These are substances that, like water, change based on temperature.
At the same time, Jackson was trying to make a perfect latte--first it would be too hot, or he would have to put it in the microwave to make it too hot.
The two were thinking along the same lines--why not make a phase change product to keep coffee at the perfect temp?
They started tinkering with Coffee Joulies--metal cubes about the size of ice cubes filled with phase change stuff.
When place in hot coffee, the Joulies cool it to 140 degrees F. As the coffee cools, the beans release that heat keeping it drinkable for five hours.
With the help of Kickstarter, they perfected the materials and launched in upstate NY. Last year, they did $1.4 million in sales.
They now work on Joulies full-time, but are still thinking and inventing. All that caffeine can't hurt.
