Does hot coffee in a styrofoam cup leach more chemicals than hot coffee in paper?
Both disposable cup types can release plastic particles into hot drinks. Polystyrene foam and plastic-lined paper cups are not good daily choices.
What's actually in it
Styrofoam cups are expanded polystyrene. Most disposable paper coffee cups are paper on the outside with a thin polyethylene or similar plastic liner inside so the cup does not leak.
Hot coffee is a tough test for any disposable cup. Heat can loosen tiny plastic pieces from the cup surface and move them into the drink.
What the research says
A 2023 Science of the Total Environment study tested disposable drink cups with water at 95 C for 20 minutes. It found microplastics released from PE-coated paper cups, polypropylene cups, and polystyrene cups. The measured ranges were 675 to 5,984 particles/L for PE-coated paper cups and 838 to 5,215 particles/L for polystyrene cups.
A 2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials study found 1 paper cup released about 25,000 micron-sized microplastic particles into 100 ml of hot water in 15 minutes.
For daily coffee, use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel. If you need a disposable cup once in a while, do not panic. Just do not make hot drinks in disposable plastic-lined cups your everyday routine.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Release of microplastics from disposable cups in daily use. | Sci Total Environ | 2023 |
| Microplastics and other harmful substances released from disposable paper cups into hot water. | J Hazard Mater | 2021 |