McDonald's served coffee extremely hot (180-190°F) primarily for flavor extraction and retention, as hotter water extracts more flavor and keeps the coffee hot longer for commuters, but this policy led to severe burns, most famously in the Liebeck v. McDonald's case, revealing a conflict between business practice and safety, with reports suggesting it also helped control refills and quality perception.
McDonald's current policy is to serve coffee at 176–194 °F (80–90 °C),[38] relying on more sternly worded warnings on cups made of rigid foam to avoid future liability, though it continues to face lawsuits over hot coffee. 88 degrees makes sense… you boil water to make coffee…
A jury found McDonald's liable for injuries suffered by a customer who spilled hot coffee on herself, and awarded her in excess of $2.8 million ($5.9 million in 2024). Stella Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants, P.T.S., Inc. and McDonald's International, Inc.
McDonald's operations manual required the franchisee to hold its coffee at 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Coffee at that temperature, if spilled, causes third-degree burns in three to seven seconds.
The “Hot Coffee” mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas became one of gaming's most notorious controversies because it unlocked a hidden, interactive sexual mini-game between the protagonist, Carl “CJ” Johnson, and his girlfriend. By responding to on-screen button prompts, players could simulate CJ's intimate movements.
McDonalds also said during discovery that, based on a consultant's advice, it held its coffee at between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain optimum taste. He admitted that he had not evaluated the safety ramifications at this temperature.
A café or other business might be legally responsible when a customer is burned by hot coffee or tea, but these injury cases are tough to prove.
The influence of coffee on digestive processes has been known for a long time, and drinking coffee after a meal has become a habit for most of us. Indeed, coffee is considered to favor digestion by acting on the acid production of the stomach, on bile and pancreatic secretion, and on colon motility.
In fact, this temperature range was indicated in its operations manual. In the 10 years before the case, over 700 people scalded by coffee burns made claims against the company. But McDonald's never lowered the temperature of its coffee.
The warning sign on hot coffee is a result of a landmark product liability settlement. The lawsuit fell under the category of failing to warn about the danger that a product may cause. The company has then decided on a warning label to avoid possible future lawsuits.
Byron Allen just secured a $10 billion victory against McDonald's for racial discrimination — and another $100 million in a separate lawsuit.
Here's a list of all the benefits drinking coffee on an empty stomach may bring you,
McDonald's is a well-known product liability lawsuit that became a flash point in the debate in the U.S. over tort reform after a jury awarded $2.9 million to Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who sued McDonald's after she suffered third-degree burns from hot coffee that was spilled on ...
During the trial, it was revealed that McDonald's knew that heating their coffee to this temperature would be dangerous, but they did it anyway because it would save them money.
After dutifully slipping a thermometer into steaming cups and mugs all over the city, Danny Jarrett found that none came closer than about 20 degrees to the temperature at which McDonald's coffee is poured, about 180 degrees. It should have been a warning.
Stella Liebeck, who won $2.9 million after suing McDonald's over hot coffee burns, initially requested only $20,000 to cover her medical expenses. Archived post. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The photos of her burns are horrific.
Many times, the most likely reason for weak tasting coffee is an incorrect coffee to water ratio; namely too much water for too little coffee. Other possible factors can include incorrect grind size, stale coffee beans, brewing too quickly or incorrect water temperature.
“For our coffee, we use 100% arabica coffee beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms or farms participating in our McCafé Sustainability Improvement Platform program — it is a special blend made just for McCafé, a medium-dark roast with a full body, fruity, floral and chocolate notes,” corporate chef Mike ...
Earlier this month, McDonald's has unveiled an elegant, and instantly classic, new look for its coffee range, designed to match the new and improved coffee blend. The new smoother, more refined blend features sustainably-sourced, 100% highest grade Arabic beans.
The "2-hour coffee rule" suggests waiting 90 minutes to 2 hours after waking up to drink your first cup of coffee to optimize caffeine's effects, avoid interfering with your natural cortisol spike (which peaks shortly after waking), and potentially prevent afternoon energy crashes. This timing allows caffeine to work better when cortisol levels naturally drop and adenosine (the chemical that makes you sleepy) builds up, leading to better focus and alertness later in the day, though individual experiences vary.
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, which can kick your digestive system into gear. It speeds up peristalsis—the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through your intestines.
For some individuals, especially those sensitive to stimulants, caffeine can temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure and may trigger palpitations. However, habitual coffee drinkers often develop a tolerance, and most people with heart disease can safely consume small amounts of caffeine.
The 80/20 rule for coffee (Pareto Principle) means 80% of your flavor comes from 20% of the effort, focusing your energy on key variables like fresh, quality beans, proper grind size, good water, and correct ratio, rather than obsessing over every minor detail. It suggests prioritizing high-quality beans and core techniques to get the best flavor, recognizing that superior beans in a decent brew beat average beans in a perfect brew, with the remaining 20% of effort refining the process for a great cup.
However, the cup tipped over, pouring scalding hot coffee onto her. She received third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body, necessitating hospitalization for eight days, whirlpool treatment for debridement of her wounds, skin grafting, scarring, and disability for more than two years.
Four minutes or less. That is how long the Starbucks chief executive officer would like for it to take from order to drink in hand. The new operating model is called "Green Apron Service," according to WGN.