Zap! Bam! Cuppow! at the Flying M Coffeehouse
I go to the Flying M Coffeehouse as much for the clever merchandise as for the locally roasted coffee. On a recent visit, I had one of those, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” moments when I discovered Cuppow. This earth-friendly American company created a new recycling niche, by enabling conscientious consumers to turn canning jars into to-go carriers.
Their flagship product is a drinking lid adaptor that turns a ordinary mason jar into a travel mug—sort of a sippy cup for grownups. The company’s latest invention is the BNTO (a play on Japanese bento boxes), which allows you to separate your jar into two compartments: hummus on top, carrots on the bottom; or dressing on top, salad on the bottom.
The company’s initial goal was to reduce disposable paper coffee cup use, but it has expanded that mission to other products. According to its website, Cuppow’s jar adaptors “utilize BPA and phthalate-free food-grade recycled plastic as part of our ongoing commitment to divert as much needless waste as possible from the landfill.”
In addition to helping people reduce their personal eco-footprints, Cuppow is also paying it forward. Five percent of its profits go toward supporting other “like-minded organizations and domestic charities that focus on engaging people on environmental stewardship, recycling and social awareness.”
The Cuppow and BNTO both retail for $8.99 on their website. Or the Flying M sells them locally for $9.95 each.
