The Incredible Coffee Warmers!

Only ONE Way To make Coffee Aboard!

    I drink coffee. Sometimes a lot. Often I have a piping hot mug that I put down and forget about for a while. Usually too long. Then it gets cold...yuck. Unless I WANTED iced Coffee that is. Even then, that's NOT the right way to make it. So, what's a guy to do? Enter the internet and the handy dandy Amazon search tool. I did a quick search for keeping coffee mugs hot and came up with a winner! Simple and small, it allows you to keep your mug nice and hot no matter how long you procrastinate. Well, within reason that is.

USB Powered. Not JUST For Coffee

It's an incredibly simple device. You plug it in, turn it on and place your hot coffee on top. That's it. I bought three. The first one works with a standard USB (A) connection and draws about 1/2 Amp at 12 Volts (it's really using only 5 Volts, but the converter is built in). Now this one won't heat your coffee, or even keep it hot, but it will slow down the rate it gets cold (pretty significantly). The second one runs on 120V house current and draws 0.1636 amps, so 1.636 amps (or so) at 12 Volts (a tiny bit more with an inverter). I figure it at 2 Amps/hour consumption. Not that it ever takes me an hour to get through a mug of coffee! This one will keep coffee hot AND even reheat it....just watch the amp consumption while on battery power alone. Of course, you can use any of these for ANY beverage, not just coffee. Tea is OK too!

The last one runs on a 12V cigarette lighter plug and WILL reheat coffee from iced cold. It draws about 48 watts at 12 volts or about 4 amps. But it doesn't run continuously, just turns on and off to maintain your set temperature. The problem is, you have to use their mug. It's a pain to clean while keeping the electronics and control panel clean. This one is best for driving. You can keep it plugged in and the alternator will not have an issue with 4 amps extra, when needed. I like this one on long trips when I am flying solo.

The latest ones have a lithium ion battery and will hold temperature (allegedly) for two hours away from their charge base. I haven't tested it (yet) as they are around $79.95 - a bit steep for a mug, in my humble opinion. Perhaps I'll get around to testing it when the prices get into the $20.00 range. It's a cool gizmo, but not THAT cool!

I like hot coffee (iced too) but hate it when it goes cold in the middle of a mug. If you don't like that either, these solutions will help. I promise.

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com