How to keep coffee warm: Tips for temperature perfection

But what about the last sip? If your brew cools down before you can finish it, you may be left with a distinctly unpleasant experience. As coffee drops closer to our own body temperature, we’re able to more closely discern the flavors of that coffee. This can be a great or a not so delightful experience depending on the coffee.

Luckily, with the right know-how, you can enjoy a steaming cup of coffee down to the last drop. Discover our expert advice on how to keep coffee warm.

Why keeping coffee warm matters

Barring iced drinks, coffee is best enjoyed warm to hot. Why? The temperature of your morning beverage can impact the:

● Flavor

● Aroma

● Overall coffee experience

Just as coffee beans have an ideal brewing temperature (195–205ºF, or 90–96ºC), the resulting brew has an optimal drinking temperature. That’s because human taste buds experience flavors differently at different temperatures.

According to the National Coffee Association, the recommended serving temperature for optimal coffee taste is 82.2 to 85°C (180 to 185°F). However, studies have shown that coffee drinkers prefer to drink their (black) coffee at 58–66°C (136.4 to 150.8°F).

Ultimately, drinking temperature comes down to personal preference, but one thing is for sure: reaching the ideal temperature matters. For most, a warm cup of coffee is more enjoyable than a lukewarm one.

The importance of a quality coffee pot or carafe

Of course, coffee temperature begins in the carafe. After you brew a fresh pot, it waits there until you’re ready to drink it.

With that in mind, the carafe matters, too. Carafe design influences heat retention; both the material and the size of the vessel impact how long your coffee stays warm.

If you want to keep your coffee hot until you’re ready to drink it, you need a quality thermal or glass carafe. The ideal coffee pot or carafe is:

● Insulated

● Airtight

● Heavy-bottomed

● Large enough to hold your coffee

● Small enough to minimize space for air

Glass vs. thermal carafes

In general, carafes fall under two categories: glass and thermal.

Glass carafes have their benefits. They boast the traditional see-through appearance, which makes them easier to clean and lets you know how much coffee remains.

However, for the purpose of keeping coffee warm, glass carafes fall short. An insulated thermal carafe retains heat far better, keeping your coffee warm for hours. What’s more, thermal carafes are less likely to scald you and resist breakage.

For maintaining coffee temperature, thermal carafes win.

Built-in warming plates: Are they worth it?

Some coffee maker designs have a warming plate that sits beneath the carafe. (Only glass carafe machines have these, as insulated carafes aren’t affected by external temperatures.)

In theory, built-in warming plates in a coffee maker are a fantastic invention since they keep your coffee hot without the need for additional equipment.

Unfortunately, warming plates are more common on low-quality coffee makers. As such, they can be inconsistent, burning your coffee or allowing it to dip below your desired temperature.

If you want to keep your coffee warm before you pour it, a thermal carafe is better than a glass carafe with a warming plate.

Other ways to keep coffee hot

Once your coffee leaves the carafe, it immediately begins to cool. If you can slow this natural decrease, you can enjoy an optimal coffee experience for far longer.

There are several options for keeping coffee at your ideal temperature.

Thermal coffee cups and lids

Just as thermal carafes keep freshly brewed coffee warm, thermal cups retain the heat of freshly poured coffee for hours. In fact, high-quality insulated mugs and lids can retain heat for a whole workday. Choose a coffee mug with insulated layers that keep your coffee at the perfect temperature all day long—no coffee flavor changes, just pure brew.

Coffee warmers and external accessories

You can also find external warming plates for your coffee mug powered by USB or a standard power source. A coffee warmer gently heats your mug, allowing you to keep your coffee warm as it sits next to your computer.

Tips for enjoying hot coffee without compromising flavor

If you really want to enjoy warm coffee from start to finish, you may have to change your coffee-drinking habits. To maximize warmth, maintain coffee freshness, and minimize flavor changes, you can:

● Brew smaller batches more frequently – A just-made carafe of coffee is already hot. Instead of brewing too much and struggling to keep it warm, make a fresh pot when you need it.

● Store coffee properly post-brew – If you make a bigger batch, keep the remaining coffee in an airtight, insulated container.

● Avoid reheating your coffee in the microwave – Warming coffee after it goes cold can lead to unpleasant flavors. If you must reheat your coffee in the microwave, use a lower power setting to avoid burning your brew.

Create the ideal coffee-drinking experience with Breville

When your cup of coffee stays at the perfect temperature, the first and the last sips can be equally blissful. With the right tools, retaining heat is easy.

Ultimately, the ideal cup of coffee starts with optimized equipment. Breville has the drip coffee machines you need to elevate your coffee experience, including a brewer with a thermal carafe.

Explore Breville’s coffee makers and other home brewing solutions to enjoy your best cup yet.

Sources: 

1- National Coffee Association. How to Brew Coffee. https://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/how-to-brew-coffee

2. American Physiological Society. Food Temperature Linked to Nerve Activity in Taste Cells. https://www.physiology.org/detail/news/2023/06/13/food-temperature-linked-to-nerve-activity-in-taste-cells

3. ScienceDirect. Calculating the optimum temperature for serving hot beverages. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305417907002550

4. Sprudge. What Is The Best Temperature To Drink Coffee? https://sprudge.com/what-is-the-best-temperature-to-drink-coffee-199939.html