4 ms·

As I mentioned in another comment, keeping coffee at a high temperature actually reduces the quality by speeding up chemical reactions that make it more bitter.

As I mentioned in another comment, keeping coffee at a high temperature actually reduces the quality by speeding up chemical reactions that make it more bitter. Keeping it at a low temperature (around 50C) prevents this so your interpretation of how the temperature relates to quality is entirely backwards

Karunamon 4y ago
That coffee does not exist in a vacuum. The temperature at which people want to drink it, and when, is part of this as well, probably even more important, and requiring reheating is the worst of all worlds. Also, you would likely be hard-pressed to tell the difference in bitterness given the relatively short maximum holding times (two hours in the steel urn, half an hour in the glass pot) and how much coffee the average breakfast goes through (it will be hanging out a lot less time than the maximum). Remember, this is McDonald's. The coffee being a bit more bitter won't result in complaints. The coffee being not hot enough will.
- kevviiinn 4y ago
  Are you actually suggesting that people want to drink coffee at near boiling temperatures
  - Karunamon 4y ago
    I am suggesting that most people either do not drink the coffee immediately, instead relying on it to be just right by the time they get to home or work (most business at a McDonald's happens in the drive through), or they load it with chilled cream, which will decrease its temperature but not low enough to be objectionable, which it would noticeably be were the holding temperatures meaningfully decreased to the point where Stella would not have received third-degree burns. Again: it should tell you something that they were not required to, nor did they, lower their holding temperature as a result of this.
    - kevviiinn 4y ago
      Who sets those requirements? Because they are required to now, AFAIK the McDonald's corporation set a standard for temperature after the lawsuit https://www.coffeedetective.com/what-is-the-correct-temperature-for-serving-coffee.html https://www.coffeedetective.com/what-is-the-correct-temperat...

Karunamon 4y ago

That coffee does not exist in a vacuum. The temperature at which people want to drink it, and when, is part of this as well, probably even more important, and requiring reheating is the worst of all worlds. Also, you would likely be hard-pressed to tell the difference in bitterness given the relatively short maximum holding times (two hours in the steel urn, half an hour in the glass pot) and how much coffee the average breakfast goes through (it will be hanging out a lot less time than the maximum). Remember, this is McDonald's. The coffee being a bit more bitter won't result in complaints. The coffee being not hot enough will.

kevviiinn 4y ago
Are you actually suggesting that people want to drink coffee at near boiling temperatures
- Karunamon 4y ago
  I am suggesting that most people either do not drink the coffee immediately, instead relying on it to be just right by the time they get to home or work (most business at a McDonald's happens in the drive through), or they load it with chilled cream, which will decrease its temperature but not low enough to be objectionable, which it would noticeably be were the holding temperatures meaningfully decreased to the point where Stella would not have received third-degree burns. Again: it should tell you something that they were not required to, nor did they, lower their holding temperature as a result of this.
  - kevviiinn 4y ago
    Who sets those requirements? Because they are required to now, AFAIK the McDonald's corporation set a standard for temperature after the lawsuit https://www.coffeedetective.com/what-is-the-correct-temperature-for-serving-coffee.html https://www.coffeedetective.com/what-is-the-correct-temperat...