Reusable mugs are an essential status symbol for green millennials.
But a new generation of smart vessels can do more than look pretty (and virtuous) on your desk: they keep your brew piping hot, track your hydration levels and even pay for your flat white.
Glowstone’s smart cup is hot property. The British-based start-up has spent two years engineering a mug that can create the so-called perfect cup of tea.
The jury is still out on whether such a thing is objectively possible, but Glowstone’s mug was fully funded on Indiegogo and the result is trailblazing.
It’s a china cup, fitted with patented self-heating technology that keeps your drink between the optimum drinking temperatures of 60C and 65C for up to an hour — which means no more long meetings gulping down tepid cups of tea.
It charges wirelessly on its coaster, and an illuminated bar on the side indicates when your brew is ready for drinking.
Ember’s award-winning smart mug syncs with an app on your phone (or Apple Watch): control the temperature and track your caffeine consumption. An LED on the side will warn you if the drink is too hot.
Droplet’s smart mug is about hydration. The clever vessel is fitted with an electronic base which monitors how frequently you drink water and illuminates or speaks to you when you need to take another sip. Set the timer to 20, 40 or 60-minute intervals — just remember to turn down the volume before getting on the Tube.
And Costa’s reusable coffee cup is propelling the contactless revolution forward (or, sideways, at least).
Its version is a reusable mug with a contactless chip in its base, powered by Barclaycard’s bPay technology and works with most Visa or Mastercards: just top up your balance on the app and swipe away wherever you see a contactless sign.
You can spend up to £30 in one go.
It won’t replace your smartphone or Monzo card, but it’s a smart gimmick.
