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Photo by Hannah Lin
Photo by Hannah Lin
Lifestyle

How to Properly Reheat Coffee in the Microwave

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at Dalhousie chapter.

We can all agree that coffee is life-changing and is a necessity for most of our day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, this super substance we call coffee is vulnerable to the laws of thermodynamics where hot coffee becomes cold coffee faster than you’d think. Plus, forgetting about the coffee you just brewed or the cup you just bought from the local shop happens all too often. 

reheat coffee black beans cereal
Abby Reisinger

But before chucking that cup of Joe out and feeling the guilt of wasting coffee, you can simply reheat coffee in the microwave so you can finish your cup with satisfaction (despite everyone that tells you you can’t).

If you want to reheat coffee but do not want to burn it, adjust the intensity at which the microwave will heat the coffee. How do you do that? You adjust the power level on your microwave. 

reheat coffee soy sauce black coffee
Mira Nguyen

After placing your cold cup of joe in the microwave and shutting the door, press the “Power Level” button and then press the number “8.” This intensity is two notches below the default level that the microwave normally heats at (which is 10) and will be just right for reheating your cup of coffee. 

Now, how long do you reheat your coffee for? Well, that all depends on how much coffee you have in your now-cold mug. You can usually get by with estimating the appropriate time but a half-full coffee mug usually requires only 45 seconds, give or take a few. If your coffee isn’t at the temperature you prefer, continue to microwave it in 30 second intervals until it has reached your desired warmth.

And voila! Your coffee is reheated back to perfect sipping temperature. 

reheat coffee coffee tea
Rebecca Block

After a trip in the microwave, your coffee may be bitter (just as any brewed beverage has the risk of becoming bitter after being microwaved). How do you fix that? Just add sugar or creamer and you’ll immediately notice the normal coffee taste. 

And voila again! Your coffee is reheated and has that same amazing taste as it did before it got cold. 

Kara Hawker

Dalhousie '19

Editor-in-Chief for Spoon at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS.