Handling Hot Coffee: Who Needs This Book and Why

For many, enjoying a hot cup of coffee or tea is a simple pleasure. But beneath the surface of this daily ritual lies a bubbling world of planning, food science, data, and policies working hard to keep this pleasure simple—and safe.

Most companies strive to serve the best products possible to their customers. But the best practices for coffee and tea (notwithstanding cold brewed drinks) require them to be brewed at a temperature that can be dangerously hot—and can burn if spilled. And hot beverage spill and burn litigation is not frivolous or trivial. Along with the pain of burns, the costs of medical expenses, lost wages, and legal fees can easily run into the millions and damage the hard-earned reputation of big or small brands. 

Handling Hot Coffee was written as a comprehensive resource to help businesses and brands serve great products while protecting their customers, their employees, and their bottom line. Full of relevant information and backed up with data and brewing science, the book educates restaurants and food service businesses, hotels, airlines, and more on how to maintain high quality standards for hot beverages, safely serve hot beverages, and protect themselves from liability should a spill or burn occur. 

An overview of the information presented includes:

• Industry standards for brewing, holding, and serving hot beverages, including information on temperatures, vessels, serving containers, and variations for most popular coffee drinks and types of tea. 
• Degrees and types of burns, including variables that affect burn severity.
• Preventive measures to avoid spills and critical steps to take following a spill, including psychological factors relevant to verbal warnings that a drink is hot.
• A history of hot beverage litigation and current trends, including a survey of the most common claims and outcomes.

A detailed look at the table of contents and introduction can be found here. 

Handling Hot Coffee is a comprehensive reference guide for the coffee and hot beverage industry, to help all brands that prepare and serve hot drinks prevent spills, burns, and lawsuits. Owners, franchisees, and managers can order a copy of this critical resource in our Safety Store today.