Did you know that coffee loses its flavor 30 minutes after brewing? It’s true, and that’s why most people enjoy this drink piping hot. For many Americans, hot coffee is the preferred drink for a quick pick-me-up in the morning (or afternoon, or middle of the night, or…). Whether you are preparing it yourself or buying a cup from your local coffee shop, it will be only a few minutes before it becomes cold.
So, how can you stop coffee from getting cold so fast? Here are 4 ways to keep coffee hot longer:
- Use a thermal mug
- Microwave your mug before pouring coffee into it
- Use a digital mug or thermos
- Wrap your cup with a Koozie or cup sleeve
Coffee’s flavor is affected by factors such as temperature, exposure to air, and storage method. That is why a few minutes into your morning routine after taking your first sip of hot coffee will lead to you pouring it down the drain. When you are done preparing yourself for work, your second sip will taste sour and cold.
So, why does this happen ever so often? Is it the coffee? Let’s find out!
Why Does My Coffee Get So Cold Fast?
To answer this question, you need to be aware that there are different types of coffee.
There are coffee drinks with milk, without milk, and iced coffee. All these beverages are prepared differently, and some will come out hot, others warm, and others cold.
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Let us take the example of a white espresso-based coffee like a latte or cappuccino. This drink requires the milk to be heated to 142-149 degrees Fahrenheit. This requirement is so the milk can retain its sweetness which adds flavor to the coffee and ensures a smooth texture. Now, 142-149 degrees is warm, meaning your coffee will get cold quickly if you let it sit for a few minutes before drinking it.
You can also heat up milk alternatives like coconut milk at the same temp.
Coffee drinks like the Americano and Long Black are made with hot water, so they are likely to stay hot for longer. Another reason your coffee is getting cold so fast could be adding cream, which lowers the temperature of your coffee and stir to dissolve sugar.
Check out our recent article on how to make coffee taste better without sugar.
How Do You Keep Coffee Warm for Hours? (4 Not-So-Secret Ways)
If you’re anything like me, drinking cold or lukewarm coffee is the absolute worst. In this section, you will learn some of the best ways to keep your coffee warm for hours.
1. Invest in a Thermal Mug
After making your cup of hot coffee in the morning, you can transfer the beverage into a thermal cup. Thermal cups are convenient and portable and they easily fit into your car’s cup holder. Most of these cups come with double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your drink warm or cold for as long as you need.
2. Warm Your Coffee Mug or Thermos Beforehand
If you own a well-insulated thermos, you have no issue retaining your coffee’s desired temperature. However, preheating your thermos with hot water for about 5-10 minutes will keep your coffee hot for a more extended period. The preheating process is the same for your mug. Before serving your hot coffee, warm the cup with boiling water for 3-5 minutes and enjoy your hot coffee afterward.
One of my favorite mugs is Yeti. The insulated design of their mugs ane superior. Check out this article about Yeti mugs.
3. Get Yourself a Digital Mug or Thermos
A digital mug or thermos is an excellent way to keep your coffee warm for hours. The best part is that you can set the temperature and monitor it on the LCD touch screen (depending on the product) to ensure your beverage stays at the perfect temperature.
The best digital thermoses are stainless steel with a double insulated wall. The stainless steel ensures your product is dent-resistant, and the double insulating wall keeps your coffee warm. Most digital mugs and thermoses have long-lasting batteries, so you do not have to worry about charging your device for a while.
4. Wrap Your Mug with a Koozie or Cup Sleeve
Cup sleeves were initially designed to prevent you from burning your hands. Later on, it was discovered that these knitted fabrics also help maintain your beverage’s temperature because of their unique thermal properties. Besides that, they are also aesthetically pleasing because they come in various beautiful designs and sizes.
These functional items maintain your drink’s temperature by keeping the heat away from your hands and on the cup keeping your coffee hot for longer.
Why Does Coffee Get Cold Faster than Tea?
Science states that heat travels from hot bodies to cold ones. In this case, the hot body is your tea or coffee, and the cold body is the surrounding air.
What slows down or hastens the process of losing heat is the material or type of cup your beverage is served in. If your cup is not a good insulator, your tea or coffee will cool faster than if it was in an insulated cup.
Another reason why coffee seems to cool faster than tea is both beverages are prepared with different starting temperatures. For example, a regular coffee brewer will heat the water from 195F to 205F. On the other hand, tea is made with boiling water at around 212F.
With this information in mind, it makes sense to say that coffee cools down faster than tea, but the truth is that it can go either way.
Best Way to Reheat Cold Coffee
There is nothing as bad as drinking cold, bitter coffee while stuck in traffic. Fortunately, there are a few ways to warm up your coffee while on the go or in the office. So far, the best way to do it is to use electric beverage warmers.
An excellent electric mug warmer will cost you about $30 online. This functional and portable gadget has a low-energy constant temperature control system keeping your beverage at 131F.
Beverage warmers come in various forms, like hot plates or cup warmers for your cup holder in the car. All these devices are designed for the same purpose, which is to heat your cold coffee whenever you want to.
If you are on a budget, the best way to warm up your coffee is to use an immersion heater which costs about $10. You place the wand into your coffee cup and connect it to a socket to warm up your drink.
Recap: Tips to Keep Coffee Hot Longer
Luckily, you can keep your coffee hot for longer in several ways. There are digital mugs, thermoses, and heaters that are easy to operate and portable, so you can enjoy your hot beverage wherever you are.
Besides these tech-powered solutions, there are other simple ways like warming your mug, putting your cup in a sleeve, etc.
Photo altered by dejittr.com | Photo attribution: Ante Samarzija
