Time vs. Temperature
 

I always use a mug infuser for my teas, and when I infuse
tea that requires something below the boiling point for the
water, I start with boiling water in the mug and then wait
for a fixed amount of time for the cooling to occur. I
had been estimating this, but recently I did a rather
careful measurement of it, pre-heating a good, accurate
thermometer to the boiling point and then holding the
bottom of it in the center of the mug to get good readings.

Starting with a thick-walled 12 oz. mug at room temperature,
here's the data:

Immediately after pouring - 202 F (heat going into mug, etc.)
1 minute - 190 F
2 minutes - 179 F
3 minutes - 172 F
4 minutes - 167 F
5 minutes - 163 F
6 minutes - 160 F


Randy

This is why I bought a thermal carafe two weeks ago...

Even at the 5th infusion, when drinking Oolong, the water is as hot as
it was on the 1st infusion. A cheap way to get a better oolong
experience!

Beno=EEt

RJP wrote:
> I always use a mug infuser for my teas, and when I infuse
> tea that requires something below the boiling point for the
> water, I start with boiling water in the mug and then wait
> for a fixed amount of time for the cooling to occur. I
> had been estimating this, but recently I did a rather
> careful measurement of it, pre-heating a good, accurate
> thermometer to the boiling point and then holding the
> bottom of it in the center of the mug to get good readings.
>
> Starting with a thick-walled 12 oz. mug at room temperature,
> here's the data:
>
> Immediately after pouring - 202 F (heat going into mug, etc.)
> 1 minute - 190 F
> 2 minutes - 179 F
> 3 minutes - 172 F
> 4 minutes - 167 F
> 5 minutes - 163 F
> 6 minutes - 160 F
>=20
>=20
> Randy

This is why I bought a thermal carafe two weeks ago...

Even at the 5th infusion, when drinking Oolong, the water is as hot as
it was on the 1st infusion. A cheap way to get a better oolong
experience!

Beno=EEt

RJP wrote:
> I always use a mug infuser for my teas, and when I infuse
> tea that requires something below the boiling point for the
> water, I start with boiling water in the mug and then wait
> for a fixed amount of time for the cooling to occur. I
> had been estimating this, but recently I did a rather
> careful measurement of it, pre-heating a good, accurate
> thermometer to the boiling point and then holding the
> bottom of it in the center of the mug to get good readings.
>
> Starting with a thick-walled 12 oz. mug at room temperature,
> here's the data:
>
> Immediately after pouring - 202 F (heat going into mug, etc.)
> 1 minute - 190 F
> 2 minutes - 179 F
> 3 minutes - 172 F
> 4 minutes - 167 F
> 5 minutes - 163 F
> 6 minutes - 160 F
>=20
>=20
> Randy

Excellent data for those who don't want to use a thermometer :).

Thanks.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

"RJP" > wrote in message
...
> I always use a mug infuser for my teas, and when I infuse
> tea that requires something below the boiling point for the
> water, I start with boiling water in the mug and then wait
> for a fixed amount of time for the cooling to occur. I
> had been estimating this, but recently I did a rather
> careful measurement of it, pre-heating a good, accurate
> thermometer to the boiling point and then holding the
> bottom of it in the center of the mug to get good readings.
>
> Starting with a thick-walled 12 oz. mug at room temperature,
> here's the data:
>
> Immediately after pouring - 202 F (heat going into mug, etc.)
> 1 minute - 190 F
> 2 minutes - 179 F
> 3 minutes - 172 F
> 4 minutes - 167 F
> 5 minutes - 163 F
> 6 minutes - 160 F
>
>
> Randy

>Excellent data for those who don't want to use a thermometer :).
>

But somebody else's mug may cool at a different rate. No? Different size,
wall thickness, ambient temp...

Just causing trouble.

Joe

Joseph Kubera wrote:
> Bluesea wrote:
> >
> > Excellent data for those who don't want to use a thermometer :).
> >
>
> But somebody else's mug may cool at a different rate. No? Different size,
> wall thickness, ambient temp...
> Just causing trouble.

Well, sure, if you are worried about a degree or two. But I would expect
that most 12 oz. mugs and reasonable ambient temperatures would yield very
similar results. I would, however, expect 6 oz. cups or teapots to be
quite different and require a new set of measurements.

Also of note - my thermometer reads a much cooler temperature (over 10F cooler)
when it is allowed to rest on the bottom of the mug. I suppose this stands
to reason, but it is a warning to those who use thermometers that most of the
water may be significantly hotter than the thermometer reading if you just
dump the thermometer in the mug and let it rest there.


Randy

"Joseph Kubera" > wrote in message
...
> >Excellent data for those who don't want to use a thermometer :).
>
> But somebody else's mug may cool at a different rate. No? Different
size,
> wall thickness, ambient temp...

Yes, of course, but for those who don't use a thermometer, it gives them an
idea about what's going on. After all, he did specify that his is a 12 oz
thick-walled mug - very different from a 10 oz bone china mug or 8 oz glass
coffee...er, excuse me!...tea cup.

> Just causing trouble.

Yeah, yeah ;).

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.