Sometimes you just want to reheat a beverage because it has cooled down from being at room temp for too long. Is it safe to microwave a Starbucks cup?
From mocha to vanilla latte, Starbucks has almost everything you can imagine in terms of customizable drink options. But how do you microwave a Starbucks cup once your hot beverage has cooled down?
Starbucks features many different drink options on the regular and seasonal menu. However, each choice ultimately comes in a different type of Starbucks cup designed with specific functionality in mind.
Not every takeout or reusable cup is microwave safe. Starbucks paper cups, plastic cups, tumblers and glass bottles are not safe to use in the microwave. In fact, the Starbucks ceramic mug is the only cup that is safe to use in the microwave.
The only problem you face is how to reheat coffee in the microwave once it has cooled to room temperature. A hot cup of coffee adds a great jumpstart to the mid afternoon blues, so is there a safe way to microwave a Starbucks cup?
Is it safe to microwave Starbucks cups?
Reheating your Starbucks in its original cup has both positive and negative sides. Not every cup reacts the same, and most takeout coffee cups are not microwave friendly.
Paper cups are made with an adhesive glue to bond the pieces together, and also a wax and plastic lining inside cup. The paper cups are designed to hold hot beverages, but they may start to melt and loose shape when exposed to sudden levels of high heat, which can potentially leak chemicals into the beverage.
A microwave heats water molecules in a liquid by using friction to raise the temperature. As a result, your hot beverage will start to heat up, but the cup may start falling apart.
And if you desire a hot cup of coffee, that means your cup needs to get much hotter. In short, the construction of paper coffee cups is not designed to support the reheating temperatures, so microwaving is going to result negatively.
Double check the label on the bottom of the Starbucks cup. Proper labeling required underneath each cup to determine if it is safe use in the microwave.
Can you microwave a Starbucks cup?
In order to determine if you can microwave a Starbucks cup, start by evaluating what type of material the cup is made out of.
Here are reheating instructions for the most common types of Starbucks cups used to serve your favorite coffee shop drinks:
- Glass bottles: The glass bottles of the Starbucks Frappuccino chilled coffee drink are an easy grab and go that can be purchased at the local market. Although there has been a recent trend over the instant freeze method, not sure I recommend that because water expands when it freezes and the bottle can shatter if you forget about it in the freezer.
Furthermore, the Starbucks glass bottle is not microwave safe. So if you would like to drink the beverage as hot cappuccino style, simply transfer it into a microwave-safe cup to reheat safely. - Ceramic mug: Starbucks has unveiled a line of collectors ceramic mugs that feature holiday and cities around the world.Depending on the decorative details and finishing glaze of Starbucks ceramic mug, the coating may be microwave safe.
Check the bottom of the mug for specific details concerning the unique theme design. The mugs may heat up quickly compared to others, so adjust the microwave power setting in advance to reheat the coffee. - Paper cup: Microwaving paper cups is not recommended. Paper cups are glued together using adhesives and then lined with a wax and or plastic lining. Paper cups are designed to hold hot beverages, but not made for reheating.
As a result, Starbucks paper cups are not microwave safe. You may burn the bottom of the cup, melt glue or destroy the cup lining, therefore affecting taste of coffee with leached chemicals or causing the cup to start leaking hot liquid. - Plastic cup: The plastic cups are generally not safe for microwave use. Test your cup by filling half full with water, and microwave for 30 seconds to evaluate. If it the cup is hotter than the liquid, then it is not microwave safe.
Thin, single use Starbuck plastic cups are great for a takeout service or to get a refill at the stores, but they are not designed to withstand the intense heat emitted by a microwave oven. Enjoy a cold beverage in a plastic cup, but do not use it in the microwave. - Tumbler: Most reusable tumblers are design with double layer insulated walls to keep your beverage either hot or cold for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, double walled tumblers are not safe to use in the microwave because excessive heat may damage the insulated layer.
Commonly made with acrylic plastic or stainless steel, Starbucks tumblers are not recommended for use in the microwave. The hold beverage temperatures for slightly longer compared to other cup designs, but neither model is safe to use in a microwave. - Reusable cup: The plastic reusable cup from Starbucks is made out of type 5 polypropylene, which is best used for cold beverages, but is considered to be microwave-safe. With proper care and cleaning, the reusable cup can last more than 30 uses.
Microwave on medium level, and use 30 second increments. Stir the beverage between each duration until it reaches the desired temperature. Do not overheat the plastic cup to maintain safe reheating practices.
The cups are made with different materials, and produce varying results when used inside the microwave. When it comes to reheating coffee in a Starbucks cup, you should now have a clear idea which one performs for the best results.
If your routine included drinking a hot beverage multiple times per day using the microwave oven, then choose a ceramic mug or glass cup with lid so that the hot drink holds its temperature for a long time.
How long do you need microwave Starbucks coffee?
Every cup reacts differently when used to heat molecules in a microwave. Always use Starbucks cups that are labeled as microwave-safe or grab one of the microwave-safe mug to get started with.
In addition, the answer for how long to reheat Starbucks coffee in the microwave actually depends on the type of coffee as well.
The best way to reheat coffee in microwave is to use a bit of time, temperature and technique:
- Fill a microwave safe cup half full.
- Reduce the microwave power level to medium-high.
- Reheat using intervals of 30-45 seconds.
- Stir the coffee between each period of time.
- Continue reheating until the desired temperature is reached.
Estimate the appropriate time by gauging the desired warmth or preferred temperature for you coffee. This method works well with black coffee, but beware that reheating coffee can result in a slightly bitter taste compared to the fresh brewed original batch.
If your coffee contains milk, make sure the drink has been refrigerated when not consumed for more than two hours. According to FoodSafety.gov, milk is a perishable food item that should be refrigerated within 2 hours to help reduce the amount of bacteria growth.
Even though the coffee has been mixed with milk, is never a good idea to ver away from the USDA temperature danger zone guidelines. If your latte fits the safety recommendations, then proceed to reheat latte in microwave by using the similar steps.
Things to know before microwaving Starbucks cups
Microwaving is an quick, easy and effective way to reheat leftover coffee, however is it safe to microwave Starbucks cups?
The answer really depends on the type of cup you want to microwave, but there should be proper labeling on the bottom of the cup if the manufacturer designates it as “microwave safe.”
There is no need to make a brand new batch of dripped coffee, simply reheat a single serving in the microwave.
Here are the essential things you need to know before microwaving your Starbucks drink cup:
- Check the bottom of the cup to see if it is labeled as microwave-safe.
- On the occasion that the cup is not labeled, do a quick test by placing water inside and give 30 seconds in the microwave. If the cup is hotter than the water, then the cup is not microwave safe.
- When uncertain about the original to-go cup, avoid risk and simply transfer the contents into microwave-safe cup or mug to reheat in the microwave.
- Always remove the lid before placing the cup into the microwave.
Conclusion
When it comes to microwave Starbucks cups with your favorite hot beverage inside, it’s best to avoid paper and plastic cups that contains glue or wax.
Keep your Starbucks drink hot with these recommended reheating tips:
- Transfer the beverage from a Starbucks cup to a microwave safe cup or mug.
- Reduce the microwave power level to medium.
- Reheat using 30 second intervals.
- Stir the contents in between each time period.
- Continue reheating until the liquid reaches desired temperature.
It is possible to achieve success when microwaving a Starbucks cup. However, the action is risky because you may melt the glue, plastic or wax coating which could leach harmful chemicals into your beverage.
Avoid unnecessary risk by transferring the contents of your Starbucks cup into a microwave safe cup or mug. Then, follow the recommended instructions to properly reheat a beverage in the microwave using reduced power level, 30 second time periods and stirring at each timeframe.
With these simple and safe reheating steps, you can enjoy a hot Starbucks beverage at anytime of day!
