Can you put hot coffee in a Hydro Flask water bottle?

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Whether you’re planning to go for a long walk or a hike with friends, or whether you’re simply heading to work, it’s likely you’ll want to take plenty of water with you one day and perhaps coffee the next.  

The sale of flasks and travel mugs of all kinds has risen, in part due to the world’s rising concern over climate change and people’s desire to be more mindful of wastage. Bar a slight dip in sales during the Covid-19 pandemic, the American market for flasks is expected to grow from $4.75 billion in 2021 to $6.5 billion in 2028.  So, chances are, you have heard about or already own a Hydro Flask water bottle.  

And one common question is:  Can you put hot coffee in a Hydro Flask WATER bottle?  The good news is yes!  Yes, you can put hot coffee in a Hydro flask water bottle but let us also tell you what else you can put in your drink bottle and how it’s possible that a water bottle can also be used for hot liquids.  Not forgetting how to properly clean and take care of your bottle.

Hydro flask water bottle construction

Hydro flask water bottles are built with durable 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel construction, which prevents the flask from retaining or transferring flavor.  This is also the reason stainless steel coffee makers are recommended for making coffee.  

 ‘18/8 pro-grade stainless steel’ refers to the specific composition of the steel. In this case, Hydro Flask water bottles are 18% chromium and 8% nickel.  This material makes it particularly resistant to corrosion and oxidation. 

So, if you were worried about your water tasting like the last drink you had in your flask, there’s no need to.

can you put hot coffee in a hydro flask water bottle?

What type of drinks can I put in a Hydro flask water bottle?

The beauty of the Hydro Flask water bottle is that you can put any drinks in them, so take a look at the following for ideas.

HOT LIQUIDS:

  • Hot milk
  • Tea
  • Coffee
  • Hot chocolate
  • Broths
  • Soups (not chunky soups) 

COLD LIQUIDS:

  • Iced or fruit tea
    Water
  • Lemonade
  • Smoothie
  • Fruit juice
  • Protein shakes 
what to put in hydro flask water bottle

Hydro flask water bottle tips

Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when using not only a Hydro flask water bottle but other similar bottles:

  1. Do not put carbonated or fizzy liquids into the bottle.  This could cause it to explode.
  2. Preheat your bottle with boiling water for a few minutes before using it for hot drinks.  This prevents heat been drawn from your coffee and into the wall of the flask.
  3. Preheat your bottle with ice cold water especially if the weather is hot as this will cool the interior of the flask, keeping it colder for longer.
  4. If your water bottle is stained you can try soaking it in a mixture of 50/50 white vinegar and water leaving it overnight for best results.  Or if you prefer, you can use Bottle Bright bottle cleaning tablets which only take 15 – 30 minutes to rid your flask of stains.

How long does coffee stay hot in a Hydro flask bottle?

Hydro Flask state that hot liquids stay hot for approximately 12 hours.  However the following factors may result in coffee getting cooler quicker:

  • If you are saving your hot coffee for later in the day, and you are not opening and closing the flask a lot during that time, it is of course likely to stay hotter for longer as you won’t be letting cooler air come into contact with the coffee.
  • It also depends on the quantity of your drink. More liquid = longer insulation as there will be less air inside the flask itself.

Hydro Flasks are fitted with TempShield double-wall vacuum insulation which aims to eliminate condensation and keep your drink hotter for longer. On the flip side, if you’re in the mood for an iced coffee rather than a hot coffee, this same double-wall vacuum insulation will keep any cold beverages cool for up to 24 hours. 

Related article:

7 Things of What to Look for When Buying Coffee

Is the Hydro Flask bottle leak-proof?

Yes, the Hydro flask water bottle is leak-proof.  This particular Hydro Flask water bottle comes with what’s known as a ‘flex cap’. This cap is a simple, screw-on cap with a handle attached for easy transportation. Unlike many other bottles, the Hydro Flask flex cap twists into the bottle rather than around the lip. This makes it much more difficult for any liquid to leak through as the inner twist motion creates a relatively air-tight atmosphere inside the bottle.

There are also other alternative caps that you can purchase separately. This includes the ‘flex straw cap’ which features a pop-up straw nozzle on top of the lid, making it easier to drink from when you are on the move at a fast pace.

can you put hot coffee in a hydro flask water bottle?

What do I do if the Hydro Flask changes the taste of my coffee?

If you haven’t cleaned your Hydro Flask bottle properly, or you’ve left it out for a while before cleaning, the bottle may naturally carry some of the taste when you next use it. Luckily, there are three easy steps to undertake in order to get rid of that taste: 

1. Salt

Wash the bottle with hot, salty water – Fill the Hydro Flask up about three quarters of the way with hot (not boiling) water, and add about 2-3 teaspoons of table salt. Salt water is a fantastic, easy-to-make sterilizer. Put the cap on and shake the bottle for a couple of minutes. Not only will this decontaminate the inside of your Hydro Flask, it will also loosen any coffee stains that may be residing in there, thus also removing some of the taste.

2. Baking soda

Wash the bottle with baking soda and water – Baking soda has always been an effective option when it comes to removing any and all types of stains. Make sure you always have some in your cupboard at home just in case! Like above, we’re going to mix it with hot water. Add about one cup of baking soda to your Hydro Flask and fill about three quarters full with the water. Again, put the lid on and shake for a couple of minutes. Alternatively, give it a mix and leave it to stand for approximately 15 minutes. This method will remove much tougher stains and smells.

how to clean hydro flask water bottle

3. Toothpaste

Clean the cap and rim with toothpaste – Because our mouth is in constant contact with the cap and/or rim of the Hydro Flask, it can pick up smells and tastes (and indeed bacteria) very easily. This is why it’s so important to give it a thorough clean. This method is simple: Take a spare toothbrush, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and scrub the cap and rim of your Hydro Flask bottle before giving it a good rinse.

If you have a flex straw cap instead of a screw-on cap, you will need to take a different cleaning approach. Take the cap fully off and remove the straw from the red seal before removing the red seal itself. Clean all the pieces separately, using any of the three methods above, and then reassemble the cap in the opposite order you disassembled it in.

All three of these steps can be undertaken one after the other if you have particularly stiff stains and smells occurring. 

FAQs:

Can you put hot coffee in a Hydro Flask water bottle?

As mentioned above, yes, you can put hot coffee in a Hydro Flask water bottle.  Due to it’s stainless steel construction, it keeps hot drinks hot for around 12 hours. 

How durable is the Hydro Flask bottle?

The durable 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel construction of the Hydro Flask means it ranks very highly in the durability category. Stainless steel is more durable than aluminum, plastic or glass bottles. Aluminum can dent quite easily when dropped, as can plastic. As for glass… you are of course already at risk of it smashing if you drop a glass bottle.

Drop a stainless-steel Hydro Flask bottle and you’re very unlikely to see any dents whatsoever.

The Hydro Flask Bottle also features what they call a ‘Color Last Powder Coat’. This coating, which you see on the outside of the bottle, is designed to be slip-free. In the event that you spill some of your drink down the side, you encounter rain, or you’re sweating from your hike, the powder coat will make sure the bottle doesn’t slip from your hand. 

Additionally, all Hydro Flask products are BPA-free and Phthalate-free. These are two chemicals that are sometimes used to make plastic more durable. These are not used in the manufacturing process of Hydro Flasks.

Is the Hydro Flask bottle worth the money?

The Hydro Flask Water Bottle is a top choice if you are looking for a flask that can withstand both your hot coffee and your ice-cold water. There are cheaper options out there, but Hydro Flask does not compensate on quality.  It’s 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel material, leak-proof lid and TempShield double-walled vacuum insulation gives it the capability of lasting years if correctly looked after.

See it as an investment – an investment worth taking.

So there you have it!

So whether you’re fancying a nice big coffee, or whether you need to switch to cold drinks like juice or water, your bottle can carry it.  Can you also store other hot drinks in a Hydro Flask water bottle?  Absolutely!  Tea, hot chocolate, hot juice, anything you like. 

Any other coffee related questions?  Check these out or simply ask in the comments!