Can I put hot coffee in a plastic cup?

As a coffee lover, you probably own a coffee maker at home. However, have you ever asked, “can I put hot coffee in a plastic cup?”. Read on to find out.

No, you can’t put your hot coffee in a plastic cup as drinking from it is unsafe for your health and is not advisable. Recently, I visited a friend in another country, as she had moved there recently and wanted to see how she was fairing own. Since she loves coffee and didn’t own one, I bought her a coffee maker and surprised her with it. She was so happy that the first thing she decided I would take into her new house if coffee made from the new coffee maker I had brought her.

However, I noticed that she wanted to put the hot coffee she had just made into plastic cups, and we were to drink from it. I suggested she use any other cup apart from the plastic one, and she asked me why. Are you in the same position as my friend? Do not worry; I will explain in detail some of the adverse effects of putting hot coffee in plastic cups and the best cups you can use instead.

Table of Contents

Is it safe to put hot coffee in plastic cups?

While you can put your hot coffee in plastic cups because it is not prohibited, it is not safe to drink from them. When plastic cups come in contact with boiling liquid, which is your hot coffee, they tend to melt some of its particles, which are very dangerous to the human body when consumed. Plastics are made with a material known as Bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been proven to be very harmful when they come into contact with our digestive system and even the whole body in general. Other plastic cups are also made from phthalates, another toxic plastic material that can cause harmful effects on your body.

What happens if you put hot coffee in a plastic cup?

You have seen that putting hot coffee in plastic cups is not safe at all; you might be wondering what happens. As I have explained above, plastic cups are made of specific materials, which tend to leach when they come in contact with hot liquid. When you put hot coffee in a plastic cup, the plastic lining inside the plastic cup will leech, mixing with your coffee. The first result is that this process will completely change your coffee taste, as it would have been combined with microplastic materials. Another long-term negative thing that will happen is that after you drink hot coffee mixed with these plastic materials, your health will be affected negatively. You may suffer from chronic diseases like cancer or even experience hormonal imbalances.

What are the best cups to put hot coffee?

Suppose you have been putting your coffee in a plastic cup and do not want to continue using it anymore, do not worry, as there are other alternative best cups to put hot coffee in. The best cups that you can use to put your hot coffee in are any cups that are made with ceramic materials, glass materials, melamine, and stainless steel material.

FAQ Section

Can you put hot coffee in a BPA-free plastic cup?

Yes, you can put your hot coffee in a BPA-free plastic cup as it does not contain the BPA material that will negatively harm your health if consumed.

Does hot coffee leach plastic?

Yes, hot coffee leaches plastic, as the plastic lining is usually weak, making it unable to come off when it comes to contact with any hot coffee or liquid.