Sometimes it’s hard to believe that it’s almost 2014 and we still don’t have 1) flying cars, 2) virtual reality, 3) temperature-telling coffee mugs.

Well, a new Kickstarter is about to fix all that. Sort of.

The “Smart Mug” is the brainchild of UK-based designer Evita Krumina. Using science (!) and a nifty LED light display, it’s able to give drinkers a quick and easy way to tell whether the beverage they are about to consume is still too hot, now too cold, or just right for optimal caffeination. Tiny illustrations of a tea bag and coffee beans also indicate the average preferred temperature for each drink.

Among Smart Mug’s additional perks are that it’s dishwasher safe and thermoelectric, which means it draws its power from the change in temperature and therefore requires no cords or batteries.

At the time of posting, the Smart Mug Kickstarter still needed around £3000 in funding with two weeks left to go in its campaign. So go ahead, invest in the future. FOR SCIENCE!

H/T Design Taxi + PicThx Kickstarter