TOPL Reusable Travel Mug - Insulated Leakproof Coffee Cup with Patented 360 Drink and Spill-Safe Technology, Flask Keeps Drinks Hot or Cold, BPA-Free, Dishwasher Safe Lid - Regular 12oz - Coral

Product Information

Since its launch last year, the TOPL design has successfully gained commercial traction and critical acclaim, from the likes of the Guardian Newspaper through to the GQ Awards, which is the ‘icing on the cake’ for the Flynn Product Design team. When our clients approached us with the brief “ to create the world’s best reusable coffee cup”, naturally we stepped up. This year has already been a busy one for the team, with a full calendar of trade shows, one of which was the World of Coffee in Dubai, which Eleanor described as a ‘chance for the brand to gain traction internationally’. milk in the Topl and sealed (might have poured a bit too much), we’ll wait an hour to simulate the time we go for a walk. Having secured the funding and identified suppliers, the father and daughter team could have been forgiven for thinking that the biggest challenges were behind them.

We launched with a minimum viable product, but the key to scaling that up has been listening to the market to evolve the offering. We regularly speak to our customers to find out what they like and dislike about our products, and that discourse is key not only to developing the brand and product range but also to growing the business.’ Flexibility is key with a start-up. Just because you have an idea, which is the initial catalyst for your business, that doesn’t mean that you need to tie yourself to it,’ she said. ‘You have to listen to the market, iterate and try new things to build on your initial ideas. One of the most valuable lessons I have learnt is that failing can be beneficial – but you have to learn to fail fast, move on and try something new, applying the learnings from that failure.But, thanks to the efforts of Jersey-born entrepreneur Eleanor Humphrey and her father, Stewart, such mishaps could be a thing of the past. How this test was set up. The first time he did it, he took his milk (not sure the quantity) in a travel mug. And a flask of hot water, plus the Aeropress ready to press. We usually do this when we go for a walk somewhere. To make this a decent test - what I’m doing is this: Instead of giving people a cup and hoping that they will use it, we are now working with coffee chains to analyse the workflow in their outlets and to understand how reusable cups can be introduced in a way which still enables the teams to service the demands of the morning rush.’

We used our established industry network to broker meetings and negotiate the arrangements that led to the manufacture of the final product which was launched in 2020. Reusable coffee cups normally come in a range of sizes to suit different coffee consumption habits. A lot of them hail from the US or Australia, however, so it’s common to see volumes listed in fluid ounces. A 4oz cup such as KeepCup’s XS holds 118ml of liquid – so it’s ideal for espresso or piccolo – whereas Stojo’s 16oz (454ml) Biggie cup is designed for long coffee drinks and smoothies. If you just want a regular mug-sized coffee, the 12oz (341ml) size should suit you nicely. The branded TOPL cups keep drinks hot for approx. 3 hours and cold for 6 hours. Ideal for when you are out and about. How sustainable are the TOPL cups?

Having set such a tight timeframe, Eleanor and Stewart embarked on a whirlwind period in which they finalised their launch design, travelled to China to find suppliers and raised some capital to fund the product development. Accidental spillages are therefore avoided, as are potential scalding or damage to Macbooks or smartphones. It is unique in that it can be open but closes automatically should it need to. Custom materials Integrating these multiple features and overcoming the technical challenges of containing and transporting hot, pressurized liquids were certainly the hardest part of the project.