Costa has designed a contactless reusable coffee cup
Taking another step in the right direction to combat single-use takeaway cups, Costa has launched its next generation of reusable coffee cups. Partnering with Barclaycard, the coffee chain has created the UK’s first reusable contactless coffee cup. Yep, really!
So how does it work?
The Clever Cup features space in the base of the cup for a chip that is powered by bPay by Barclaycard.
bPay is a pre-paid contactless chip that works with most UK registered Visa or Mastercard debit/credit cards, not just Barclays or Barclaycards and comes with your cup. Simply download the free bPay app onto your iOS or Android smart phone and link your VISA/Mastercard bank credit/debit card to it. You can track your spending on the app and top it up as and when. You also have the option of auto top-up, for ease, when it dips below a pre-set amount.
You’re not restricted to using only in Costa, the cup will work anywhere that offers contactless payment. As with all contactless payments, there’s a maximum £30 transaction at a time.
What we thought:
We found it helped on all aspects of our morning commute, not just the coffee run. For example, if you’re struggling holding your coffee and going through a tube barrier, simply tap the base of your cup for speed and convenience to save you digging around in your bag!
In coffee shops, it was a seamless way to pay for your coffee and food without having to think about getting your purse out; just remember to pay your bill before they run off with your cup to fill it up!
It did very well at retaining the heat of drinks and was comfortable and stylish in design and washed up by well by hand.
It’s great seeing brands encouraging the reuse of everyday products to help combat unnecessary waste production. Combining technology and environmentally-friendly thinking is a definite step in the right direction and I can see consumers getting on board with this convenient product.
That's not all, Costa offers a 25p discount on hot drinks when using a reusable cup as do most other coffee shops, so it’s always worth having one in your bag if you’re a coffee fiend. To boot, it’s sold in packaging made from recycled coffee cups.
The Clever Cup costs £14.99 with a £1 donation from every sale going to The Costa Foundation whose goal is to relieve poverty in coffee-growing communities. It's available to buy in some Costa stores from today but by the end of the month, it will be available in all Costa stores across the country.
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