Did You Get Your Magic Cup Yet?

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 Last month, Starbucks introduced the holiday season drinks, a bevy of artisanal ceramic mugs, the Holiday Blend coffee beans, and the new color-changingcups. They start off green, and turn red when hot liquid is poured in.

Regardless of how you celebrate the darkest days of winter, we all need a little magic in our lives. Even in the best circumstances, magic is a good thing, but now at the end of 2020, magic is much needed. I’ve always wondered about the science behind color-changing cups.

The new magic cups at Starbucks are a perfect example of thermochromism and heat-sensitive paint. Thermochromism is the property of certain materials to change their color in response to a change in temperature. In this case, heat-sensitive thermochromic paint contains pigments that change color based on temperatures of about 60 degrees and above. Considering that hot coffee is usually served at temperatures of at least 90 to 100 degrees---and higher, serving coffee in these cups automatically triggers a color change from green to red.

So now the only question is what to drink in those cups? Well, obviously something hot. If you’re ready to explore Starbucks’ holiday drink menu, consider the following options:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brulee Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Eggnog Latte

And of course, there is the tried-and-true Holiday Blend Coffee, a seasonal offering, made of 100% arabica beans, that includes a blend of high-quality coffee beans with herbal and sweet maple notes. I personally love this seasonal blend. It definitely has that overtone of cinnamon that makes it a perfect staying-indoors winter brew.



Whatever you choose to drink—enjoy! But whatever you do, don’t miss the magic of the color-changing cups. We all could use a little magic in our lives. Happy winter holidays!

 

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