Does A Mason Jar Or Coffee Mug Keep Coffee Hot
Nowadays, mason jars are getting viral for their aesthetic and different looks. But to talk about looks, mugs also attract people with different colors and varieties of designs. But to keep the coffee hot for a good time, materials are important.
Different materials have different heat-resistant qualities. So, to enjoy hot coffee or any hot drink, you need to look for perfect mugs. To make it easier, read this article, where I discussed about different materials and the science behind heat retention.
Why Does Any Hot Object Lose Its Temperature?
It is the rule that hot temperature always moves towards cooler temperature according to the thermodynamics law. It happens to make temperature equal in both objects. So, from here, you can know why the hot objects lose their temperature.
If you look further at the scientific explanation of the heat transfer system, you will see three factors.
Conduction:
It is the process in which the hot object loses its temperature when it comes to a direct touch of other things. It can physically touch any other objects
Convection :
This is another process where the temperature moves through air or fluid movement.
Radiation:
Because of emitting infrared radiation, an object loses its temperature. This was all about how and why materials, fluids, or anything lose their temperature. Now, if we talk about mason jars or mugs, then a lot of other factors are also responsible for losing heat.
The material thickness also plays a big role in measuring the retainness of a jar or a mug. Now, here comes the real problem. These jars are basically used to preserve foods at a cool temperature.
But hot food or soup can also be stored in this jar. In this case, the jar also has to be heated gradually. Otherwise, it would break because of thermal shock.
Although new mason jars can be used to serve hot items, you should still be aware of this thermal shock. Typically, these jars are made of soda-lime glass and can withstand temperatures up to 392°F (200°C) when heated slowly. However, they are not very resistant to thermal shock. So, a sudden drop in temperature can lead a jar to breakage.
So I would recommend not to use mason jars to serve hot coffee drinks, but cold coffee or other drinks can be served. Here, also make sure that the jar is at room temperature to avoid thermal shock.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a mason jar to serve hot coffee. Look for drinking jars or mason jar tumblers, but avoid regular mason jars. These jars have a thicker glass with a handle. And, which makes it good for better heat resistance.
Mugs For Coffee
Mugs are often used to serve hot drinks. Different types of mugs have different materials, hence their retention limits. There are ceramics, stainless steel, porcelain, stoneware, and ceramic-coated metal mugs.
Ceramic Mugs
These types of mugs have very good heat retention. They keep the coffee hot for a long time. The best part is that the ceramic mug or the handle of the ceramic mug doesn’t have to get hot, so it’s easy to grab these mugs.
Stoneware Mugs
I was really waiting to discuss this one. Not only does it look good, but its heat retention is excellent than any other type of mug. Because it has thick walls that help keep the coffee hot.
Stainless Steel Mugs
It is also a good choice to keep your coffee hot for a longer time. The heat retention of it is amazing, and it’s also durable.
Ceramic-Coated Metal Mugs
These mugs are also good for maintaining temperature. This type of mug has thick walls that are coated with ceramic, besides metal. Some of these mugs even claim they can keep drinks above 102.2°F and retain heat for up to six hours.
Porcelain Mugs
This material is also good for retaining heat even better than ceramic, but the matter of concern is that it can break because of thermal shock. This can happen because of its thinner walls.
Glass mugs
Glass mugs are quite affordable compared to other materials. Also, there are many designs available. But to avoid thermal shock and for good heat retention, you must buy a thick wall mug.
As you can see here, different materials have different pros and cons. These will give you a better understanding about materials. Besides these, you also have to know about some facts before buying mugs, which will help you choose the mugs you need.
Thick walls:
If the mug’s walls are thick, it will retain heat very well. So, before buying, look for a mug that has a thicker wall.
Small Surface Area:
Try to buy a mug that has a smaller surface area but with a broader body. This will help the coffee to cool down slowly.
Lid:
Try to buy it with a lid, but make sure the lid fits tightly. Otherwise, coffee will evaporate easily, leading to cooling down more quickly.
Materials:
I’ve tried to cover at least the popular mug materials above to let you know the retention of each one. Ceramic, porcelain, or stoneware has good heat retention, but ceramic is the one I will recommend. Because it’s affordable, durable, and less prone to thermal shock.
In this case, stainless steel and other metal mugs will also keep your coffee hot.
Mugs To Travel With
All mugs are suitable for homemade coffee. But if you are looking for something to travel with, ceramic-coated metal or stainless steel mugs with lids are great choices. They will keep your coffee safe from dropping into your bag and also keep it hot for a long time.
So, What Keeps Your Coffee Hot For A Long Time?
It is quite difficult to answer. Because heat retention depends on many different things. So, everyone will get different types of experience regarding this matter.
However, an average report shows that mason jars can hold a temperature of 35-45 minutes, and double-walled glass mugs can hold a temperature of 10-20 minutes. Whereas, mugs with different materials other than glass can keep coffee hot for a long time.
A stainless steel mug that is long with lids performs really well in holding hot temperature
Some Other Tips To Keep Your Coffee Hot
1) Preheat the mug
2) Try to use just one mug to make your coffee.
3) Buy a mug with a lid.
4) You can use cup sleeves.
5) Buy a mug in a darker color with less surface area.
FAQs
Will the metal mugs ruin the coffee’s taste if it is kept in them for a long time?
Not really. But if it is not washed properly and completely new, you can have a slight taste of metal.
Does a ceramic mug impart coffee flavors?
No, because the ceramic mug is porous, so it doesn’t ruin the taste of the coffee.
Is a mason jar better than mugs for serving hot coffee?
No, materials like ceramic and metal mugs can keep coffee hot better than a glass mug or a thick-walled mason jar.
Conclusion
Different types of materials have different specialties. Now, it depends on you which one you prefer. Mugs made of these above mentioned materials come up with aesthetic designs and colors.
And the heat retention also differs. The average time is 30-45 minutes, depending on its size, shape, design and material. But if you don’t care for designs and just want to keep your coffee hot for a long time then metal mugs are the ultimate choice.
Hi! I’m Semiul Bennett. After spending so many years in the coffee industry, I’ve developed a deep passion for all things coffee—from the beans to the brewing process. Now, I’m on a mission to help people have a better coffee experience at home and outdoors. Together with my team, we’re here to share expert tips, brewing techniques and the latest coffee trends, so you can enjoy your perfect cup every time.
