Starbucks coffee is all about convenience, so you should be able to just pop your cup of coffee or other hot drink in the microwave to reheat, right?
However, it’s not that simple, and Starbucks cups come with a “Do Not Microwave” warning for good reason. Read on for more information, and what you can do instead.
Key Takeaways
Can You Microwave Starbucks Cups In 2022?
Starbucks cups have a “Do Not Microwave” warning printed on them, which means Starbucks cups cannot be re-heated in the microwave due to their internal plastic lining. Instead, it is best to pour the remaining Starbucks drink into a microwaveable safe cup or mug which can then be re-heated safely.
You may also be wondering if it’s safe to microwave the new reusable Starbucks cups, and how to reheat your coffee instead of microwaving Starbucks cups. We did some research, and here’s what we found.
Why Can’t You Microwave Starbucks Cups?
People have become so accustomed to the convenience of Starbucks coffee that in most cases they wouldn’t think twice about microwaving a cup of coffee to reheat it.
However, if you look closely, you’ll find that Starbucks coffee cups come with a printed “Do Not Microwave” warning on the bottom.
So along with many other Starbucks customers, you are probably looking for the reasons why you can’t microwave Starbucks cups.
Starbucks paper cups are actually made of paper with a plastic lining, and neither material does well in the high heat of a microwave.
Starbucks paper coffee cups have a thin plastic lining inside to prevent leaks. However, this plastic is not microwave-safe, and could leach toxins into your coffee or hot drink if you put it in the microwave.
People who have tried to microwave Starbucks coffee cups also find that the high heat tends to melt the glue used to close the seam on the side of the cup.
You certainly don’t want melted glue mixed into your latte! It would mess up the taste, and also pose unknown health risks.
When the glue melts, leaks can develop along the seam. The cup might even disintegrate without the seam to keep it together.
How Can You Re-Heat Starbucks Hot Drinks?
In general, it’s not a good idea to microwave food or drink in plastic containers, even if they are labeled BPA-free.
That’s because the high heat in the microwave can cause the plastic to release toxins into your food or drink. The convenience comes with a health risk.
So what should you do instead? The best option is to use a microwave-safe cup or glass to reheat your drink.
Ceramic is generally a good and safe choice to use in the microwave. You should make sure that there are no metal decorations or highlights, like gold lettering or designs, because you can’t put metal in the microwave.
You can transfer your drink to a ceramic cup or mug and use that in the microwave (30 seconds should do the job). And then, if you want, you can pour the reheated drink back into your Starbucks cup.
You also have the option of reheating your drink the really old-fashioned way, on the stovetop. Pour the drink into a saucepan, and heat it on medium heat.
You may find that the stovetop method preserves the taste of your drink best of all, and that’s worth the small extra effort.
Can You Microwave Starbucks’ Reusable Cups?
Starbucks’ reusable cups are labeled microwave-safe, but we recommend caution. The official guidelines are to microwave on medium power in 30-second increments.
Let’s take a closer look. The Starbucks plastic reusable cups are made from type 5 polypropylene, which is best used for cold drinks.
However it is labeled microwave-safe, if used according to the guidelines above. This brings us back to the problem of reheating food and drink in plastic containers in the microwave.
There are too many potential health risks in heating plastic to very high temperatures, and it should be avoided whenever possible.
The reusable cup is a good thing for many reasons. It can substitute for the single-use Starbucks cups that are contributing to the problem of plastic pollution.
A reusable cup can be used over 30 times, if it is cleaned properly. However, it is better not to use it in the microwave.
To find out more, you can also see our posts on whether or not Starbucks has boba, if Starbucks has oat milk, and if Starbucks refreshers have caffeine.
Conclusion
Starbucks paper cups have a “Do Not Microwave” warning printed on the bottom, and it’s best to follow that advice. That’s because the paper cups have a plastic lining that can leach toxins into your drink if heated in the microwave.
In general, plastic containers should not be used to heat food and drinks in the microwave, to avoid health risks. It is better to transfer the food and drink to a microwave-safe container like a ceramic mug before reheating.