Like many coffee aficionados, my morning ritual begins with brewing a cup of coffee, specifically using a Chemex. I prefer lighter roasts, which often brew best at higher temperatures, so I heat the kettle to a scorching 207°F. Despite knowing how hot it is, the anticipation of that first sip always gets the better of me. The coffee is invariably too hot, the flavors not fully developed, yet my eagerness is an integral part of my routine. But is it dangerously hot for human consumption? Not even close. This stands in stark contrast to the coffee served at McDonald’s, which is once again at the center of a legal battle over its temperature.
According to NJ.com, a resident of Woolwich, New Jersey, is suing McDonald’s, claiming he suffered “severe injury” and damage to his car when a hot cup of their coffee spilled on his lap. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the drive-thru worker, leading to the spill. The plaintiff asserts that he has lost work time and incurred expenses to repair and clean his vehicle.
This case is not an isolated incident for McDonald’s. In fact, it’s not even the first such case this year in New Jersey. Earlier this year, a Morris County woman filed a lawsuit after a similar incident involving hot tea. Another occurred in Newark in November, again involving tea. In September, a Union City woman claimed she sustained burns and scarring from a hot McDonald’s coffee. A similar lawsuit was filed in San Francisco just 11 days prior to this one.
These cases evoke memories of the infamous lawsuit from the early 1990s, when an Albuquerque, New Mexico, woman successfully sued McDonald’s. It was revealed that the company served drinks up to 30 degrees hotter than other restaurants.
So, if you find yourself at a McDonald’s drive-thru early one morning, perhaps craving their undeniably delicious bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, and you decide to order a coffee, be cautious. Ensure you receive the cup outside of your car window, using both hands. And, resist the urge to take that first sip immediately.