Have you ever noticed tiny bubbles embossed on the lids of your grab-and-go beverages at your beloved cafe, fast-food joint, or regular pit-stop gas station? Did you ever wonder what purpose these bubbles on your coffee or soda fountain cups serve? Well, we have some answers!

The primary function of these bubbles is incredibly pragmatic. They help the cashier, the barista, or the service staff to easily recall which drink is which. Some lids, especially those seen on fast food plastic cups, are typically used to distinguish between diet and regular soda. As highlighted by The Independent, they are also occasionally labeled with "tea" or "other" to indicate the type of drink inside. In the case of coffee shops, these labels might be "decaf" or "regular".

Moreover, these bubbles can offer even more specific information, indicating tailored adjustments to the order, such as "no ice," "milk," or "sugar." This way, not only does the server remember the order correctly, but you, the customer, can also verify the accuracy of your custom order before even taking your first sip.

But there’s more! A viral 2021 TikTok video revelation hinted at another feature of these soda fountain lids - a reset button. The clip presents a person pressing repeatedly on each circular button on top of a soda lid, then just as swiftly pushing the raised rectangular buttons near the lid's periphery, which causes the circular buttons to pop back up, effectively resetting the lid. The user amusingly regretted not knowing this sooner to irritate their siblings on road trips.

So there’s the mystery unraveled! The purpose of those bubbles on your beverage lids is more than just design charm. Time to explore the newfound utility and fun of these boring-looking bubbles, and of course never miss a chance to playfully annoy your siblings on road trips by endlessly pressing and resetting the buttons.