A Starbucks to-go coffee cup with lid.

Your Coffee Lid Has A Tiny Hole For A Genius Reason

NEWS

By ANDREW AMELINCKX

A hand reaching out for a to-go coffee cup with lid.
In the 1970s, the small pinhole on a disposable coffee cup’s lid was only designed to let the steam out. However, by the 1980s, it become a vital part with multiple functions.
People clinking Starbucks takeaway cups.
Apart from being an air vent, the hole also became crucial for preventing the vacuum that lips made against the lid’s opening, allowing for a smoother flow of coffee into the mouth.
To-go coffee cup with lid.
The credit for this advancement belongs to Jack Clements, who worked for the Solo Cup Company. The Solo Cup Company Traveler lid, introduced in 1984, was what changed the game.
Person holding coffee cup at Brooklyn Bridge.
Their lid design not only prevented coffee from splashing out of the opening and cooled the coffee a bit before it reached your mouth, but also solved the vacuum issue.