Testing Setup

To test the CoolIT USB Beverage Chiller we took two Diet Coke out of the fridge and placed one on the Chiller and the other one on the table by itself. Both drinks came out of the fridge at 6C. After 30 min, we would measure the temp of each drink to see how much colder the Chiller Coke is to the un-Chiller Coke. We then took another measurement after an hour. We won't go beyond an hour because if you can't finish one Coke in an hour, you're not a computer geek!

Test Results & Conclusion

After 30 minutes, the InNova Infrared Thermometer found no temperature difference between the two Coke beverages. Both Coke were rising in temperature at the same rate. After one full hour, we found no temperature difference between the two Cokes. Further investigation was required.

The problem with the CoolIT USB Beverage Chiller is the cold plate is flat and the bottom of a drink can is not. As a matter of fact, only a tiny amount of surface material from the Coke can actually touches the Chiller cold plate. This makes thermo transfer difficult, and in this case, it looked like very little transfer was taking place. After an hour we did noticed a 4C temperature difference at the very bottom of the Coke can, but at the top, there was no difference. So people who drink their Coke very slowly and with a straw might see some benefit from this product.

The other option is to pour your drink into a glass with a flat base. This will give the Chiller a larger area to keep cool. However, I don't know many computer geeks who drink Cola out of a glass, and even CoolIT Systems own website shows the Chiller with a Cola can on it.

The CoolIT USB Beverage Chiller is one of those product that is more conversation piece than anything else. It does look cool but it doesn't work and the fan that's used to cool the heatsink is noisy.

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