Two inventors have created a little metal ellipsoid that solves a problem as old as coffee itself.
If you drink coffee—if you drink any hot beverage—you're familiar with the phenomenon: It's too hot at first and burns your tongue. Then, before you know it, it's cooled to become a tepid, tasteless brew.
Well, behold the Joulie. Invented by engineers Dave Petrillo and Dave Jackson, these little things sit in the bottom of your cup or travel mug. Each Joulie has "a special non-toxic material sealed within the polished stainless steel shell." That material melts at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. When it does, it absorbs thermal energy. And as the material solidifies again, it releases said energy. The upshot for you? Your coffee or tea cools to a drinkable temperature much more quickly and stays warm "twice as long."
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To test their idea, the two Daves made 100 Joulies by hand and tried to raise money on Kickstarter. Their initial goal was $9,500. They ended up raising more than $300,000. So the idea's a hit. They've now moved to Sherrill, New York, to start the manufacturing process. You can't buy Joulies yet, but you can get on a mailing list via their website. When they are available, they'll go for $50 for a set of five.
Congratulations on a brilliant and simple idea, Daves.
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