<p>I have found various health-scare articles online such as <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/02/23/don-t-put-your-coffee-in-plastic-bottles.aspx" rel="nofollow">this</a> and <a href="https://drknews.com/effect-plastic-products-autoimmune-disease-thyroid-function-stop-using-plastic-coffee-lids/" rel="nofollow">this</a> about the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the body, a chemical which can be leached from a plastic container in to the coffee, though they're probably not reputable sources of information. As for the effect on flavour, when I was on a work experience placement I was given a plastic container for my coffee when I arrived (priorities!) and it did affect the flavour slightly in my opinion. The answer here is that it is highly subjective, as implied by Eric Platon, and if you are happy with it then that's fine. As for the effect on the quantity of caffeine, I'm pretty sure it will have no effect.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T10:00:39.423Z
2016-02-03T10:00:39.423Z
Rob Murray
<p>The flavor of the coffee will be affected far more by the choice of beans; the roast; the expiration date; the grind; the span of time between grinding and brewing; and last but certainly not least, the brewing method, than by the vessel into which it is put for a short period just prior to drinking it. If you are gearing up for a long car ride, the flavor will degrade somewhat faster in a plastic container, but that wouldn't affect the decision for me. If you've ever been in a Flying J, you probably know that truck drivers almost invariably fill huge plastic mugs with coffee. As far as the caffeine levels, that might be affected slightly (on microscopic levels) depending on how long you keep it in there. The slightly more porous plastic will accumulate infinitesimal quantities of coffee on the sides, which is why plastic typically stains faster than glass or metal. </p>

<p>P.S.  I wouldn't be too worried about health effects  since even super paranoid worry-worts drink from aluminum cans and plastic bottles.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-09T20:40:31.610Z
2016-02-09T20:40:31.610Z
Kai Maxfield
<p>A short answer is "not significantly", assuming you just store your drink for the day, and there is no sharp changes in storage conditions (strong heat, freeze, etc.)---except warming up the amount you want to drink.</p>

<p>Coffee drinks are unstable, though, and a simple, freshly passed drip coffee tastes different (quality changes) with time. So quality will actually change over a day, although the difference is hard to notice (except people with very acute taste sense).</p>

<p>You are also adding milk, which softens the overall taste, so I think noticing changes in the coffee flavour is even harder.</p>

<hr>

<p>Every vending machine around me (every 100m or so) sells coffee drinks in PET bottles. These bottles are stored for several weeks, and they sell pretty well. They taste fine for that price point and quality, and they are very stable. Of course, they do not include only coffee. They include milk, sugar, and hard-to-spell things. The last category does contain taste stabilizer, etc., so that is unfair comparison. I am just thinking it is interesting to see that coffee in plastic bottles in actually pretty common, especially for relatively short times.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T00:36:15.727Z
I would love to see an answer with actual references. My answer is for now just my experience on the matter...
Eric Platon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T00:34:08.707Z
2016-02-03T00:34:08.707Z
Eric Platon
<p>I make my coffee every morning. I leave it to rest for 20-30 minutes, mix it with some milk, and pour it into a plastic bottle. I drink the coffee from that bottle during the day.</p>

<p>Am I doing it right? Does the quality or the amount of caffeine decrease, if I store it in a plastic bottle?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-02T16:14:32.937Z
Do you mean plastic compared to another material or just storage in general?
paparazzo
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-02T23:25:18.483Z
Drawbacks of plastic storage, and plastic bottle compared to coffee thermos
Iter Ator
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T00:45:17.517Z
You get people that will only drink water out of stainless steel and glass.  And then you have soft drinks that have caffeine shipped in plastic.  I would guess plastic is safe.
paparazzo
<caffeine><storage>
Will the quality of the coffee change if I store it in a plastic bottle?
Iter Ator
# Will the quality of the coffee change if I store it in a plastic bottle?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-02)

I make my coffee every morning. I leave it to rest for 20-30 minutes, mix it with some milk, and pour it into a plastic bottle. I drink the coffee from that bottle during the day.

Am I doing it right? Does the quality or the amount of caffeine decrease, if I store it in a plastic bottle?

**Tags:** caffeine, storage

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mean plastic compared to another material or just storage in general?  
> **username_0**: Drawbacks of plastic storage, and plastic bottle compared to coffee thermos  
> **username_1**: You get people that will only drink water out of stainless steel and glass.  And then you have soft drinks that have caffeine shipped in plastic.  I would guess plastic is safe.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-02-03. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

I have found various health-scare articles online such as [this](http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/02/23/don-t-put-your-coffee-in-plastic-bottles.aspx) and [this](https://drknews.com/effect-plastic-products-autoimmune-disease-thyroid-function-stop-using-plastic-coffee-lids/) about the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the body, a chemical which can be leached from a plastic container in to the coffee, though they're probably not reputable sources of information. As for the effect on flavour, when I was on a work experience placement I was given a plastic container for my coffee when I arrived (priorities!) and it did affect the flavour slightly in my opinion. The answer here is that it is highly subjective, as implied by username_4, and if you are happy with it then that's fine. As for the effect on the quantity of caffeine, I'm pretty sure it will have no effect.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2016-02-03. Score: 5

A short answer is "not significantly", assuming you just store your drink for the day, and there is no sharp changes in storage conditions (strong heat, freeze, etc.)---except warming up the amount you want to drink.

Coffee drinks are unstable, though, and a simple, freshly passed drip coffee tastes different (quality changes) with time. So quality will actually change over a day, although the difference is hard to notice (except people with very acute taste sense).

You are also adding milk, which softens the overall taste, so I think noticing changes in the coffee flavour is even harder.

---

Every vending machine around me (every 100m or so) sells coffee drinks in PET bottles. These bottles are stored for several weeks, and they sell pretty well. They taste fine for that price point and quality, and they are very stable. Of course, they do not include only coffee. They include milk, sugar, and hard-to-spell things. The last category does contain taste stabilizer, etc., so that is unfair comparison. I am just thinking it is interesting to see that coffee in plastic bottles in actually pretty common, especially for relatively short times.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I would love to see an answer with actual references. My answer is for now just my experience on the matter...  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-02-09. Score: 2

The flavor of the coffee will be affected far more by the choice of beans; the roast; the expiration date; the grind; the span of time between grinding and brewing; and last but certainly not least, the brewing method, than by the vessel into which it is put for a short period just prior to drinking it. If you are gearing up for a long car ride, the flavor will degrade somewhat faster in a plastic container, but that wouldn't affect the decision for me. If you've ever been in a Flying J, you probably know that truck drivers almost invariably fill huge plastic mugs with coffee. As far as the caffeine levels, that might be affected slightly (on microscopic levels) depending on how long you keep it in there. The slightly more porous plastic will accumulate infinitesimal quantities of coffee on the sides, which is why plastic typically stains faster than glass or metal.

P.S. I wouldn't be too worried about health effects since even super paranoid worry-worts drink from aluminum cans and plastic bottles.


---

