Some food app ideas are awesomely terrible, some are pretty good, and most toe the line between the two—is it the mark of a good food app when its use requires you to acknowledge you might have a deeper problem? It's the digital equivalent of finally acquiescing to buying cigarettes by the carton or making the switch to mainlining heroin—you must determine whether the convenience is worth the conversation you're forced to have with yourself. I'm looking at you, Doughbot.
This brings us to CUPS, which sounds like it helps users locate bras or porn, but actually deals in coffee! The app allows caffeine addicts to pay a monthly fee in exchange for unlimited cups of joe (or tea) from a handful of retailers around the city, primarily in Manhattan.
The rate varies depending on one's particular level of snobbery. If you're the type who would slurp wet grounds from the bottom of a used filter if it means getting your daily dose of caffeine, the $45, unlimited drip coffee option is for you. If nothing less than the finest European espresso may pass through your Kiehl's moisturized lips, be prepared to spend $85 each month. Users can also prepay for five, 10 or 20 beverages.
The app, which came out Monday, works at around 30 coffee shops, including Pushcart Coffee, the Bean, O Cafe, Madman Espresso, Café Integral, Bee’s Knees Baking Co. and the Uncommons. CUPS initially launched in Israel, where its wild success led its five co-founders to bring it to the states.
Almost makes you sad Special Agent Dale Cooper didn't have a smart phone.
