KFC’s Newest Item? The Edible Coffee Cup

Consumers at KFC in the United Kingdom will soon be able to tell the rest of the world if the coffee cups are as finger licking good as the chicken, as KFC recently announced a trial phase of the ‘Scoff-ee Cup’ — the edible coffee cup.

KFC has partnered with The Robin Collective, an experimental food development company, to develop the edible cup which is comprised of a special biscuit/wafer mix, heat resistant white chocolate, and covered with sugar paper donning the face of Colonel Sanders.

There’s no word as to whether the fried chicken giant has plans to introduce the cup to its U.S. customers.

The tasty cup isn’t quite yet available for purchase as the company plans to launch it along with their Seattle’s Best Coffee line later this year, but according to a spokesperson with The Robin Collective, it has been infused with a variety of aromas including “coconut sun cream, freshly cut grass and wild flowers.” This revelation might leave some wondering why the aroma of the Seattle’s Best Coffee along with the white chocolate lining wouldn’t be enough to entice consumers to eat it.

The idea of edible coffee cups isn’t a new one. Besides the fictional Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, real life companies such as Italian cookie company Lavazza and Alfred Coffee and Kitchen in Los Angeles have had something similar on the market for a while. This is, however, the first time a fast food company with the international appeal of KFC has gotten on board.

Whether or not the “Scof-ee Cup” will be a failure or success depends on whether consumers buy into it, both literally and figuratively. Though some patrons may consider it a bargain to have their coffee and dessert wrapped up into one item, “fast food” typically means “low budget” and sometimes the costs associated with alternative packaging don’t gel with that philosophy.

Fast food companies are notorious for coming under fire in the past for their negative impact on the environment with styrofoam containers and excessive wrappers. This has resulted in many changes in the way products are served over the past several decades. KFC is hoping the edible cup will appeal to its customers who are concerned about the company’s carbon footprint.

And even if KFC’s edible coffee cup becomes a footnote in the many failures of fast food innovations along with McDonald’s Big and Tasty or Arch Deluxe or Burger King’s Satisfries, it’s sure to get people talking.

[Image courtesy of Huffington Post]