Most takeaway coffee cups from popular cafes look like they’re made of paper—but they’re actually lined with plastic to keep them from leaking. When hot liquid hits that plastic lining, it can start to break down and leach chemicals into your drink. The lid is also plastic—often a type that’s not great with heat. (Compostable cups are lined with a bio-based plastic, but still leach chemicals into your drink.) It’s best to minimize your exposure to these toxins for your health.
Cafes like Starbucks and Cafe Nero have reusable ceramic or glass cups available when enjoying hot beverages in-house.
- Starbucks website states that you can get free refills of hot or iced brewed coffee and tea when you choose to enjoy your first beverage in a reusable cup in the café.
- Cafe Nero’s website states that reusable cups are available at all of its stores, and they “…encourage the use of reusable cups by offering 10 cents off all barista handcrafted drinks.”
- If you need to take your hot beverage to go, Starbucks will allow you to bring your clean personal cup—whether it’s a reusable tumbler, thermos, or travel mug. You can use it for every visit to company-owned and licensed stores in the U.S. and Canada, including drive-thru and mobile orders.
The damage from exposure to plastic chemical is cumulative so a few uses won’t cause harm, but you should look to limit your exposure when you can.