Ember · Insulated Drink Tumblers
Ember Cup 14 oz Slate Black
Lower concern; smart cup uses ceramic coating, not Teflon-type coating nonstick.
Ember's heated ceramic mug skips Teflon-family coating nonstick coatings entirely. No public PFAS claims or third-party testing identified, but ceramic carries lower inherent risk than Teflon-type coating cookware.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Ceramic or ceramic-coated stainless steel with heated base
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Ember Cup 14 oz Slate Black is made of, ingredients and materials
The Ember Cup 14 oz uses a ceramic or ceramic-coated stainless steel construction with an integrated heating element in the base. Ceramic coatings avoid Teflon-type coating (Teflon) entirely, eliminating fume risk from overheating. Stainless steel core minimizes leaching concerns for typical beverages at controlled temperatures below 150°F, which Ember cups maintain via firmware.
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Heavy metals
Ceramic glazes can contain lead or cadmium, though modern food-contact ceramics are regulated. Ember has not published third-party test results confirming absence of these metals. Coating wear over time could expose underlying metal.
Source, FDA ↗Material disclosure and transparency gaps
Ember does not publicly specify the exact ceramic coating composition, glaze type, or results of heavy metal or BPA testing. This lack of transparency is typical for consumer electronics brands but limits independent verification of safety claims.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Electrical safety (heating element malfunction)
No recalls or reported electrical failures linked to the Ember Cup 14 oz are on public record. Standard consumer electronics safety apply; the device has no unique electrical hazard relative to other heated mugs.
Thermal burn risk from heating function
The cup is designed to maintain beverages at controlled temperatures (120-145°F depending on user setting). Risk of boiling water is lower than with stovetop mugs, though the heated exterior can cause minor burns if gripped immediately after use.
Stainless steel leaching at high temperatures or with acidic beverages
Stainless steel is generally non-reactive below 150°F with neutral to mildly acidic drinks (coffee, tea). The Ember Cup firmware limits temperature to this range, and no leaching complaints are documented.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Ember has not published formal material safety disclosures or third-party certifications (BPA-free claims, heavy metal testing) in widely accessible documents. The company markets the cup as food-safe and FDA-compliant but does not address ceramic coating composition, glaze pigments, or lead/cadmium testing results. No recalls or safety complaints linked to this model are on record.
How it compares in its category
Smart heated mugs are niche; the Ember Cup avoids the Teflon-type coating risk of older electric mugs and the leaching risk of some aluminum-core heated bottles. Ceramic coating presents lower concern than typical nonstick, though less durable. Standard insulated mugs without heating elements carry no electrical risk but cannot maintain precise temperature control.
If you buy it
Avoid microwave use if the ceramic coating develops visible chips or cracks, as this may expose metal underneath. Hand wash only to preserve the ceramic finish. Do not exceed the manufacturer's maximum fill line. Replace the cup if the heating element fails electrically or if the coating shows large areas of wear, as durability beyond 2-3 years of daily use is not confirmed by independent testing.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Ember has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More insulated drink tumblers grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.