[jvandyke]

I'm going to take a guess and say that it contains a small device which uses an absorption spectroscopy technique (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_spectroscopy) or something similar. Given a large database of known beverages and their constituent parts, it could compare and find a match based on a known set of gaps in the spectrum.

[ivansavz]

Thx for the link. It's interesting that a couple of years ago this technology would have required thousands of dollars of chemistry equipment and now you can build it into a cup.

Very cool.

[SideburnsOfDoom]

> a couple of years ago this technology would have required thousands of dollars of chemistry equipment and now you can build it into a cup.

A $200 cup. http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/vessyl-smart-cup-knows-the-diffe...

[wuliwong]

I don't think the chemistry side of the technology was what would have made this difficult "a couple years ago." I think what has made this possible today is the slew of "connected" devices before this like the fitness bands.

And honestly, I believe it is the entrepreneur's imagination, the market and people's perception that has really caught up to technology that already existed.

[character0]

Another option is that they use a capacitive sensor, which reminds me of the smart pill bottles being developed by AdhereTech and others (http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/8/5289022/adheretech-smart-pi...).

Although, I think this is less likely- I like your guess better.