Ben Melinger of New York, USA, has developed the "SMASH CUP. He is currently seeking investors on Kickstarter for the commercialization of the product. At the time of writing, the project has raised $105,240, far exceeding its goal of $10,000, and is scheduled to go on the market this fall.


According to Ben Melinger, coffee lovers on average discard 500 paper cups per year, creating an environmental burden. In response, Starbucks and other coffee shops have introduced a system that allows customers to receive discounts if they bring their own tumblers, but carrying tumblers without coffee in them is a bit of a nuisance.


The "SMASH CUP" is a coffee cup that solves this problem. To use the "SMASH CUP," users bring a "SMASH CUP" to a Starbucks or other coffee shop and have coffee poured into it. When you drink the coffee, you can use it as a normal coffee cup. When you are done drinking, crush the cup into a flattened shape and carry it in your pocket. This way, you don't have to feel the neediness of carrying around an empty tumbler.





Many similar products are already on the market. The most important feature of "SMASH CUP" when compared to those products is that folding is smooth and pleasant.



At first, Melinger created a V-shaped prototype. However, this shape did not allow the cup to be folded easily. After that, Melinger created several prototypes and came up with the current shape that folds up comfortably.


Hearing this, one is tempted to try it out to see how comfortable it is. The price is low, and you may want to purchase one when it goes on sale.


SMASH CUP" is available in five colors: red, blue, green, orange, and pink. The commercial price is $18, and shipping to Japan is expected to be $10.