There are many people who drink coffee or tea every morning on the way to work. And there are those that drink another cup or five at the office, once they get there. So how can a person who doesn't want to use disposal cups because of all the waste it would generate, but would prefer something smaller and cleaner than a thermos, use for their caffeine fix?
A Kickstarter project has launched for a product called the Smash Cup. It is a personal cup that holds 12 ounces of hot liquid, about the same as a disposable cup. When you are done using it, you can smash it down so that the plastic collapses into the top section of the cup.
The result is a hockey puck-shaped form that is only 1.75-inches tall, for easy stowing in a purse or bag. The cap can be locked into place, creating a tight seal that won't allow any liquid that remains to leak out and cause a mess in your bag. The top is also large enough so you can safely hold the cup if it is filled with hot coffee, tea, cocoa or whatever.
The Smash Cup is made from food-grade silicon, which does not contain BPA. It is dishwasher safe, and the creators are offering the cup in five different colors: green, blue, red, orange and pink, as well as either a white top or a black top.
Ben Melinger, the creator of Smash Cup, got the idea of the product while he was out having some coffee with some friends. They soon began designing prototypes, figuring out materials, etc. Two years later, the prototypes of the cup are real and after the Kickstarter project finishes in August, the first official production run of the Smash Cup will be manufactured.
The $15 reward level will nab you a single Smash Cup. Higher reward levels will get you multiple cups at a lower price point, down to a dozen for $120, which results in each cup going for $10 each. The current schedule is for the Smash Cups to be delivered to backers in October.
The creators were asking for $10,000, but have already raised over $32,000, with 26 days left in the Kickstarter project.
