Sadly, Starbucks paper cups are not microwave friendly . The temperature produced inside a microwave can damage, warp or melt the paper cup lining and adhesive glue used to hold the cup together. First of all, the paper cups have a very thin lining that can’t hold up to extreme heat.
Here are some of the reasons why it is bad to microwave Starbucks cups:
Starbucks cups are coated with plastic and wax to make it waterproof . Microwaving may leak toxic contaminants into the hot beverage. The glue that holds the cup together can melt in the microwave, and your cup may start leak from the bottom and sides. The taste of coffee will change due to paper burns, softened inside coating or melting glue.
When I was researching we ran into the question “Is the Starbucks cup microwave safe?”.
The Starbucks Cup is actually microwave-safe , but the Starbucks coffee is not The Starbucks coffee can absorb wax or glue or any other chemicals used for the cup production, which is totally improper for microwaving.
Starbucks cups that cannot be microwaved are made of paper, which is coated with plastic to make it waterproof so that it does not leak . As mentioned before, Starbuck cups are held together by wax or glue. Leaking, liability, and weird taste in addition can be usefull too.
Why can’t you microwave coffee cups?
Additionally, there are many components within the cup itself that are not designed to withstand high heat from the microwave. Apart from the glue, there is also the inner lining as well as the ink. Heating these up to high temperatures can cause the materials to melt and leak into the beverage.
This of course begs the query “Why do McDonald’s coffee cups say do not microwave?”
Because paper cups are glued together with plastic or wax that will melt in the microwave resulting in collapse of the cup and hot coffee spilling. Reheating coffee safely requires transferring the coffee into a microwaveable container .
The next thing we wanted the answer to was: why does my coffee cup heat up when I microwave it?
If you have a liquid in a container that is microwave-safe, then the increased speed molecules experience will result in heating this liquid. If the container is not microwave-safe , then maybe the glue component when making the coffee cup contains water or if you have ink that has metal in it printed on the cup or on some dinner plates etc.
Can You microwave Starbucks paper cups?
With all the evidence presented above, you definitely should not microwave Starbucks paper cups. While I am sure thousands of people do this daily, the risks are too much. If you do want to reheat your coffee, then it is best to do so in a microwave safe cup.
Can You microwave paper cups?
The coating inside the paper cups are lined with a mix of wax and plastic, and is designed to hold hot beverages, but not necessarily to withstand the heat from the microwave.
Keep in mind that at the end of microwaving, the reusable plastic cup can be really hot . Please use a pot holder or a towel to avoid scalds. There’s another piece of good news about the reusable Starbucks cups that you must be aware of. They can go in a dishwasher .
Are Starbucks plastic cups recyclable?
Over the past couple of years, Starbucks has introduced reusable and recyclable plastic cups . These plastic cups which many use for their coffee, are made frompolypropylene, a plastic that is considered to be safe for use in the microwave.
Is it safe to drink from Starbucks paper cups?
There is a possibility that consuming a beverage in a Starbucks paper cup that was heated in the microwave, might result in the introduction of certain toxins into your body. The effects of these toxins on your body could be seen in the long-term and this is all the reason why they should be avoided.
What is inside a Starbucks paper cup made of?
The coating found inside the Starbucks paper cups is a mix of wax and plastic . According to Change plastic for good, they explain that the plastic coating is made of Polyethylene, a plastic that is known for its heat resistance and durability.