Ember is in the business of temperature control and keeping drinks hot. Mostly that's been assumed to mean coffee in its Mug2 and Travel Mug. Now Ember Cup is more directly calling out drinks like espresso, cappuccino or flat whites to keep at the perfect temperature.

The 6 ounce Ember Cup is the smallest capacity beverage container from the company. At launch, it comes in black and copper colors and has a battery life capable of keeping a drink hot for about 90 minutes. (A generous amount of time to finish a 6 ounces of liquid in my opinion.)

While the cup is smaller in size and lacks a handle, it's very similar to Ember's 10-ounce Mug2. It's easy to see how Ember got to this design. But is Ember Cup worth its price? Does it keep drinks heated better than a $20 coffee cup heating plate from Amazon? Those are the key questions for this fancy new product.

Ember Cup feels familiar. If you've had the pleasure of using one of the company's temperature-controlled products before, Ember Cup falls right in line with the others. That's probably because it's the exact same width as the 10-ounce Mug2. It's shorter, with less capacity, but it has the same width across its opening.

The biggest difference isn't even the smaller capacity size, however; it's the lack of handle. Its shape and size feel more noticeable than on the Mug2 because you grip Ember Cup's entire circumference.

Leaving off a handle is a little curious because plenty of ceramic mugs meant for espresso have small, finger-size grips. I think the choice was strictly to differentiate it from the Mug2—to make it look and feel different. Whatever the reason, because of the lack of a handle, it does feel ever-so-slightly awkward to grip and hold the wide Ember Cup.

The smaller capacity here also means filling your drink right to the top to get the most use from it. I never spilled any of the hot drinks I filled Ember Cup with each morning, but it was always a concern. Carrying it from room to room took a little more concentration than using my Ember Mug, but I managed fine.

The plastic Ember Cup with smooth edges is a delight to drink from. It's weighted and feels extremely sturdy in the hand. Thankfully, it does feel like a premium product and gives some credence to its nearly $100 price. I like using Ember Cup, but I like using my previous Ember Mug even more.

Both Ember Cup and Ember Mug2 can each hold coffee, espresso, hot chocolate or tea—any hot drink. If you're trying to decide between the two, the difference is all about first, the capacity and second, the feel of holding it.

To me, 6 ounces has seemed a little limiting in my daily use, if I use Ember Cup with coffee. I try to limit my caffeine intake to a single cup in the morning but having closer to 10 ounces instead of around 6 ounces is a better fit for me.

I would recommend newcomers to Ember products look at the 10-ounce Mug2 and get something that is ultimately a little more versatile. To me, Ember Cup feels like a secondary product. If you're seeking out a specific cup for smaller amounts of a certain hot drink then this new Ember Cup will suit you well.

If you're directly comparing Ember Cup to Ember Mug2, both have a customizable LED light, both autosleep and both function the same way inside the mobile app. They are very similar products.

Despite working as well as its other products, Ember Cup is the toughest sell of the company's offerings. The size to price ratio may be tough to overcome. But if price and value aren't a concern, Ember Cup is great and works really well.

Ember Cup and other Ember products are much better at keeping drinks hot than the bottom-up approach of a cheap heating surface you'll find on Amazon. Ember products heat liquids from all around, giving drinks a better, more natural taste for longer.

Even if you're exclusively drinking espresso or cappuccino, I would recommend starting with Ember Mug2. But, if you're looking to complement an existing Ember product, Ember Cup is a nice choice.

Buy at Best Buy for $99.95.

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