When I was working, we had a soda dispenser in our office. I would put the soda in a reusable aluminum cup with a straw I never used. Straws are for children and adults who want to remind their companions that they have lipstick on.
![](https://media3.giphy.com/media/l4FGr3nzq5u0m02vm/200w.gif?cid=6c09b9529ddhlg80sjkumkizn9ghe2325dxi57l7m2spk10t&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
But I understand some people enjoy them.
![](https://media.tenor.com/0hHaHWH4kk4AAAAM/curious-straw.gif)
There was also ongoing outrage over plastic straw waste. After experiencing the horror of a paper straw, I knew there had to be a better way!
![](https://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maccnqVG7l1rocwym.gif)
Why not have a straw made from an ingredient already commonly found in your beverage and environmentally friendly? A straw made out of ice!
![](https://media.tenor.com/4TH8ni6rTFoAAAAM/cubemelt-cubemelt-gif.gif)
I didn’t take the idea seriously when I first thought of it. It was one of those things where it’s such a simple thought you assume that others have thought of it and proven it was not a viable product.
How long would a straw made out of ice last? If it is as thin as a natural straw, it will not last more than a few seconds once you put it in a non-chilled liquid. If you make it too large, you are defeating a straw’s purpose.
![](https://media.tenor.com/bk4i65fb2CYAAAAj/drinking-failarmy.gif)
Also, how are you actually making the ice straw? Do you use a silicon mold? I wanted to find a way to have the soda machine dispense a straw that can be used with each drink. I envisioned a product that could make a Coke Freestyle machine even sexier.
But ultimately, who wants to start a company based on such a niche product?
I am proud to say someone else has finally had a similar terrible idea.
![](https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/039/316/618/cb005676af05dfe47b018c4525ab3c9d_original.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1669341748&gif-q=50&q=92&s=582b3b9b68b278fb7d9fee25573dfad2)
1500 people gave this company over $70K for their product.
The product is cheap plastic, so the markup is very high. Would I be willing to go through as much hassle as they did to make maybe $50,000? Maybe to do it once and experience it, but I don’t feel sad for not creating “The Ice Straw.”
Keep your unrealities, unreal.