Technology is amazing. It continually finds new ways to make our lives a little bit easier, fuller or more satisfying. From transportation to entertainment, technology has evolved our society to ways we can no longer imagine living without.
Every once in a while, an innovation will cause you to be dissatisfied with the status quo. Henry Ford invented the Model T, instantly made buggies not so cool and the idea of walking six blocks to the store a joke. Apple came out with their very tiny, hip-looking, large-storage music playing device (the ipod) which made Sony Walkmans just as cool as VHS tapes. Get the drift?
It’s happened again. To something that affects millions of people everyday.
Ever since they developed the first all-aluminum can and introduced America to the first recycling program (1 cent per can) 50 years ago, this company has continued to innovate the packaging and enjoyment of beverages.
They pioneered the printing technology in using a much more environmental and efficient method using UV-light to cure the print instead of traditional gas firing.
They invented the “Cold Activated Bottle” which turned the mountains on the label blue at a drinkable temperature. The “Super Cold Draft” system to pour it at a temperature below freezing. The “Frost Brew Liner” to protect taste and insulate the temperature, and is the industry’s first box package to double as a ready to use ice cooler.
Yes, this environmentally aware innovator is Colorado’s own Coors Brewing Company.
This company is the reason I no longer enjoy drinking out of glass bottles, plastic containers, or most aluminum cans thanks to their most recent innovation.
The “Vented Wide Mouth Can” is arguable the most significant change in container technology to date. It eliminates that “glug glug” allowing for a smoother pour, less air intake and an experience as if you were drinking right from a fountain.
Did you get that? It eliminates all the nuisances from drinking out of a container, period. That glug effect, burping because you swallowed air, is caused by an unsmooth pour­—this one magical little change in design cures all of this.
Fifty years of aluminum cans and we finally solved the problem that two-thirds of people report being dissatisfied with.
Ever since I had this Coors-only experience (patent protection), I’ve been dissatisfied with all my other consumption experiences. Pop? Forget it. Bottled orange juice? It ain’t vented, so its gotta go in a glass.
Reach Carl Hunter at CRHunter6218@winona.edu