I mainly used the mug during long image editing sessions. It is indeed a luxury that you quickly learn to appreciate. You pour yourself a coffee, sit down to work, get distracted, maybe even call a client about an appointment, and when you then reach for the mug, the coffee is still exactly as hot as it was twenty minutes ago. There are no more unpleasant surprises.

However, there are also points that I noticed in daily use and that could be improved. The temperature display is in Fahrenheit. For us in Europe, this is of course not very intuitive. A good feature would be the option to switch the display from Fahrenheit to Celsius. You get used to 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit being a good drinking temperature, but a native Celsius display would be much more user-friendly.

Another feature that I, as a tea drinker, miss concerns preparation. A nice function would be a timer for steeping time for tea. Since the mug has electronics and a display anyway, a small countdown would certainly not have been impossible and would have significantly increased its utility for tea lovers.

The battery level is another issue where I would wish for more precision. The battery level is only indicated by a battery symbol. It’s hard to tell the exact charge level from this. An indication in percent would be better here.

Especially if you plan to take the mug to another room or onto the balcony, you’d like to know exactly whether you have 20 percent or 80 percent charge left. Because the runtime is finite. With the lid, the battery life is naturally extended considerably, as less heat escapes upwards. However, the battery is more intended for free use of the mug and less for using the mug without a charging station for many hours. It bridges meetings or time on the couch, but for the 8-hour workday at the desk, it belongs on the Coaster.

One aspect that struck me particularly positively is the independence from software. The absence of an app is not only not a disadvantage, but an advantage. It’s also not necessary and therefore not a dependency.

Conclusion on the Ciups Mug

After several weeks with the Ciups Mug, I have formed a clear opinion. Do you really need something like this? If you’re honest, the answer is no.

A heated mug is, of course, not necessary; you don’t need it to survive. But if you have it, it’s a very nice luxury. It’s that little bit of quality of life that makes everyday work a little more pleasant.

Especially during stressful periods when you can hardly tear yourself away from the screen, the constant access to a hot drink is something calming.

The Ciups Mug scores with its solid workmanship, modern design, and independence from annoying apps. The rubberized base and good insulation show that it has been well thought out. The points of criticism, such as the lack of Celsius conversion or the imprecise battery indicator, are present but only slightly tarnish the overall picture. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do, and it does it reliably.

Buy

If you’ve become curious and want to declare war on your cold coffee, you can purchase the mug directly from the manufacturer. You can buy it in the Ciups online shop. There you will also find more information about the specifications. It’s an investment in your own workflow and daily well-being at your desk.