The present invention is directed to a method for charging a self-chilling beverage can, in a self-chilling beverage can of the type involving a container-within-container construction wherein, for example, a granular carbon material is contained within the inner container, and charged with a gas that is absorbed into the carbon material under pressure, the beverage being placed into the space between the inner and outer containers, and further whereupon release of the charging gas, the temperature of the carbon material drops rapidly, enabling a transfer of heat from the contained beverage through the wall of the inner container into the carbon material. The present invention is directed to a method for providing accelerated charging of the charging gas into the inner container, while absorbing and/or transporting away heat generated by the compression of the charging gas. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for facilitating charging of such a self-chilling container. The present invention is also directed to a self-heating container.