A steaming cup of hot coffee can be an instant mood changer. Be it in the early morning or during sleepy afternoons, coffee is a “lifesaver” for most people. You can physically feel the pent-up stress and tension slowly seep away from your body and replenish your energy. Most modern workplaces value the consumption of coffee to such an extent that they try to place instant coffee machines on various counters for the employees to drink whenever they feel the need. It is one of the most consumed drinks in the world. According to the latest statistics, the global coffee market is worth 102.02 billion US dollars. Knowing a thing or two about it will surely make your life easier and more convenient, especially if you are passionate about it.
The most significant setback in the consumption of coffee is associated with science and not coffee itself. The mere fact that it needs to be drunk while still piping hot has certain drawbacks. The coffee will eventually turn cold, even if you drink it under the sun in the Mojave Desert. You can imagine what the case would be if the location were hard, like Oregon or Utah, where the weather is generally ice-cold during winter. This article describes a few innovative ideas to keep your coffee hot for hours. Never again will you have to shake your head in disappointment after sipping an already cold and stale cup of coffee.
Buy a Mug Warmer
Once it turns cold, a warming coffee cup with a mug warmer can solve the dilemma. If you have this brilliant device, you only need to reheat the coffee to enjoy it again. A mug warmer is very portable and can be placed on any nearby surface with a power socket. Some do not need an electric power supply as they can operate using batteries or USB adapters.
Mug warmers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, along with an array of different functionalities. Make sure you choose the correct variant based on your budget and needs. Usually, mug warmers come in standard sizes, ideally placed on most cup holders in cars or in general. In fact, due to the high portability of the device, you can carry it around with you. You never know when you might need a mug warmer to properly enjoy coffee.
Get an Immersion Heater
An immersion heater is a convenient device used by people in almost every possible sector. Mountaineers carry it to keep their coffee hot in immensely high altitudes. Corporate office employees use it to sustain the heat in their coffee during long meetings. The uses are manifold.
The mechanism involved in an immersion heater is quite simple. Dip the metal extensions protruding from the handle into the coffee. Turn the device on after plugging it into a power supply. The metal will start to heat up and, in very little time, depending on the device, begin to heat the coffee. This occurs due to conduction and convection phenomena inside the cup, which keeps the fluid warm and ready for consumption.
There is a myth that you should never keep an immersion heater switched on, even after the drink has been thoroughly heated. While this does save some power, it certainly is not a necessity. The strips of metal take some time to reach a sufficient heat level. Imagine doing this every time you want your coffee hot and fresh!
Heat Your Mug Before Making the Coffee
Preheating your cup can be a great way to decrease the coffee’s rate of cooling. The best way to execute that is to heat some water and pour it into the cup. The higher the water temperature, the better the results. This will induce heat to the entire cup, making it ready to preserve the heat of the coffee to be poured in afterward. While this does not sound like much, it does slow down the rate of heat loss rather than letting the coffee cool off rapidly. Remember to dry the cup after the water has done its task, as you want to maintain your coffee.
Preheating the cup before pouring coffee in or brewing it inside is a great practice. In certain situations, when you are trekking through a forest or hiking on a mountain, not all forms of heating devices may be available to you. This preheating method can be applied without needing any electrical appliances, which benefits travelers on long tours. Ensure you do not empty the container immediately after filling it with hot water. This is because the mug takes a little time to absorb heat from the water and might only partially heat up in case the water is kept in it for a short time.
Use a Lid
While it is true that using a lid on your coffee cup can prevent unintended spillage, this is not the best reason to get one. The lid mainly provides a layer on top that enhances the internal convection of hot vapor inside. The heated air can not escape and is constantly moving around internally. The heat is preserved as much as possible until the lid is opened. Using lids can also free your drink from contamination from exterior germs and microorganisms.
The expenses involved are almost negligible as a lid is not an appliance or electrical device but simply a small, circular piece of plastic built to preserve the heat inside cups. Make sure you have the proper size lid for your coffee mug. A lid smaller than your cup’s opening will serve no purpose, as it cannot cover the whole space. If it is a flat piece of plastic, you can use it on smaller cups as the lid can easily cover it. If the lid acts as a clip or is specifically designed for certain variations of cup models, larger ones might not work, either.
Acquire a Thermos
“How do you keep your coffee hot for hours?” Ask any random person, and you will be recommended to buy a thermos. This is the go-to appliance for most people to keep their drinks searing hot. The mechanism involved with a thermos is relatively straightforward. These devices are manufactured with specific materials that provide insulation. Usually, these insulation sheets are made of silicone, plastic, or stainless steel, which are excellent in preventing the passage of heat through them.
Various types of thermos, with different features and price ranges, are available in the market. Some might only be capable of keeping the drink hot for 5-6 hours, while others may achieve higher limits like 24 hours! Even the cheapest thermos is more expensive than, for instance, a lid. Furthermore, it is not just coffee that you can keep warm using a thermos. These brilliant devices can sustain the heat of anything that flows as long as the liquid does not damage the thermos.
Additionally, a thermos can serve as a means of storage during long trips or hikes. Indeed you do not intend to carry a cup of steaming hot coffee up a mountain that you are climbing to drink when you reach the peak. This is easily possible with a thermos and is the best way to do so.
Final Thoughts
The coffee industry is fascinating and one of the most impactful businesses. Coffee does not have many haters and is regarded highly in many countries. Knowing clever methods to keep your coffee hot is more important than you think. A single, cranked-up air conditioner is enough to cool your coffee down seemingly in the blink of an eye. The taste of cold, stale coffee is hard to forget and might instantly ruin your mood, especially if it happens first thing in the morning. Ensure you know all the methods to keep your coffee hot and implement them immediately. You will notice a significant change in the quality of the coffee you consume daily!
