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2010-01-03

They don't make coffee mug warmers like they used to

No contest
(coffee warmers)
SEATTLE, Washington - I've had my Dazey 1400 coffee warmer since the late 1990s. It's so old that the plastic is all cracked, the metal plate has actually separated from the plastic, and most of the brown marks on it are not dirt or stains, they're burns. Still, I've kept using it as it keeps the coffee at the correct temperature with its 25 watts of power. This warmer was discontinued years ago.

Usually I'm the only person I can find with some absurd loyalty to a humble product like this, but from reading reviews of other warmers looks like I have a lot of company:
...My old Dazey CW-10 (25 watts) is still getting the job done, but I wonder how much longer it can last...

...I agree with the other reviews that the Rival coffee cup warmer barely warms the cup, much less the contents. The Dazey has 25 watts, and that makes a big difference...

...After ten plus years of use, the heating element of my Dazey Corp. coffee warmer died. With 25 watts it has been the best. I wish I could find another...

...I agree with the other person who mentioned "Dazey Cup Warmer" I also have been try'g to find a mug warmer to compare to it...

...We all miss the old 25 watt Dazey warmers...

...I know it's called a beverage warmer, but it barely does that. I wouldn't recommend this at all. I had a cup warmer by Dazey (can't find it now) and it kept my drink HOT, as it should...
Still I need another warmer so I bought the Mr Coffee black warmer. With a pathetic 17 watts of power I did not get my hopes up, and in a side-by-side comparison with my Dazey it's clearly not keeping the coffee as warm.

There's rumor of a 23 watt warmer in Australia so I finally have a reason to vacation there.

UPDATE 2012/12/30: I knocked the warmer off my desk by accident and it shattered into a few pieces. While I could probably try to re-assemble this I think the time has come. I gave it a dignified disposal. RIP. 1998-2012.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had two of the Dazey cw10s in my office before I retired 13 years ago. I brought to our retirement cottage and had one on each side of our bed for long leisure mornings. My wife's died. So I replaced hers with a Black and Decker. Not worth a damn !tossed it out and bought a Rival.,.worthless also. I love my wife but she is NOT getting my Dazey. I have been ransacking my garage junk hoping to find the broken Dazey so I could get it repaired !!!!
Fred Cox
www.fredcoxcorner.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I just found a 24 watt coffee warmer on preparedpantry.com on sale from $25 down to $15. It's called a Deluxe cozy Cup Warmer. I'm going to order it today and give it a shot. It got glowing reviews, so you may look into it.

Jamie

Anonymous said...

Jamie how the 24 watt coffee warmer, my Dazey of 14 years just died, I'm so sad. These other sorry good for nothing other warmers well more like cup holders. Has anyone had any luck?

Anonymous said...

As I shop for a new warmer to replace the great one which served me so well for so many years, but finally burned up, I realize I'm not alone in my search.

In many of the warmer reviews on Amazon (there are hundreds) over and over I saw people refering to "that great Dazey warmer they used to have" and low and behold I happened upon your blog and you included a picture and there was my old warmer. It was a Dazey! I actually tried to repair it, without success.

Now with a luke warm cup of coffee next to me, I join the hundreds of other Searchers

Anonymous said...

I had two of these things and one died. The other one has been with me for years. It is the only one that I have found that really keeps coffee HOT not just warm. On a recent trip to Europe I plugged this thing into a 220 to 110 voltage converter that was bad and putting out 220 rather than 110. Blow a 110 volt power supply for my shaver BUT the coffee warmer got overheated and melted more of the plastic but it still works to my surprise. My family continues to bug me about this coffee warmer thing BUT I too have never found one that keeps coffee hot like this one. If someone finds one let me know at czachry@aol.com.

Anonymous said...

Ah, I too am a Dazey lover and she's starting to crack as well. I just looked at the base and it actually says "Made in U.S.A." So now we know why we can't find another one. I believe this is the only thing I own that is made in USA. I saw a listing for a USED Dazey on ebay for 34.99.... hmmmm...trying to decide. I'm sure I didn't pay over $15 for my Daizy 15+ years ago.

Anonymous said...

folks, cover your coffee mug with a CD. It works great to keep the heat in. Looks silly but it very functional.

Anonymous said...

Have a Teledyne "The Cupcake" automatic warmer. 25 watts.
Only works with a cup with a magnet in the base. Really cool, but just died. WAAHH!

Also long out of production.

Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares said...

Don't despair! I've just listed a couple of them in my Etsy shop. Click on my name above to get to the shop.

Anonymous said...

I researched and found a 24 watt model with user reviews indicating it actually works - Norpro 5569. I'm ordering one today and hoping it lives up to what others are saying. At this time, Amazon has a 4-week back order on them but search and you'll find them sold at other, reputable locations.

bw

Daisy said...

I sold one of my two Dazey's a few years ago in a garage moving sales. Boy, do I regret it! The only Dazey I have still doing its great job. I wanted to get another warmer for a different room, but having a hard time. I finally got the Norpro 5569 warmer per web good reviews. But it only keeps my coffee at temp of 101 degrees, which is lukewarm. My Dazey keeps my coffee HOT!! I had to return it.

Anonymous said...

I have a very old Cupcake which is falling apart but it still heats. Absolutely the best coffee warmer ever made because it turns itself off when you lift the mug. Anyone with a burned out but mechanically sound Cupcake, I would love to have it for parts.

Scott Lanter said...

Wow! I had no idea there were so many other people who treasure their Dasey as much as I do. I had lost my Dasey about 15 years ago and never could locate it. Several years went by before I decided to invest in another coffee warmer. Over a six month period, I purchased five different warmers. None of them even came close to performing the way my Dasey did. When testing the fifth warmer, I remember thinking, "Maybe it was my imagination that Dasey kept my coffee that hot." Well, yesterday I was going through some old boxes and I was floored when I opened one box and there was my old reliable Dasey in the bottom. I immediately plugged it in, made a cup of coffee, and let the cup rest on ancient Dasey for one hour. Ha ha! It was NOT my imagination....my Dasey DID keep that coffee hot as I had remembered. I'm so glad to have my Dasey back....cracks in the plastic and all. She's 20 years old and I hope she lasts another 20. In the meantime, I think I'll do some searching on eBay to and maybe purchase 4 or 5 more Daseys. That should last me until I'm too old to hold a coffee cup. :D

Anonymous said...

I was just asked what brand of warmwer I had so went looking on the internet to see if it was still available and found this site. I have one of these CW-10 models also, it's still working fine, I got it from a coworker 15 years ago. Like others here I wish I knew where to get another one just in case this one does give up and quit working.

LauraC said...

I found a candle warmer (20 watts) at a thrift store. Favorite so far. 3 mug warmers from thrift stores too-15,17, and 14 watts. Candle warmer works the best and has largest surface-fits any mug. Of course all work decently only with flat bottomed mugs. I search thrift shops for them too.

Anonymous said...

I happened on here through frustration at not being able to find another warmer as good as my old one. Thought maybe I was some sort of fanatic, being so particular about my warmer - until now. Only those of us who have experienced the "real" thing in warmers can appreciate the difference. I am happy to know I am not alone in my loyalty to this simple little appliance. So sorry they don't seem to make it anymore.

R.A. Conine said...

Guys, I found several Dazey's on eBay, still sealed and in the original boxes. I purchased a model 1984 CW-10 for $56.00. Granted, that's steep for a coffee warmer but I don't mind paying it. Works beautifully. Keeps the coffee perfectly warm and does NOT burn it. What a wonderfully balanced and crafted product. It's retro, big, bold, bulky and every component is American-made. I had one on ship and took it with me to every new command until I retired from the Navy in 2004. Then I tossed it out and purchased a new-fangled, sleek Mr. Coffee warmer. What a mistake. I'm happily reunited with my old friend and I expect we'll be together for at least another 20 years. Hell, I'm passing this baby down to my children. I too am please I'm not alone in loving and admiring this simple appliance.

Anonymous said...

FOUND! Vintage "CUP CAKE" 25 watt coffee mug warmer, with matching coffee cup. This is pre-1970's. You'll pay $45 for it..but who cares? Money comes and goes all the time, it's the pleasure and satisfaction that's priceless! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-CUP-CAKE-Coffee-Soup-Beverage-Warmer-25-Watts-C-RING-CUP-Dazey-Style-/121120839438?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c335d570e

Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares said...

For those of you wanting a "Cup Cake" mug warmer, as of today I have two of them available here: http://www.zibbet.com/LaurasLastDitch

Mad Hatter said...

You don't have to look around the internet long to realize that there is a market for this warmer. So why isn't anyone selling them? Is there some regulation or law suite we don't know about?

Anonymous said...

@madhatter, nothing domestic seems to be 25 watts any more, I doubt there's a regulation, so either UL decided to stop certifying warmers at 25 watts or maybe the companies themselves just decided liability risk is not worth it. something like that.

Anonymous said...

After searching the internet for best coffee mug warmer, I came to conclusion the new one won't cut it. I bought two so far and they keep my coffee "lukewarm" by my standards. Because of this blog I decided to search ebay and behold I found several for sale, so I bought one and can't wait to try it out. I'm assuming this does not have auto shut off, which is a feature I like, because I have walked off to come back much later to baked coffee at the bottom.

Marvinlee said...

I found a 50-watt used round beverage warmer on Ebay. It works much better than the Mr. Coffee warmer I had. I now have it connected to a 60-minute adjustable wall-mount timer, both mounted together on a wooden case that provides sufficient depth to hold the timer mechanism. I thought 50 watts might be too much, but it was just about right. When I want the coffee even hotter, I put a shiny mini-disk on top of the cup. The "Made in Taiwan" warmer came with no brand name or company name.

Anonymous said...

I am still using a Mr. Coffee Mug Activated Warmer (with automatic shut-off) that my daughters gave to my mother about 23 years ago (my mother passed away 22 years ago). It works great, and I think of my mother every time I use it.

DonB said...

Many thanks to Jeff and everyone's comments here. Right after reading this, I went to Ebay, and unbelievably, I found a brand new Dazey CW-10, still in its original plastic hanging card with the manual and warranty registration card for $28, free shipping. It is made in the USA and has a manufacture date stamped on it of SEP 21 1993. I am in the process of testing it's maiden voyage. I am using a flat bottom porcelain cup and have not removed any liquid from it. After 30 minutes on the Dazey, my hot chocolate is actually 4 degrees warmer then when I first put it on the Dazey! Good Luck to all in your search for the perfect beverage warmer.

Anonymous said...

Good news for owners of Dazey warmers with good heating elements but failing/failed plastic cases. I discovered this blog when getting ready to look for yet another replacement. After buying a Mr Coffee some earlier this year and being thoroughly disappointed, I repaired my Dazey as best I could. This morning, the plate fell out again and the outlook for a successful 2nd repair not so bright. But I noticed the plate seemed to be the same size as the Mr. Coffee. So I disassembled both units and put the Dazey heating element assembly into the piece of c*** Mr. Coffee housing and all is well again.

If you wish to try this yourself here are some things to note:
1) Make sure to use the complete Dazey element assembly including spring and cover plate.
2)The hole in the support ring for the plate through which the wires pass is by the switch in the Dazey but rotated 90° from that on my Mr. C. so the heating assembly has to be rotated the same.
3)The registration notch in the mug plate marks a wide spot to cover the wires from view. Make sure that gets lined up with the wire side tab (Mr C has two tabs)
4)The mug plate fits snugly in the Dazey but is free to slide around in the Mr C, so you will have to take time to properly center it after assembly but before completely tightening the screws.

YES! HOT coffee again. Hope this news brings as much joy to others as it did to me this morning.

Anonymous said...

I too was/am a devoted Dazey fan. As a retired person who is on the computer all the time, as well as a coffee lover, I have a cup of coffee on a warmer from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed. I remember when Dazey warmers were $5 in the store.

Good news for coffee lovers! I've gone through about 4 or 5 different brands of warmers looking for one that will keep coffee hot, and I finally found one that's only 1 watt less than the good old Dazey.

"Cozy Cup Warmer" or on Amazon, "Norpro 5569 Decorative Cup Warmer". This unit puts out 24 watts and will keep your coffee mug nice and hot. The switch is on the cord which is a bit of an inconvenience, but I just plug it in/unplug it when I use it.

I've been using this for a couple of years now and have no complaints. I was just on Ebay looking at Dazey's and said to myself, "Why bother? The one I have works great!"

Happy coffee drinking!

Lancaster said...

Available on Amazon is a 30 watt Disney cup warmer that includes a Mickey Mouse cup and has a power switch on the front of the unit, only $9.99 including prime shipping.

Anonymous said...

I blame personal injury and liability lawyers for this situation, as well as the idiots who are their clients.

A 25 watt coffee warmer like the old Dazey is hot enough to burn your hand if you're dumb enough to put your hand on the bare plate of it, and if you put it on a stack of papers (i.e. if you're an idiot) it could start a fire.

So somewhere along the way the makers of these devices figured out that the liability and legal costs of dealing with ambulance chasers is not worth any potential profit from selling them, so they now make coffee luke-warmers, that are 'safe', but are a waste of money.

So to you in the Trial Lawyers Assn.: I blame you for screwing up a good product, and I curse you every time I take a drink of my luke-warm coffee.

ebotrd said...

Keep hope alive!
I've been reading some great comments on this Disney warmer. Only $6.50 on amazon nowadays: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=disney+warmer&sprefix=disney+warmer%2Caps%2C195

Now if they could just make it with automatic/"mug activated" shut-off/turn-on. The whole fire hazard/kid hazard thing worries me. With my luck...some day....

Anyway, I'm buying one and will update you guys on this issue of critical importance!!!

I saw the Mr Coffee MW1 23W which appears to be the most well-known of any with auto shut-off but it's like 4 times the price, and not sure 23W will cut it. Has anyone tried that one?

Looked for "Marvinlee's" 50 WATT powerhouse - one similar on ebay for $20 incl shipping
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rose-Flowers-Mug-Warmer-Set-34323-New-in-Box-Made-in-Taiwan-/291560480726?hash=item43e25bdfd6

But again no auto shut-off.

ebotrd said...

PS - Minnie mouse costs more, like $15.

ebotrd said...

But wait, new contenders!:

Betty Crocker BC-1790 = 23 Watts 120Vac.
Will auto shut-off if left untouched for 30 minutes. With or without a cup on warming plate. Hopefully the fire won't have started by then...

DAZEY CW-10 = 25 Watts 120Vac. (No auto shut-off).

Sorry...I know some of these may've been mentioned already. But they're still out there. Mickey for $6.50 is the best deal I've found though if you want to risk no auto shut off.

Anonymous said...

Wholly Cow....I must have been asleep and now wake to not being able to replace my coffee heater/warmer.
Mine has that automatic switch on the bottom as when you lift up the cup, its shuts it off.

Good information here, going to go looking NOW.
Helmar

Anonymous said...

Varying conditions and temperature desires could be satisfied by a warmer with decent wattage like the Dazey and a variable control. Someone out there must be listening to these requests.

Anonymous said...

I have a Mr. Coffee Mug Activated Warmer, 23W, auto shutoff after 30 minutes. I did a search for 'mug activated cup warmer' and found plenty of references to the Mr. Coffee mug activated warmer, but they all seem to be out of stock. There is a larger version of the Mr. Coffee Mug Activated Warmer, which is a scaled up version of the cup warmer. It is 60W and has a 2 hour auto shutoff. It's for carafes and soup bowls, apparently. Doesn't take me 2 hours to eat my soup!
D

Anonymous said...

Oh, yes, if you do a search on eBay, they have some used Dazey cup warmers available (hairline cracks around the hot plate and some discoloration). They also have the Mr. Coffee Mug Activated Warmer $25 - $30 and the Mr. Coffee Carafe actived warmer (60W, 2hr auto shutoff) for $30. I contacted Mr. Coffee and asked them why they discontinued the best mug warmer ever (the mug activated warmer with auto shutoff). I expect I'll get some lame corporate answer about cost effectiveness and environmental responsibility.
D

SunShinyDa said...

Have one of the OLD Dazey coffee warmers. They work GREAT. The newer ones are NOT HOT ENOUGH. Mine says is 25 watts on the bottom of it. Have had for probably 35-40 years, stays on the table by my chair for coffee, tea, HOT cider, or hot chocolate. Wish I could find reasonably priced would like 2-3 more!!!

Tami said...

Anybody find out why the Mr. coffee Activated Warmer with auto shut off was discontinud? 23W. I want a new one - used OK.

Unknown said...

I too have an old Dazey 1400.
I have had quite a few more. I just paid $32 for a Kuwan because it had buttons instead of off and on on the cord. Dazey is the only one that WORKS
I need one