Two former Leiheigh University design engineer students have raised $300,000 on Kickstarter to create a product that they say solves a common problem among coffee drinkers — temperature fluctuation.
The two Daves, as they refer to themselves, are now working with Sherrill Manufacturing in Oneida, New York, to crank out the product, known as “Coffee Joulies,” to satisfy pre-orders from the Kickstarter campaign, which at the time was the third largest fundraiser in kickstarter history.
Coffee Joulies are polished stainless steel shells in the shape of oversized coffee beans that the Daves say cool brewed coffee to a drinking temperature of 140 degrees three times more quickly than naturally cooling. Then, the Joulies release some of the energy they’d stored in the cooling to keep the coffee as close to the ideal drinking temperature as possible.
Here’s more from the Coffee Joulies team:
Their polished stainless steel shells are full of a very special phase change material (an ingredient in food) that melts at 140°F. When you put them in your coffee this PCM begins melting, absorbing a LOT of heat in the process and cooling your coffee down much faster than normal.
Where does all that heat go? It’s stored right inside your Coffee Joulies™. When your coffee reaches 140°F (the perfect drinking temperature) the molten PCM begins solidifying again, releasing all that energy back into your coffee to keep it at a comfortable and delicious drinking temperature. The more heat you feed your Joulies, the longer they’ll keep your coffee warm.
Nick Brown
Nick Brown is the editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine.
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Why did these guys turn to Kickstarter when the product was already on the market for a year? Man, people will do anything to fleece the chumps funding via Kickstarter…
140 degrees is WAY too cool. You can guzzle coffee at 140. I still am not a fan at all. The idea of putting some big pieces of metal in my coffee kinda weirds me out. Putting them in…taking them out…cleaning them…I predict this will disappear to novelty shelves within one year. I hope the Kickstarter investors like their t-shirts.
I just bought these for my husband and we love them. If you have a well insulated cup, they really do keep your coffee hot for a long time.
@ Kate coffee should not be kept hot for a long time. It can cause changes in the ph acidity and alkalinity giving the coffee a sour tang or bitter taste, much like leaving it on the Mr Coffee hot plate to keep warm. Coffee should be enjoyed around 175-185 degrees for the best taste and flavor profile enjoyment @ Jack this was a Kickstarter project about 2 years ago and I thought the same thing about the t-shirts then lol I am with you about the novelty. Though I am sure they have more cash infusion now from all the publicity.
140 is just about perfect for me. No it shouldn’t be long term, but for me it isn’t. Giving me consistency for fifteen-twenty minutes does the job. It just happens to be the drinking temperature I published in my book, The Art and Craft of Coffee. I hope they just tested it among some coffee enthusiast. Can’t wait to try them.
Oh Kevin, you lightweight…BTW, for anyone who wants a good coffee book, Kevin’s book is a very nicely done book! http://coffeecompanion.com/the-art-and-craft-of-coffee/
I don’t really care if it is suppose to or not. If someone takes a long time drinking their coffee, it’s helpful and you don’t have to keep reheating it. I understand the coffee snob aspect of this, but for those of us who just want enjoy our coffee staying hotter a little longer….they work. I wish them well on their invention!