Rival’s warmer is on the small side compared to some others. It is only five inches by six and a quarter and the actual warming plate is less than four inches in diameter. It comes with a mug that is eight ounces, which is the standard measurement for a cup of coffee. However, most people that are shopping for warmers are doing so because they enjoy a big ole mug of Joe, and the Rival may not fit many larger mugs.

This electric cup warmer does feature an off-on switch with a light and this is a nice safety feature. Depending upon the model selected, the total wattage is either 18 or 22 watts, not exactly a powerhouse in the land of quick warming. Rival does provide a solid warranty of one year.

Several users compared this Rival device to the far more expensive model available from Brookstone, and Rival won hands down. Nearly every user said that if the beverage is plenty hot to start out, Rival’s warmer is going to do a satisfactory job of keeping it at a suitable drinking temperature. One of the problems with reviews of warmers is that each and every person has a different tolerance or desire regarding beverage temperature, and what may be perfect for one, could scald the skin right off of the roof of the mouth for another.

For less than ten bucks, in fact, less than nine, this little electric cup warmer is the engine that could and does. It is available from a number of retailers online and is sure worth a good hard look. Why not introduce this to your favorite mug soon?

NorPro gets high marks for its looks. It has a chunkier look than some similar warmers and a faux marble finish that sets it apart from some of the others in this arena. Total dimensions are 12 by nine inches and the unit weighs a tad less than a pound and a half. Overall it is one of the more attractive mini-warming plates available.

The warming pad itself is pretty large. One reviewer reported that she actually puts her whole 32 ounce teapot right on the warming unit and it keeps all of the contents warm for several hours. Another user was very pleased with NorPro’s on-off switch. It is the toggle or roller type switch on the cord, rather than the typical switch found on the base of most electric cup warmers.

On the less than positive side, some users comment on the shortness of the electrical cord. Several felt that most desk and office areas would require the use of an extension cords to reach a wall outlet. Some did not care for the switch being on the cord and would prefer it on the base. One consumer sent a word of warning that the underside of the base has hard plastic “feet” and that these can scratch a desk or table surface.

Nearly every user review of the NorPro electric cup warmer was positive in his or her assessment of the device’s main job, keeping beverages warm. As one might expect, a flat bottomed mug works best for equal heat distribution. Retailing for between $17 and $25 online, this warmer warrants a second look.

Not all warmers are created equal and when shopping online for them, there is a huge difference in price points, styles and modes of operation. One electric cup warmer that can be purchased for less than $10.00 is made by Mr. Coffee. It has received mixed reviews on Internet shopping sites, so let us take a look at cost versus quality.

Some people are under the mistaken belief that electric cup warmers are designed to actually heat up stone cold beverages, and this is not what they are designed for at all. Nearly all reviewers agree that the Mr. Coffee brand does an adequate job of keeping an already hot cup of Joe exactly that way with their warmer. In fact, as more of the beverage is sipped, the remainder in the cup actually gets warmer. Some people have commented that they believe that the warming unit overall gets a bit on the hot side, so it is a good idea to keep it away from anything with flammable potential.

The ten buck price tag makes this electric cup warmer a very popular item for office gifts, or as a promotional item for a company. The fact that it performs well for keeping warm beverages warm makes it a terrific value. So what if it doesn’t heat a cold beverage up, it is a warmer, not a heater.

In summary, this Mr. Coffee warmer is well worth its weight in toasty warm liquids. It does the job quite well. For ten bucks, or thereabouts, it is very hard to go wrong. At worst, the coffee gets cold just like it used to and at best (and a much more likely option) is that the magical black juice that we have come to love stays piping hot until the last drop.