I was very saddened a few years back when self-heating coffee was pulled from the market. OnTech, the company that held the patents on the technology, ceased operations shortly after picking up Walmart as a customer. I was amazed, because that is the kind of critical-mass moment that technology companies look for; a solid, large customer.
OnTech sold the coffee initially under their own brand, and then briefly as Hillside Beverages. The technology isn’t rocket science, it’s used in Army MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for eons. Basically, water sits in one packet, and in another, pellets of a flammable substance (say, magnesium just for example). When you break a tab, the water and magnesium mix, and heat is created. Now, uncontrolled, this could start a fire… but the technology regulates the mixture so that, instead, you get a hot cup of coffee at any time.
There were other issues, sure, like the coffee going stale prematurely. However, a new company has emerged/reconstituted OnTech’s product line. Hot Can, Inc. is now selling the cans through Walmart once again.
At essentially $2/can, plus shipping, it’s certainly more expensive than Starbucks. However, it may be cheaper than getting out of your desk and spending 15 minutes in the office to get a cup of coffee… oh, memories of wasting time there.
Despite the high price, I’ll be picking up a can and work up a review… as soon as the caffeine wears off. Okay, fine, during the self-heated caffeine binge.
Actually the exothermic reaction is simply a calcium oxide and water. No magnesium to potentially explode! Very simple and safe… These are great for campers who carry only one small camp stove but want to enjoy hot coffee while they’re making breakfast.
A great idea would be a reusable beverage mug with disposable exothermic cartridges you insert in the bottom to heat the liquid with. When finished, you simply dispose of the spent cartridges.
Studying the patent, I’m fairly certain magnesium oxide is combined with calcium oxide. The calcium oxide may be there to control/limit the combustion, however. The instructions on these packets are very cautionary that you should not breach the powered material side.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if someone ignited the powder in one of these kits. I would presume though that if sparked or in the wrong conditions, the powder could be incendiary.
A capsule based system would make a lot of sense… but this patent has been so tossed around, we probably have to wait for it to lapse at this point.
Really miss this product. Surprisingly convenient. No loss of time or energy having to “get coffee” – which adds up to less production; especially when certain workers seem to always have parking problems and/or being caught in traffic. And the generic office chore swill swings wildly depending on whose week it is, often only marginally acceptable when covered up with loads of cream and sugar. A fatigue-generating effort. Again, miss the product.