THE working environment of the office, already depersonalised by the word processor and fax machine, came under further technological assault this week with the birth of the self heating cup of coffee. This sinister device will appeal to the office workaholic who can heat up a cup at the desk, thus saving time to spend on company business. Those convivial moments clustered around the office coffee dispenser could become a distant memory.

At the press of a button this self heating cup will provide a drink warmed to 40 degrees centigrade in seconds. The sealed cup comprises two goblets, with the inner goblet containing the liquid. A chemical reaction between a calcium compound and the liquid, triggered by pressing a button on the bottom of the cup, produces the required heat.

The device is said to be perfectly safe, so pressing the button will not wipe out half the accounts department - more's the pity, some would say. As yet, no word has filtered out as to the taste of the wretched stuff, which could be as appealing as the brown sludge dispensed by conventional instant coffee machines. For the moment, Bewley's staff can rest easy.