Take a strip thermometer (like you put on your forehead when you're sick, or from the side of a fish tank) and attach it to a cup. You can tell by looking at the strip if your drink is too hot.
The strip could either have numbers for the actual temperature, or a generic scale of colored blocks or arbitrary numbers (scale of 1-10.) which may be easier to interpret.
Potential problems:* Making sure the strip reads accurately regardless of the material it is adhered to.* Whether the strip is dishwasher safe (I've never tried washing one.)* Visiblity/location on the cup.* Making sure it stays on without affecting its reading.* User's hand warmth affecting the reading on the strip (if that's where it's located.)* Cost of materials.
If successful, the idea would prevent people from taking scalding sips to find out if their drink is still too hot. The idea could be extended to soup or any other liquid served hot. If the materials are cheap enough, they could be used disposably.
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Might be too expensive for throw away cups (but then again, they had all those throw-away battery testers, which work on the same technology).
For reuseable cups, they tend to be a bit cooler on the outside, compared to the actual temperature of the contents.
Another option would be to have thermo active paint (as long as it is suitable for inclusion with food.