Smart mug maker Ember Technologies has extended its third-generation Mug 3 lineup to 16 ounces — the largest capacity the brand has ever offered in a mug format — retailing at $159 and available now through Target stores, Amazon, and ember.com. The launch follows the Mug 3's debut in 10-ounce and 14-ounce versions just weeks prior, and answers years of customer demand for a bigger option in the home-and-office segment.
What's New Here
The 16-ounce model carries forward the Mug 3's headline engineering improvements: a ceramic-reinforced, FDA-compliant interior coating built over stainless steel, and a redesigned manufacturing process that makes the entire Mug 3 line top-rack dishwasher safe — a practical gain that previous generations lacked. Users can dial in temperature directly on the mug by pressing the power button to cycle through five preset increments between 125°F and 145°F, or manage settings via the Ember app. A sliding lid ships in the box, keeping drinks at temperature for up to three hours on a single charge.
For hospitality and office-amenity buyers, the dishwasher-safe spec matters more than the headline capacity number. Earlier Ember mugs required hand-washing, which created friction in hotel-room amenity kits, corporate pantry programs, and coworking lounge setups where staff turnaround time is a real cost. That barrier is now gone for the full Mug 3 range.
Signals for Operators and Buyers
CEO Matt Murray frames the 16-ounce Mug 3 as the stationary companion to the recently launched Tumbler 2, which targets on-the-go consumption. That segmentation is deliberate: Ember is building a two-SKU strategy that covers the desk and the commute, positioning the brand less as a specialty gadget and more as a full beverage-temperature platform. For procurement teams evaluating branded drinkware or staff wellness perks, the expanded lineup gives buyers a cleaner category rationale and a single vendor relationship.
At $159, the 16-ounce Mug 3 sits at a premium that signals gifting, corporate incentive, and hospitality-amenity channels more than mass foodservice. The stainless steel and white colorways arriving in November widen the merchandising window ahead of Q4 gifting cycles — relevant for hotel gift shops, branded corporate programs, and specialty retail buyers already building holiday assortments. Operators sourcing upscale in-room amenities or executive lounge drinkware should note the timing and request samples before November inventory locks.
The broader context: temperature-controlled drinkware has moved from novelty to a recognized workplace wellness category over the past three years. As operators in hospitality tech and amenity procurement evaluate what belongs on a desk or in a guest room, connected drinkware is increasingly part of that conversation alongside filtered water systems and premium single-serve coffee equipment. Ember's retail expansion into Target broadens its visibility, but the brand's direct and Amazon channels remain the fastest path for bulk or gifting procurement.
Takeaways for the Trade
For operators assessing this for amenity programs or procurement shortlists, the practical read is straightforward: a dishwasher-safe smart mug at 16 ounces closes the main objection that kept Ember out of higher-volume hospitality use cases. Whether the $159 price point fits your program's per-unit budget is the real decision gate — and that answer varies sharply by segment. Teams building brand launch or gifting programs around beverage-occasion products should put the Mug 3 16-ounce on the Q4 evaluation list now.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
