Does microwaved coffee get cold faster?

Or am I just imaging this?

[gethan]

So I reheated my coffee in the microwave - and it was hot... then I take a second sip and it's cold. It seemed to get cold so quickly, faster than if it had been just made from a kettle.

Am I just imaging this? or does heat gained from a microwave have different properties to that generated by conduction?

[mfishy]

you are correct - don't know why though :)

[smellystudent]

*hazards a complete guess*

Is heat generated by a microwave less evenly distributed?

[ritch_b]

Is heat generated by a microwave less evenly distributed?

I'll pass on that one, although stopping our microwave half-way through and giving my coffee a quick stir seems to keep it warmer for a bit longer.

But really - cold coffee?...blasphemy...;)

R.

[eWhisper]

But really - cold coffee?...blasphemy

I would have to say microwaving coffee = blasphemy. Takes the good taste out of it and leaves this funny taste instead. Just pour yourself another fresh cup.

[ritch_b]

It was a most wonderful day when we all chipped in together and bought a 'proper' coffee maker...

*sighs*

...no office should be without one...

R.

[HughMungus]

Microwaving "alters the chemistry of coffee" so maybe there's some molecular reason it would lose heat faster. Or maybe the heat you feel in the coffee is coming from the ceramic cup you use and that cools faster than the coffee does and takes the perceived heat with it.

Gotta love those confounding factors.

[ukgimp]

cant think of a scientific reason why it would.

[werty]

I know that if you heat up a mug of cold milk, the top can get really hot. Well you can barely get a sip without burning yourself, but then in the same gulp you get nice cold milk mixed in.

It is in an interesting contrast to say the least. I think temperature layered drinks should be the next fad. Not sure how they would work

check out this site for a little study:
http*//splorg.org/~tobin/projects/microwave/superheating.html

It seems like microwaves like to boil from the top down.

[grandpa]

I think temperature layered drinks should be the next fad. Not sure how they would work

You nuke em

[gethan]

I don't often reheat coffee... but it seemed a good idea yesterday. Agreed microwave coffee making is not ideal.

Wow! what a lot of interesting microwave information is out there... I don't have a sound scientific understanding of how microwave ovens work but it was quite facinating.

therefore having a gap between the door and the appliance. Being me (stupid) I wondered if it would burn fast or would it gradually warm up. I slid my finger between... But it didn't gradually warm up at all. It was instant heat! It didn't scar me or anything like that, but sure scared the H*** out of me to find out it got so hot so quick. I didn't get any blisters either. But it just burned like touching something hot on the tip of my finger being that is the only thing I put in.

from an anonymous contributor at http;//rabi.phys.virginia.edu/HTW/microwave_ovens.html

Maybe the coffee experience I had was caused probably partly by uneven heating... I got a hot bit on my first swallow. But I still think that liquids do cool faster after heating in microwaves.

I didn't boil it so avoided the explosions etc described in so many places :)

[mayor]

>> seems like microwaves like to boil from the top down

seems like mine explodes from the bottom up leaving the cup empty

[whizkiddo]

i remember reading an explanation somewhere.

its not just coffee though, food too heated in conventional manner remains hot for a longer time compared to microwave.