Coffee can be a great pick me up in the late afternoon, after an especially long day. However, when you look at the counter, instead of seeing a nice steaming pot of coffee, there is a half-full pot with ice-cold coffee at the bottom. It is possible to turn the pot on and re-heat the coffee, but that takes time. But are there quicker ways to re-heat your coffee?
A microwave is an amazing kitchen appliance that can cut re-heating time virtually in half. While this is fabulous for most things, it does not apply to all coffee pots. If you search carefully, you can find some coffeepots are labeled as microwave safe. There are likely no metal pieces on these coffee pots that could be problematic.
In this article, you will learn about microwaving coffee pots as well as other options when it comes to microwaving your coffee. You will also learn about the best method to heat your coffee to obtain that close to fresh-brewed taste.
Are Coffeepots Microwavable?
You may think that, because a coffeepot can withstand the high temperatures of the appliance pad, they should be equipped to handle the high heat of the microwave. While this may seem possible, it is important to check closely before experimenting.
If you are considering heating your coffeepot in the microwave, look for the following details:
- A lack of metal components: Metal components do NOT belong in the microwave. If you accidentally or intentionally put metal into the microwave, you will see a lot of sparks, potential flames, and a destroyed microwave oven. (Source: Kitchen Sanity)
- Microwave safe label: Most containers that are safe for microwave use have a distinct label to indicate this, but it is not the case for all containers. The best rule of thumb is to err on the side of caution. If there is not a label, it is better not to attempt to microwave the container.
What Happens if You Microwave a Coffeepot that is not Microwave Safe?
If you accidentally place a container into the microwave that is not meant to be there, you will find out right away because a couple of different things will occur:
- The container will break: A microwave is designed to heat items to a high temperature in a short amount of time. Not all containers can withstand the power required to do this. If a container is not microwave-safe, it will break or shatter when placed in the microwave.
- There will be sparks and smoke emitted from the container: If you are lucky, you will only bear witness to sparks and smoke. However, if you have walked away from a microwave with anything metal inside, you may come back to a full-blown fire in your microwave. Metal and microwaves do not mix!
No matter which reaction you witness, the results are the same. Your coffee will inevitably be ruined, and the container will no longer be usable. Worse yet, your microwave could be destroyed.
With these things in mind, it is important to check labels before you put coffeepots and mugs into the microwave.
Microwave Safe Coffeepots
If you have an older model coffeepot, there is a good chance that your coffeepot cannot be put into the microwave safely. However, many coffeepots on the market can be placed in the microwave safely.
Here are some coffeepots that you can place into your microwave:
When looking at each of these coffeepot options, you will notice they are not the traditional coffeepot that you are used to seeing in the kitchen. Most of them are labeled as tea kettles or servers. If you are using the device to heat up cold coffee, any of these options will work well.
Is it Okay to Heat Coffee in the Microwave?
It is perfectly fine to re-heat coffee in the microwave; however, you will likely not experience the same fresh-brewed taste that you did when the pot of coffee was first brewed. The taste difference occurs because the flavor aromas are broken down when the re-heating occurs. (Source: The Daily Meal).
Although heating coffee in the microwave will not provide the fresh brewed taste, but it will likely give you the afternoon pick-me-up that you are searching for, even if the taste is not as desirable.
What Happens When You Re-Heat Coffee in the Microwave?
While the microwave is an incredibly fast and efficient way to get your cup of coffee steaming in no time, there are some things to take into consideration when heating it in the microwave, such as:
- It is old: If you are heating coffee in the microwave, it is likely because it has been sitting in your countertop coffee pot for much of the day or, at a minimum, a few hours. Regardless, your coffee is no longer fresh, so it will not have the same robust taste it did in the morning. Will it still be drinkable? Sure, but do not expect a delicious cup of coffee after the re-heating process.
- Some flavor may be lost: When coffee goes through the cooling process, the acidity increases. Because of this increased acidity, the flavor will be much different than it was in the first cup of the morning. (Source: Tasting Table)
- Use caution: As you know, microwaves are meant to heat things rapidly to high temperatures. When you place a pot or cup of coffee in the microwave, it could become superheated, which will cause it to bubble out of the cup when the surface of the water is touched. So, not only can your coffee taste bitter, but it can also cause a nasty burn if you are not careful. (Source: Science Illustrated)
What is the Best Way to Re-heat Coffee?
After reading the above information, you may be wondering about the absolute best way to re-heat coffee. While there is not a way to re-heat your coffee and make taste fresh-brewed, there is a method that may help you savor that stale cup of coffee.
To do this, you will need the following:
- A cooking pot
- A stove
- A spoon
- Extra time
To ensure you are getting the most flavorful cup of re-heated coffee, it is best to use a slow heating method on the stovetop. While this will take you extra time, the result will be much tastier than that of a speed-heated cup of coffee.
When heating the coffee on the stovetop, you need to use low to medium heat to bring the liquid up to the correct temperature slowly. To ensure the coffee is heated through evenly, you will want to take time to stir the liquid as it is being heated gently.
This re-heating method will provide you with the freshest tasting cup of re-heated coffee. But do not expect a stellar cup of coffee, and do not rush the process because the end taste will likely not be favorable.
(Sources: Foods Guy and Corp Cofe)
Final Thoughts
If you are in a pinch and need to have your late afternoon coffee fix, you can heat it in the microwave in either a microwave-safe coffee pot or mug, but do not have high expectations for the flavor.
Re-heating old coffee will give you the jolt of caffeine you are looking for, but the acidity in the cooled coffee will alter the flavor profile you are used to.
And remember: never place a coffeepot with metal components into a microwave!