Will the different materials of the coffee cup affect the flavor of the coffee? Is it best to drink coffee from a ceramic cup?

Will different materials affect the flavor of coffee?

You have chosen your favorite coffee bean. Starting from the source of the coffee bean, there seems to be nothing else to do but pour it into the cup and enjoy it. However, choosing the right container and the right material will be more important than you think. In order to fully enjoy your cup, you should make sure that the material you choose will not adversely affect the taste of the coffee.

Why are materials important?

Most takeout coffee is served in disposable cups. In the UK alone, 2.5 billion are used each year. It takes an estimated 1.5 billion liters of water to make them. Although many of these cups are recyclable, only one out of every 400 cups is recycled correctly.

Consumers around the world are more aware of the environmental impact of their purchases than ever before. As a result, many people are turning to reusable options. But which material is the best?

Although preferences may vary, there are some key factors that can make the material suitable for drinking coffee. Ideally, it should be light, durable and good at retaining heat. Just as important, it does not affect the taste of coffee because it leaves a lingering flavor in the material itself, or creates its own unique and unpleasant taste.

We compared the four main materials used to make coffee cups-glass, stainless steel, reinforced plastics and ceramics-to see how each material affects the flavor of a cup of coffee.

Glass

Few materials are as visually attractive as glass. You can observe the state of the coffee while drinking it.

If your cup is made of toughened heat-resistant glass, no matter how hot your coffee is, it will not break or break. If you choose a double-walled glass, it is also comfortable enough to take it with you. Glass is also usually easy to recycle. Although glasses do not affect the taste of coffee, "their insulation is not as good as ceramic cups". As the temperature of the coffee will affect its flavor, it is best to make sure that the coffee is kept hot and not hot when drinking coffee. Studies have shown that flavors and aromas become more difficult to detect at temperatures below 50 °C, which means you want to keep your coffee above this threshold for as long as possible.

Toughened glass cups and mugs are also usually more expensive than ceramic, plastic or steel cups. Although the glass looks great in the kitchen or coffee shop, it is not suitable for people who want to take coffee with them during the trip.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is almost indestructible. Unlike glass, it can retain heat well because metal is a natural conductor of heat. It is also relatively easy to clean.

Although it is visually attractive, grease and fingerprints are easy to appear on stainless steel.

Stainless steel also has a strong metallic taste, which can affect the taste of coffee and other drinks. Although this will not be washed off, it will fade over time and use.

Although stainless steel is usually very elastic, it becomes porous over time. This means that it will absorb the residual oil from the coffee you drink, and over time, it will show some taste and smell.

The acidity in coffee causes stainless steel to break down over time and release tiny particles of potentially toxic substances, such as nickel. Although this is unlikely to cause major health problems for most people, it would be better to have some insurance, right?

Plastic

Because they are cheap and easy to manufacture, reinforced heat-resistant plastics are commonly used to make coffee cups, bottles and mugs. Although plastic is not as strong as stainless steel, it conducts heat well and is suitable for use as a coffee cup. But it is worth noting that plastic cups are usually not as durable as cups made of other materials, such as stainless steel. In addition, over time, plastic will produce an unpleasant smell and taste, which will affect the taste of coffee.

It is well known that plastics are harmful to the environment and are difficult to recycle in some areas. Even if you buy a plastic cup and reuse it many times, it is likely to end up in landfills.

Ceramic products

Ceramic water cups are very popular because of their low price, light weight and good heat preservation. They also have no effect on the taste of the internal liquid, which makes them an ideal choice for coffee.

Ceramic cups are usually leak-proof and can maintain color and design well. And it is environmentally friendly, but like stainless steel, it is non-porous and heat-resistant.