AI has touched nearly every aspect of our lives – even our morning cup of tea.
One example is the new HAVA Mug that launched on Kickstarter last month. It’s an intelligent mug that learns your preferred temperatures and drinking habits, so you can enjoy the same perfect hot beverage every time – just the way you like it. You can adjust the temperature by swiping your finger along the mug, and no app is necessary (although one is coming soon with additional features).
HAVA Mug uses advanced algorithms to monitor the temperature of the beverage and to heat it to a user-specified temperature. By swiping a finger along the side of the hard plastic housing of the ceramic mug, the temperature can be increased or decreased. HAVA Mug will eventually learn a user’s temperature preference, even down to the time of day, and automatically set. LED lights indicate the temperature setting up to 150℉. The forthcoming app – currently under development – will also allow users to control their mug, display temperatures and set a brewing time for tea, in addition to receiving notifications when it’s ready.
The HAVA Mug’s charging coaster serves two purposes. The first is to charge the mug for on-the-go temperature-controlled drinking. A single charge to the mug can provide up to two hours of heating. When the mug is resting on the coaster, the beverage can reach a simmering temperature – ideal for brewing fresh cups of tea. If on the coaster all day, the mug’s contents will never go cold.
Creator Nate Thuli (pictured below), based in the Los Angeles area, shared some insights with World Tea News about the mug and how a tech-enhanced life shouldn’t feel tech-y at all when it comes to enjoying a great cup of tea.
Question: What type of consumer will appreciate this type of intelligent mug?
Answer: Anyone currently drinking hot beverages will immediately experience the benefits of HAVA Mug. We are able to appeal to a wide range of consumers thanks to the simplicity of using the advanced technology. The technology gets out of the way to enable a very organic drinking experience, while the premium ceramic materials ensure even the most discerning coffee and tea consumers get the best flavor and drinking experience possible.
Question: Can you tell us a little about the product development and who developed the technology?
Answer: Our small Colorado-based team of engineers are passionate about tea and coffee, and the beautiful breadth of flavors in a good cup of tea. We've spent the last three years developing and refining HAVA Mug into the best combination of powerful technology, advanced software, and premium design and materials. We've spent the last year testing the mug and learning from our beta community how to best enable a great drinking experience and the social connection possible when enjoying a cup of tea with someone else.
Question: What do you want the tea industry to know about the HAVA Mug?
Answer: The main takeaways consist of understanding how much our tea drinking is impacted by the current mugs available. Water starts off too hot, passes through an ideal temperature range and gets too cold – often burning our tongues and then getting cold too fast along the way, only in an ideal range for an average of about eight minutes. With HAVA Mug, there are a few key benefits designed to address this. The mug learns your preferred temperature, capability of keeping the tea at your ideal temperature for up to two hours, while allowing users to adjust the temperature by simply swiping on the side of the mug without the need for apps. On top of that, the premium ceramic core is comfortable against your mouth and the overall shape of the mug is one you want to hold in your hand and get cozy. In an industry-exclusive capability, HAVA Mug can also bring liquid up to a simmering temperature when on the charging coaster, which is ideal for steeping tea. This allows the tea experience to take center stage for a very enjoyable experience.
Question: Is there anything else on the market like this?
Answer: There are other products in the market trying to address the limitations of a standard mug, but they often put technology at the forefront – forcing consumers to use apps or clunky tech-forward products, or lids which block the aroma and nuance flavors.
Question: Thanks for your time! Last question: Will retailers be able to sell the HAVA Mug in the future? If so, how do you plan to support retailers in their efforts to sell it?
Answer: Absolutely! We are excited to have designed HAVA Mug to reach a price-point where we can work with retailers to sell the mug. We'll provide informative point-of-purchase materials and compelling packaging to make HAVA Mug an exciting product to offer.
To pre-order a HAVA Mug, visit pr.go2.fund/havamug. To learn more, visit HavaMug.com.