Re: Practice the Black Arts in class, get fired.

Tim McDaniel <tmcd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> In article <g0v5lg$keg$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> <rkshullat@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>The industry seems to agree that between 180F and 190F is the optimum
>>temperature for holding coffee and this exactly matches McDonald's
>>standards.
> 
> That does not agree with the first paragraphs of
> <http://www.reedmorganpc.com/wsj_coffee.htm>,
> 
>    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - When a law firm here found itself defending
>    McDonald's Corp. in a suit last year that claimed the company
>    served dangerously hot coffee, it hired a law student to take
>    temperatures at other local restaurants for comparison.
> 
>    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.
> 
> Nor does it match <http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm>,
which is
> admittedly pro-plaintiff.  I don't drink coffee and know nothing more
> about it.

I do drink coffee on a daily basis and I can state that this and some of
the other claims (that home coffee is on the order of 140-145F) are
bogus. The coffee I made Sunday was 160F after sitting in an unheated
carafe for 30 minutes AND being poured over sweetener in a ceramic mug.
This was from a standard cheap drip coffee maker. I wouldn't stick my
finger
in it, but it was perfectly fine for sipping and definitely cooler than
the
Starbucks or Peets I purchase during the week.

Quick googling:
<http://www.bunnomatic.com/pages/coffeebasics/cb6holding.html>
Bunn coffee makers, "ideal holding temperature, 175F to 185F"
<http://www.boyds.com/coffee/brewingguide.html>
Boyds Coffee Company, "If brewed coffee must be 'held' on a direct heat
source, it should be held at 185F...lower temperatures make the brew too
cold and consumers will be dissatisfied".
<http://www.brewhauscoffeeandtea.com/register.html>
"coffee should be held between 175F and 185F in a closed and insulated
container"
<http://www.arabikaz.co.za/content/view/19/34/>
"the ideal holding temperature is 85C" (185F)
<http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=71>
"the temperature should be maintained at 180 - 185 degrees Fahrenheit"
<http://www.wagnercoffee.com/water.html>
"holding temperature for coffee, provided by hot plates, should be 185
degrees Fehrenheit[sic]"
<http://www.coffeeday.com/freshnground/brewing2.htm>
"the optimum holding temperature is between 185 and 190F, without
variation"
<http://www.millcreekcoffee.com/holding.htm>
"hold it [coffee] at a uniform temperature between 175F and 185F"
<http://www.turtlecreekcoffee.com/coffee_basics_brewing.asp>
"holding the coffee between 175-190 (80-88C) will maintain its fresh
brewed flavor over a specified period of time"

Surveying fast food restaurants (to be honest, restaurants in general) to
determine how to make and serve proper coffee is like polling fast food
restaurants to determine what makes quality food. Great if you're trying
to
bolster a legal case, not so great if you're trying to find good food (or
good coffee).

One last URL... A similar case in the UK with different conclusions:
<http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/judgmentsfiles/j1118/Bogle_v_McDonalds.htm>

	Robert
-- 
Robert K. Shull                           Email: rkshull at rosettacon dot
com