Customer Reviews

Toastmaster Personal Coffee Mug and Warmer (TMMGW)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This formerly discontinued item is now available from 3 vendors. Vermontcountrystore.com offers a similar warmer (by a different manufacturer) that has a ceramic rather than plastic base.

The enclosed instructions claim that the "Hot Spot" does not heat items, but maintains their temperature. This is only partially true: Very hot cups of liquid cool down to hot (probably because there is no lid), and very full cups will cool down even more. That said, the Salton hot plate "mostly" maintains beverage temperature. I enjoy my now hotter coffee, and I've noticed I don't have to drink as much coffee as I did without the hot plate because I'm not refilling a cup at room temperature.

NO THERMOSTAT
That's right, there is no thermostat, so safety is really up to you. If you lay something on top of this, if it accidentally turns over-whatever-it will stay at the same temperature and start to burn. Even without this important lack-of-safety feature, the hot plate's complete ignorance of its own temperature can result in a scalded taste when heating coffee with milk-especially when the cup is near empty. Perhaps this item is hard to find because of this thermostat issue; however, I have yet to locate a similar product that senses heat.

The Salton does an adequate to good job at keeping beverages hot. It comes with a plain white cup which could have easily been left out. There is a white power cord and a simple on/off switch-a small red light indicates that the power is on. Please note that this product ships from independent sellers; therefore, Amazon.com does not offfer free shipping (with an order of $25 or more). For a similar price, you can order a mug warmer with a ceramic base from Vermontcountrystore.com. http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=10279&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=mug+warmer Given the adequate but not excellent performance of the Salton Hot Spot, this product might be worth checking out, although it does not have a thermostat either.

I bought this item based on the reviews and after looking at all other similar items and their reviews. This has been a great for my work. I spend most of my day in front of a computer/at at desk (like most of us today) and many times I get completely into what I am doing and forget to drink my tea, which ends up getting cold before I finish it. Well, no more. My tea stays hot until I finish it.

It does have one minor deficiency; it does not have an automatic on/off switch, so you need to be careful placing it in an area where you are not going accidentally cover it with any pieces of paper in case you forget to turn it off. On the other hand, the benefit of that feature is that you can turn it on before you go to get your coffee/tea/hot chocolate/soup so by the time you get back to your desk, the plate is already warm.

Note; this item is not for heating up a cold drink (as, oddly, some people seem to think), but rather, it is to maintain the temperature of a hot drink. Finally, it does come with its own cup, but you can also use your own.

After researching the reviews of mug warmers on Amazon I bought the Salton "Hot Spot". Upon turning it on for the first time, there was a slight burning aroma. I then placed my huge tea mug on top, accidentally spilling a bit. The spilled tea sizzled and crackled on the mug warmer until it had boiled away! Needless to say, the Hot Spot did its job and kept my large mug of tea at a very warm (but not too hot) temperature. Highly recommended!

I have purchased SEVERAL other brands of mug warmers, trying to find one that actually lives up to what the manufacturer claims. This one actually does! It keeps my coffee warm for literally hours (since I'm one to get busy at work and forget my morning coffee sitting on the desk, it will still be hot at lunch time). I would never purchase any other brand, and would tell others the same who ask me. This product is the only one to try. Trust me...I've tried the others.

This thing works perfectly for keeping coffee warm if you don't drink your coffee instantly, which I don't. I have no idea whether there are competing mug warmers that are better; what I do know (and have learned from this device) is that a mug warmer is a useful invention if you like coffee (or other hot beverages), and this is the one I happen to have -- I just sort of found it (I think it was a gift).

One nice feature is that it has a light that comes on when the thing is on. The light doesn't really communicate extra information (you could look at the on-off switch) but it's easier to see from far away -- and one danger I see of this device is forgetting to turn if off.

The only downside I see is that it produces a little bit of a burning-plastic odor, presumably coming from the burner itself.

The included mug is essentially useless -- I mean, it's another mug. Most of us, myself included, have dozens. Maybe if you think it's stylish you'll think it's a plus. But the base itself has changed the way I drink coffee, and for the price, that's a bargain.

I found the Salton "Hot Spot" mug warmer to be underpowered. At 17 watts, it keeps a cup of coffee warm but not hot. Depending on how you like your coffee, that could be a good thing, since it doesn't fry the contents down to a gummy residue as do more powerful warmers. On the other hand, I found the coffee temperature to be on the low side for my taste.

The price is good, the unit is attractive, and the delivery time was excellent.

Salton's "Hot Spot" warmers were a hit with both of the adult computer users who received them. Consistently hot beverages at your elbow? These gifts earned sincere thanks and were put into use promptly. The switch on the hotplate (as opposed to on the cord) and On/Off light were cited as winning features. Hotplate housing allows fit of average mugs. Operational cons? Nothing beyond common sense... contents of cup gets warmer as the level drops, don't let the mess on your desk avalanche over it during operation, etc. Salton "Hot Spot" earns 5 stars from my corner of the world :)

I haven't used a desktop mug warmer ever, this is my first one and I love it! I've read a lot of reviews of mug warmers that don't keep the beverage hot enough, but I thought the Toastmaster/Salton kept the temperature perfect - not super hot, but warmer than I expected! I recommend it!

I really enjoy the Salton Hot Spot. It keeps everything hot, mostly if you use the cup included. Worth the price.

I think this is a very good mug warmer. It keeps my coffee at just the right temperature.