James Weiss, a former bartender from Swansea turned inventor and entrepreneur, has developed a clever aluminum can. He plans to take the invention global.
For years Weiss was frustrated that people often had to drink warm beverages, especially in the heat. He couldn’t accept that packaging hadn’t evolved, even in an age of high technology.
So he created an aluminum can that cools with the push of a button – no electricity, batteries, or chargers required. The can is fully recyclable after the drink is consumed, just like any other aluminum can.
The can is 98 percent aluminum and 2 percent recycled plastic. Inside there are no harmful chemicals – just an eco-friendly solution of water and salt.
Now the patented invention has attracted interest from beverage industry giants. Some companies had previously tried to develop something similar but failed.
What did the inventor report?
In a “secret location” in London, Weiss demonstrated one of the 10 prototypes to journalists from the Daily Mail.
During the presentation he said: “My invention gives consumers the ability to decide when and where to cool a can: at the beach, a festival, a picnic with friends, while hiking, fishing, or during a marathon.”
The former bartender says the invention is based on simple scientific principles. Although the can looks like a standard 500-milliliter can, it actually holds 350 ml of drink. The walls and bottom contain a narrow cavity that helps shield the beverage from heat.
At the bottom of the can, beneath a plastic button, is a small reservoir of water. When the button is pressed, the water moves into the wall cavities, where salt crystals sit — they even make the can rattle like a maraca.
When water and salt mix, an endothermic reaction occurs and the walls cool within seconds.
Weiss says the cooling effect lasts about 20–30 minutes on a hot summer day and up to 45 minutes in cooler conditions.
After use, the can can be recycled like any other. Weiss estimates consumers will pay only 10–20 pence more than for a regular can for the convenience.
Weiss hopes that by 2026 his cans will carry not only beer but also cider, white wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. The first step is testing the invention in London this summer.
“I want the can to be seen as a British product that will change the world,” Weiss said. “After all, the first canned beer was poured in Wales, so the circle is complete,” he added.
