What is the Purpose of Warming Coffee Cups? What's the Ideal Temperature? What are the Temperature Requirements for Milk in Lattes?

Just as people from Guangdong will rinse their bowls before eating out and use boiling water to rinse their pots and cups before brewing tea, coffee enthusiasts will also preheat their cups before making coffee. This has been a long-standing "tradition" in the coffee world!

However, in recent years, many opposing voices have emerged regarding whether this "tradition" is practical. Many friends believe that cup warming is unnecessary, as coffee's flavor won't change due to cup warming—it tastes the same whether warmed or not.

So, here's a surprise question from FrontStreet Coffee: Is "cup warming" really necessary for coffee?

Does Coffee Really Need Cup Warming?

FrontStreet Coffee believes it depends on the situation! The purpose of "cup warming" is mainly to maintain temperature, preventing coffee from cooling down due to heat absorption when poured into the cup. Although coffee's flavor doesn't change due to temperature, our ability to perceive different flavors does vary with temperature changes.

For example, with pour-over coffee, when the container is preheated, our extracted coffee temperature remains around 70°C. It might be too hot to drink, and the perceived flavors aren't very distinct; without cup warming, our extracted coffee temperature stays around 65°C. Not only is the temperature just right, but the perceived flavors are also richer. Although the temperature difference between the two isn't significant, our initial tasting experience is completely different. So, does this mean pour-over coffee is better without cup warming?

Of course not! While the former might be too hot, it allows us more time to gradually experience the temperature changes in pour-over coffee. The latter, though providing an immediate excellent tasting experience, has varying cooling speeds depending on cup capacity and material. Generally, coffee in unwarmed cups cools faster than in preheated cups. If using a large, open-mouthed cup, the temperature will drop even faster. This isn't friendly to slow drinkers—when the temperature drops to a certain point, the coffee's acidity and bitterness become more pronounced. That's why FrontStreet Coffee says it depends on the situation!

Espresso Coffee Requires Cup Warming

However, FrontStreet Coffee believes that for espresso-based coffee, cup warming is essential. Because for coffees like lattes, espresso, and cappuccinos, they don't taste as good when cold. FrontStreet Coffee previously conducted several experiments, trying to use different cup states (warmed and unwarmed) to hold hot lattes for comparison. The results showed that lattes in unpreheated cups not only cooled faster but also lost foam more quickly than the other cup! The drinking experience wasn't as rich, and the coffee wasn't as hot.

It's clear that espresso coffee is affected more than pour-over coffee. The reason for this greater impact is that latte coffee typically uses thicker ceramic cups by default. Ceramic cups have stronger heat absorption capabilities, so when not preheated, they absorb more heat from the coffee. Additionally, to activate the lactose sweetness in milk while preventing it from spoiling from overheating, we specifically control the milk frothing temperature between 55°C~65°C. This temperature range is already warm, and when the cup absorbs about 6°C of heat, the temperature drops further, making the coffee's difference more noticeable.

Conclusion: When to Warm Your Coffee Cup

That's why FrontStreet Coffee says whether to warm cups depends on the situation! When the coffee isn't hot enough, the weather is too cold, or when using large, heat-absorbing cups, it's best to preheat the cups to achieve a better coffee experience~~

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473