5 Best Mug Warmers of 2023, Tested

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Say "see ya!" to cold coffee with these top mug warmers.

If you can't stand the thought of a cold cup of coffee, then investing in the best mug warmer could be a smart decision for you. While heated mugs are a favorite in the Good Housekeeping Institute, mug warmers can often provide a less expensive solution and keep you from walking back to the microwave to heat up your cup of joe again.

The pros in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab tested to find the best mug warmers for any occasion, from keeping a cup of joe warm on your desk to mug warmers for travel that you can easily throw in your bag. Read on for our top mug warmer picks, plus what to look for when buying a mug warmer, whether mug warmers are worth it and how we tested.

A top performer in the Good Housekeeping Institute's testing of best self-heating mugs, this is powered through a USB charging platform, so you can plug it into a wall or into your laptop, and the warming plate also provides a cordless charging option for your laptop or wireless earbuds — perfect for travel.

In testing, the splurge-worthy USB mug warmer kept coffee warm when using the included lid, and while the lid caused condensation to drip as it was removed, it also helped to keep heat in.

RELATED: 17 Best Travel Coffee Mugs for Hot and Cold Drinks

Mr. Coffee, the famous coffee maker brand, sells this cute compact and mug warmer at a lower price than other mug warmers. Its small footprint means it will take up only a little more space on your desk than your favorite mug and the brand touts the convenient light, which can tell you when the plate is hot.

The manufacturer suggests that the mug warmer can reach up to 212°F, but it is important to note that just because a mug warmer heats up to 212°F, this doesn't mean that the liquid in your cup will reach that temperature. And while it keeps coffee warm, it only has an on/off feature so you can't set your brew to a desired temperature.

Calling all coffee fiends who nurse their brew all day at their desk: This hot plate is a smart replacement to walking to the microwave. Testers noted that this mug is smart for its ability to sense when a mug is placed on it: It will turn off as soon as you lift your mug away, adding an important safety feature. When testers placed their mug back on the hot plate, it turned back on, saving them from pressing any buttons.

It's best to pick a thin-walled mug to use along with this smart mug warmer, as the heat may penetrate the ceramic more easily than a double-walled mug. While others on the market have adjustable heat settings, this model only touts an on/off setting, so it lacks the flexibility that other mug warmers may have.

This compact mug warmer has both manual and automatic on/off settings and it is rimless, unlike other models. The lack of a rim means it can fit larger mugs than other models however there is no border to protect from spilling.

The KIN mug warmer also comes with a silicone lid. In testing, our experts noted that mug warmers and self-heating mugs with lids tended to keep coffee hotter for longer because it prevented heat from escaping out of the top of the mug.

Our testers noted that this brand's heated coffee mug kept coffee hottest in their tests thanks to the effective but simple heating plate and the included lid. The brand also sells its hot plate separately, which allows you to control the temperature with a digital screen showing specific temperatures in one degree intervals using your own mug. The automatic shut off adds an additional safety feature as well, so you don't have to stress if you forget to shut off the warmer.

You can buy the warming plate along with Cosori's matching mug set (which would make a great gift for the coffee lover in your life), but take note that testers warned the stainless steel cup could get dangerously hot and burn your lips after it's been on the warmer.

We tested 10 mug warmers and heated mugs in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab for heat retention, ease of use and their effects on the taste of the coffee. We analyzed heat retention using a thermocouple, which is a thin thermometer that relays the temperature of the coffee in each cup to software which tracks the temperature over four hours. We filled each mug to 85% capacity and tracked the temperature of each mug in 15-minute intervals over those four hours.

In checking the temperature, we checked to see the ability of the mug to keep coffee at at least 135°F, per a 2022 study published by the University of California at Davis about optimal coffee drinking temperatures.

Our testers also tasted coffee from each mug every 30 minutes to analyze the change in bitterness and acidity. Our analysts also checked out the owner's manual and other settings to assess ease of use.

✔️ Size: Most mug warmers have a similar footprint so they take up minimal space on your desk or counter. Our top picks range from about 4 to 5.5 inches in length.

✔️ Style: Mug warmers are essentially small hot plates for your mugs. Some mug warmers come with mugs that you need to use with the base, while others allow you to use your favorite coffee mug. Be sure to check the specifications of the type of mug, as many mug warmers require flat-bottomed, thin-walled mugs for optimal heating.

✔️ Power source: Our best mug warmer picks are either powered with a wall plug or using USB. The USB mug warmers on the market mean you can plug into some laptops or into the wall using an adaptor, while wall plug-powered mug warmers require an outlet and a length cord.

✔️ Heating duration: Many models come with an automatic on/off feature triggered by the weight of the mug, which provides extra safety, and manufacturers specify how long the mug warmer will stay on. Some of our favorite models will automatically shut off after eight hours.

✔️ Temperature settings: Some models have multiple heating settings, while others are simply on or off. Other digital models allow you to set the temperature to a specific degree, however it is important to note that even though you set your temperature, it does not mean the liquid in the mug will reach that temperature. It simply indicates that the hot plate will.

If you can't stand a cold cup of coffee, checking out mug warmers is for you. While in our testing, mug warmers and heated mugs tended to change the flavor of the coffee over time (because the liquid reduced or overheated), if you love a piping hot cup without walking back and forth to the microwave, mug warmers provide a hands-off solution.

Our testers found that using a mug warmer for a shorter amount of time resulted in a cup that stayed warm but didn't get too bitter, while heating coffee for a longer period of time resulted in a bitter or acidic cup.

Becca Miller is the associate food editor for Good Housekeeping where she writes about the latest food products and fun appliances, including self-heating products like heated mugs and electric hot pots.

Sarah Wharton led testing for heated mugs and mug warmers, where she worked with Kitchen Appliances Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou to develop testing methodology. The team also tests coffee grinders, coffee makers, espresso machines and Nespresso machines.

Becca Miller (she/her) has been working in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen since 2018, where she researches and writes about tasty recipes, food trends and top cooking tools. She graduated from NYU with a liberal arts degree focusing on creative writing. She makes killer scrambled eggs, enjoys a glass of un-oaked chardonnay and takes pride in her love of reality television.

Sarah (she/her) is a deputy editor for the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests products and covers the best picks across kitchen, tech, health and food. She has been cooking professionally since 2017 and has tested kitchen appliances and gear for Family Circle as well as developed recipes and food content for Simply Recipes, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Oxo and Food52. She holds a certificate in professional culinary arts from the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education).

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