Crowdfunding project of the week: Muggino smart mug

Zip on your coffee and enjoy this week’s ‘Crowdfunding project of the week’, where we highlight the hottest projects from websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. We know you don’t have all the time to be searching around for cool gadgets, so we are doing all the work for you. Shall we get started with today’s featured project?

Other featured campaigns:

• MATRIX PowerWatch runs on body heat
• BumpOut portable audio system
• Gryphon is a fast, safe and super simple router

It is the simple things in life that make it great, right? A good cup of joe can change your mood in an instant, but temperature is definitely an important factor and you need a good container. Today we are taking a look at Muggino, a smart mug that will keep your drink at the right temperature at all times.

At first sight it will look like a traditional mug, and the device does feature the double-wall technology we have been using this whole time, but Muggino takes things much further. It can use its own energy to either cool or heat anything stored inside. Yes, this does mean you can put some beer in there and keep it frosty cold.

The mug works through the company’s official app, where you can set your temperature preferences. The app will then remember these and you will be able to operate the mug without pulling out your phone all the time. Simply tap twice on the handle for hot drinks, or tap three times for cold ones.

It’s also worth noting a feature you might never think about, but will be both convenient and green. This cup doesn’t allow energy to be wasted from the release of heat your liquids generate. Said energy is harvested and used to charge the mug itself. This is accomplished by using thermoelectrics, which converts changes of temperature into electricity.

Change of temperature itself doesn’t provide enough energy to keep the mug running all the time, though. You will need to juice up, and this can be easily done with the provided MuggiPad, a wireless charger you can simply set your Muggino upon.

Pretty nuts, right? It is certainly a great investment for those who really care about drink temperature. You can currently get one for as low as $59, but that early bird special is running out soon. The project has reached 50% of its $30,000 funding goal and has a month left to go, so let’s see how it all works out.

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