The Freshest in Lids

Considering the abundance of coffee available – beans and drink combinations alike – it’s no wonder even local gas stations will likely offer the same selections as the nearest gourmet shop. The varieties of coffee drinks offered at chain stores are even more remarkable. Starbuck’s alone offers 87,000 types of drink combinations. While the types of coffee drinks available are infinite – or so vast few people will ever try them all – other products directly related to serving coffee has evolved as well. Coffee cup lids in particular have advanced as industrial designers continuously address their functionality and comforts. For the 50 billion cups of coffee served annually in the US – a proper lid is necessary. How about a temperature reading, ergonomically correct lid? Even better.

Lid Tweaks Are No Small Feat

Is it possible we take for granted the advancements made in coffee lid development? Consider few of us take into account that lid developers consider mouth comfort, splash effect, ease, environmental concerns and several other factors. Creating the perfect lid is no small feat. While lid perfection may not be possible, vastly improving past models is.

Lids Off

While the traditional plastic lid may seem the ubiquitous choice amongst most coffee vendors, inventors, industrial designers, and a few who are simply sick of lids that don’t close tightly are bringing new, innovative lid products to market.

Advancing the Lid

Coffee lid advancements gained significant ground in the mid 1980’s when 26 new patents were accepted for specialty lids. The growth was due in part to coffee drinkers’ need to have a cup of coffee in hand at all junctures of the day. Older lid models did not adapt to the hustle and bustle of today where we expect our cup of coffee to go everywhere with us. This need for constant java jolt spurred a bevy of creative thinking.

The Smartest Lid

The Smart Lid, invented by Nick Bayss, shows the temperature range of the liquid and changes color overall to correspond with hot and cold. Even better – the lid will indicate that it’s completely secure. Gizmag.com interviewed Bayss, who claimed he came up with the idea having spent several years managing coffee shops only to find customers regularly underestimated the coffee’s temperature and could be harmed by spillage from unsecured lids. The lid essentially communicates with the coffee drinker, revealing on the lid when the beverage is too hot or too cold, and if the lid is tightly sealed. The product was picked up by Smart Lid Systems and is currently distributed all over the world.

The Coolest Lid

Coolid® is the Virginia based company that created the two portioned plastic lid that cools a small portion of coffee in the cup in a small holding reservoir complete with retaining walls. This coffee holding tank will lower the coffee’s temperature up to twenty degrees. Considering coffee is typically brewed to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, a cooling mechanism can help prevent serious burns from occurring.

The Most Ergonomically Correct Lid

Further exploring the ergonomic design of coffee lids, Metaphase Group of St. Louis, Missouri came out with the Solo Traveler Plus that is to many coffee drinkers, the end of spilt coffee no matter how bumpy the ride. Metaphase specializes in ergonomics and the human hand and used kinesiologists on staff to assess the lid’s performance. The award winning industrial designers at Metaphase created the Gatorade E.D.G.E bottle, and began the lid project knowing everything from the tilt of the human head to the curvature of one’s lips would play a significant role in engineering the ideal lid. Ultimately, a new plastic lid was born complete with extra room for foam or whip cream and a reclosable mouth opening that seals in even the smallest drop.

Green Lids

While many lid manufacturers use recycled materials to produce their coffee lids, the lids themselves cannot be recycled. Considering approximately 50 billion take-away cups of coffee are purchased annually in the U.S., coffee lids can do a number on landfills and other areas of the environment. Ecoproducts.com sells fully compostable hot coffee cups and other decomposable coffee accessories. Lids are not one of the compostable items Ecoproducts offers, however, only because decomposable plastic lids have yet to be invented. Demand for biodegradable lids is strong and researchers are finding natural products including soy show signs of promise in creating the first official green lid.

As habits of coffee drinkers change, so will the fit and function of coffee lids. The places we drink coffee, the time of the day, who we drink it with, how we want to taste it, and more, all affect the design of a lid. Take into account the growing concern for waste management and eco-friendly products, the non-biodegradable lid is likely to go through major changes once again. The next time you hit a speed bump as you’re taking a sip of coffee and realize it didn’t spill everywhere, be sure to remember everything that went into enhancing your coffee drinking experience.