Is it safe to drink hot coffee through a plastic straw?
Avoid plastic straws in hot coffee. Drink from the cup, or use glass or stainless steel if a straw is truly needed.
What's actually in it
Plastic straws are often polypropylene or polystyrene. Hot coffee adds heat, acid, and long mouth contact. That makes plastic a poor daily choice for hot drinks.
The direct evidence is stronger for hot plastic cups and containers than for every straw type. The practical takeaway is still clear: keep hot drinks away from disposable plastic when easy swaps exist.
What the research says
A 2022 Environmental Science & Technology study found single-use food-grade nylon bags and hot beverage cups lined with low-density polyethylene released more than 10^12 sub-100 nm plastic particles per liter into water. Release depended on the starting water temperature.
A 2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study found polypropylene food containers released nanoplastics and microplastics into water, with higher release after 90 C water contact than room-temperature water contact.
Practical takeaway: drink hot coffee from the cup. If you need a straw, choose glass or stainless steel and clean it well. For kids, skip straws in hot drinks because burns are the first risk.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Common Single-Use Consumer Plastic Products Release Trillions of Sub-100 nm Nanoparticles per Liter into Water during Normal Use. | Environ Sci Technol | 2022 |
| Release of Nanoplastics from Polypropylene Food Containers into Hot and Cold Water. | J Agric Food Chem | 2025 |
What to use instead
Skip disposable straws in hot drinks. Shop glass or stoneware cups and drink directly from the cup when you can.
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