How best to make coffee? (Tassimo content)

[KneesUp]

I have in my office a Tassimo machine because I work surrounded by coffee shops, and being unable to resist the temptation of a half decent coffee versus something made with a kettle and instant coffee was proving expensive. I am aware that making coffee with said machine is not very cheap, but it is cheaper than buying the coffee ready made.

My question though is one of physics - how does one best make a coffee that stays warm? For completeness, the equipment I have available is as follows:

1 x kettle
1 x fridge (containing milk)
1 x mini oven
1 x Tassimo-mejig

My question is, will my coffee stay warmer for longer if I add milk to the mug and then get the machine to add the coffee, or if I make the coffee and then add the milk? I tend to think it should be the former as the temperature difference between the hot liquid (coffee and milk mix) will be closer to room temperature from the off, and thus it will fall slower - but can anyone shed any light on how I might do better? Currently my coffee is cold in a matter of minutes.

Yours drinking cold coffee,

K. Up

 

[I like Skol]

Jar of Kenco Costa Rican, brown sugar, no milk. Can't really go much wrong IME.

Silly fashionable coffee machines/shops for silly fashion chasing people IMO.....

 

[Cubist]

Heat your mug with water from the kettle first. Once it's hot empty out the hot water and add the coffee. Can you microwave or steam the milk?

Or learn to drink espresso, which is what your machine is making. Even then, you need to heat the cup.

 

[KneesUp]

Jar of Kenco Costa Rican, brown sugar, no milk. Can't really go much wrong IME.

Silly fashionable coffee machines/shops for silly fashion chasing people IMO.....

Whilst scientific research rather suggests that if one could persuade ones butler to do pretend to be a coffee machine, one would be unable to tell the difference, I am in the unfortunate position of not having my butler here at work (due to the top secret nature of my assignment, of course - my man is kept busy elsewhere on the estate in the day) This means I have to make my own coffee, so I cannot easily be deceived.



"Silly fashion chasing" is a little harsh I feel. It's quicker and more convenient than boiling a kettle and impresses no-one as no-one sees it apart from me. And the issue of when to add the milk would apply if I did use a kettle.

 

[I like Skol]

Heat your mug.

Here may be the root of the problem. If you mess around with small, designer coffee cups then the temperature soon falls off. A proper mug will hold enough heat to allow the brew to be fully enjoyed over a decent period of minutes.

One of these...

NOT one of these...

"Silly fashion chasing" is a little harsh I feel.

Harsh, Moi?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Cup of tea is much nicer.

 

[MichaelW2]

What is the altitude of your office?

 

[potsy]

Silly fashionable coffee machines/shops for silly fashion chasing people IMO.....

I feel like that when I buy one of the 'posh' 45p ones at work instead of having a free one from the machine

 

[KneesUp]

What is the altitude of your office?

The average for my postcode is 93m above sea level apparently, and the coffee machine is on a shelf about 1.2 metres from the floor, so roughly 94.2m.

 

[KneesUp]

Cup of tea is much nicer.

I think you will find this is entirely incorrect.

 

[Drago]

Don't ruin a nice coffee by putting milk in it.

 

[I like Skol]

I feel like that when I buy one of the 'posh' 45p ones at work instead of having a free one from the machine

Never have, never will! You soon get used to the free ones

 

[KneesUp]

Here may be the root of the problem. If you mess around with small, designer coffee cups then the temperature soon falls off. A proper mug will hold enough heat to allow the brew to be fully enjoyed over a decent period of minutes.

One of these...
View attachment 152985

NOT one of these...
View attachment 152986


Harsh, Moi?

My mug holds 1.5 pints ...

 

[jefmcg]

Or learn to drink espresso, which is what your machine is making. Even then, you need to heat the cup.

Or long black/Americano by adding hot water to the espresso.

If you want your drink to stay warm longer, use a thermal mug.

 

[KneesUp]

Heat your mug with water from the kettle first. Once it's hot empty out the hot water and add the coffee. Can you microwave or steam the milk?

Or learn to drink espresso, which is what your machine is making. Even then, you need to heat the cup.

Warming the mug is an excellent suggestion. Espresso is nice enough, but you don't get to warm your hands on the mug as well.

(Remembers the incredulity of the staff member in a service station a few years back when I ordered an espresso at some god-forsaken hour of the morning - "It's only a tiny little thing, an expressoh tha knows?")