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I'm an ex-barista and this is why you need to stop ordering 'extra hot' coffees

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It's really just about science

the smeg emc02 mini pro manual espresso machine in jade green
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
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Before I was a journalist, I was a Starbucks barista. I also worked at the U.K. chain Costa Coffee, and an independent artisanal coffee shop (which definitely taught me the most about the art of coffee).

Now, I'm a home barista and a professional espresso machine tester — I've tested everything from the famous Breville espresso makers, to De'Longhi, to Smeg/La Pavoni, for the best espresso machines guide. While they're not the same as commercial espresso machines, they're just as fun.

Coffee is a science

As much as coffee can be a creative hobby (inventing new drinks, making dragons out of latte art), it's just as much of a science as cooking or baking.

After all, coffee is just modern-day alchemy, right?

Espresso needs to be extracted between 195°F and 205°F (91°C to 96°C). If you're making an 'extra hot' black coffee, this means you should top up the espresso with 212°F water. Right?

Wrong.

Espresso is extracted at these temperatures because coffee burns at boiling. So if you're making Americanos with boiling water, you're setting yourself up for a bitter, unpleasant drink.

the smeg EMC02 Mini Pro manual espresso machine in action, extracting espresso and steaming milk

(Image credit: Erin Bashford / Tom's Guide)

It's not just espresso that can't be heated over 205°F. Milk shouldn't be heated above about 155-158°F. The general rule of thumb is that if you can't comfortably touch the milk jug any more, the milk's too hot.

If you heat milk above this temperature, it will scald. Do you know what baby formula milk tastes like? Or rice pudding? Scalded milk tastes like that. It's gross.

Extra hot coffee either a) doesn't exist (water cannot be heated over boiling, and too-hot espresso will taste bitter), or b) shouldn't exist (milk tastes nasty hotter than 158°F).

(If you're curious about the beautiful espresso machine in this imagery, it's the near-perfect Smeg Mini Pro.)

What should I order instead?

If you've got the chef's "asbestos hands" but in your mouth, you'll probably want your coffee a little hotter than standard.

While it's true that if you want the best-tasting coffee, you shouldn't heat it above a certain level, but I understand you want coffee that suits your tastes. Or, in this case, temperature.

So next time you go to a cafe, don't ask for an "extra hot latte." Ask the barista to heat up your cup beforehand, or buy yourself an insulated mug that will keep your coffee hotter for longer. I love my Yeti Rambler 14oz mug; it keeps my Americanos hot for hours. In the summer, it also keeps my iced lattes iced for the same amount of time!

Yeti Rambler 14oz travel mug
Yeti Rambler 14oz travel mug: $30 at Amazon

I use my Yeti Rambler travel mug every time I leave the house. Going to the library? Yeti Rambler. Going to a cafe? Yeti Rambler, put my drink in the cup, thank you. Going on a day trip? Yeti Rambler. It's so easy to clean (dishwasher safe!) and looks aesthetic.

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Erin Bashford
Erin Bashford
Senior Writer, Reviews

Erin Bashford is a senior writer at Tom's Guide, focusing on reviews. She has a Masters in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of East Anglia. As an ex-barista, she knows her way around a coffee machine, and as a music lover, she's constantly chipping away at her dream of having a multi-room home sound system. In her spare time you can find her reading, practising yoga, writing, or stressing over today’s NYT Games.

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