If you’ve been reading OMAAT for any amount of time, you probably know that I’m a coffee enthusiast. I love coffee for many reasons — I like the taste, I like that good coffee can be a work of art, I like that it helps me wake up, and more than anything, enjoying a cup…
Continue reading: Is It Gross To Drink Airplane Coffee?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Seems like I basically have the same opinion as you, Ben. I did quite enjoy trying Alaska’s new Stumptown coffee but generally airplane coffee is tolerated albeit not truly enjoyed.
Honestly, this is just more reason for airplanes to stock cold brew or canned ice coffee as one of their beverage options, as you have mentioned multiple times. Seems like that would also utilize less crew resources.
The reason I don’t drink coffee in airplanes is because I can’t find good coffee on airplanes.
Nothing to do with the water but I only drink espresso, latte or cappuccino and none of those will be good on airplanes. As for what I drink alternatively to water? Sparkling water. Yes, it is still water but it feels different. I can hold a few hours to wait for real coffee when I land.
How many often do people get sick from drinking airplane coffee? That’s what it all comes down to.
And yet it seems most commentors here don't find it gross to eat buffet-style lounge food despite the fact that if you spent even 5-10 minutes seated nearby the buffet at your average SkyClub you'd notice an abundance of potential safety concerns including people re-using plates with shared serving utensils sometimes touching said plates, people coughing in the vicinity of the food, etc etc.
Also keep in mind these are actual safety concerns, as opposed to boiled water...
Water is safe. Check out the explanation by an actual airline maintenance engineer.
https://youtu.be/P2nuoPGm5n8?si=t09y7qCk1mKuIZiG
I agree with what you said. I find very little airplane coffee good, though I think I had a good cup on SW once, and some of the Asian airlines put an effort into their coffee choices. I fly Delta, mostly, and they serve Staryucks, both in the lounges, and onboard. I just cannot do it. It is aweful! If I can hold out for a local coffee spot when I arrive, that is what I do.
I usually get the biggest water bottle at the departing airport possible and just get a coffee when arriving either from the Selecta coffee machines at European airports or cafes.
On a side note, AA has been very proactive with their pre-departure beverages, even on CRJ Eagle flights from Tyler to Dallas.
Search Engine did a full investigation on this. In short, don't stress on it. https://www.audacy.com/national/music/is-it-safe-to-drink-airplane-coffee-listen-now
When I flew in Australia about 12 years ago, they wouldn't let me board with coffee. Have other people experienced this?
I've thought...how costly/difficult is it to load a few extra water bottles and use that instead of tank water? United could make a splash saying they have their Illy onboard coffee brewed with bottled water vs gross tank water. I'm not an Illy fan but its still miles ahead of AA's freshbrew which I won't even touch.
Plane tanks are probably in better shape than whatever's going on in the water pipes under my house. In any case it's hot water too
I love coffee but not when flying because I am usually burned out and need to rest. And no, decaf is not an option for me. However, there are always exceptions to the rules and I have to admit that QR serves an excellent cappuccino! I think Ben has showcased one in a previous trip report and that may explain, at least partially l, why he doesn't sleep much on planes
Airline coffee is usually very poor in taste. Flights are about the only time that I will drink hot tea.
I get a take-away coffee when leaving the Qantas lounge and there’s never a problem with taking it onboard.
I often see the flight attendants drinking the coffee, so I'm not too worried about drinking it, too.
As I see people drive around at 75 mph staring at their phones, going out and eating disgusting drive-thru food every day, sitting around for hours at a time doomscrolling, vaping, taking edibles made by god knows who, binge drinking alcohol, carrying around handguns like we're in the Wild West, any number of modern vices or habits, the potential of getting sick from trace amounts of airplane water tank contamination just doesn't rise to the level of alarm for me.
But that's just me.
If I wake up, and tank water coffee is in front of me, oh yes. But I might also drink puddle water at that point. We do what needs must.
This topic has been flogged to death because Ben has posted it over and over, with only minor variations on the theme.
It's those who are not regularly exposed to a wide variety of bacteria and viruses who have health problems. The immune system works best when continuously challenged. Personally when I hear of a new cold/flu going round, my first thought is how can I get that added to my memory T cell repertoire - the natural way !
As you should be. People frequently refill the water tank using the same mug they used to down their coffee, etc etc.
Hot coffee is considered a hazard but generally if there's a lid on it the crews will look the other way.
On some flights in Australia at least, I've seen the coffees made with bottled water so there's that. It's not particularly difficult to do so. Tip water in kettle, boil water.
But then I remembered kettles aren't really a thing in the US.
I got food poisoning on AA F TATL when AA cooked "eggs to order" (unimaginable in this century). If you have not contacted COVID in the terminal or dysentery from the lavs, this is the least of your worries.
Sometimes just the smell of fresh brewed coffee makes a believer out of me that it’s brewed under the best conditions.
everything you said is true
I'm not a scientist or good at science either. You don't need to be to know when the water is heated, the bacteria is killed off.
this is so not an issue just bored social media people trying to make catchy content...
I enjoy my airplane coffee, I ask for one a half hour before we land. FA always happy to accommodate.
enjoy life ! YOLO
It may be a little extreme to call juice from concentrate "disgusting," but then I grew up on it in Minnesota 40 years ago.
I do not drink tea or coffee on planes anymore after I read a similar article from a flight attendant 10 years ago.
As far I recall the water out of the tanks is not really boiled hot and long enough to eradicate all the bacteria from the tank water.
I rather drink a coffee at the airport or I buy one to take with me on the plane. Otherwise I omit any beverages that are not bottled while being on the plane.
If the tanks were that bad then we would have more stories of people being sick
To add some more information:
Proof from experts (in German) that a plane's coffee machine will *not* be sufficient to kill microorganisms in the water: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/detail/news/news/show/kontamination-des-trinkwassers-in-flugzeugen/
Oh, and if you want to check on the plane you are flying: The US carriers need to log their maintenance on the water tanks.
https://sdwis.epa.gov/ords/arcs/f?p=130:109
Best airplane coffee I've had is hands down Vietnam Airlines Vietnamese Iced coffee!
Better taste and quality it seemed like, than any Starbucks branch
Everything, from the bottled water you drink all the way to the surface of your eyeballs that are looking at this comment right now is covered with microorganisms. We have evolved in this environment. The idea that someone would not drink airplane coffee out of a fear of "bacteria" makes me sad about the state of science education.
As an airline employee, I can tell you that the water used to make coffee/etc on planes is filthy. I’ve seen the empty water tanks covered with green slime that are reused over and over again.
I’m an airline employee. It’s true, the tanks are disgusting and covered with green slime. You won’t see flight crews drinking it.
Airport Ops for 2 major airlines (contracted, so I work for more than one). I work in several areas from ticketing, gates/boarding, aircraft turn around/cleaning, jet bridge operator, BSO, etc.
I've spent decades in the restaurant and brewing industries. Knowing that the same health and safety rules apply to airline catering, including water tanks on planes, tells me that most people drinking airplane coffee are drinking coffee that's cleaner than what they're drinking at home.
If you drink coffee at home, ask yourself when you last cleaned (vs rinsed) the reservoir on your coffee maker. If you don't have a schedule for it, just shut up about airplane coffee.
That makes no sense. The water for the plane comes from a hose that is attached to the same water as provided to the faucets in the terminal. There are no “tanks” of water anywhere.
@Ben
I hate to break it to you but cappuccinos use water as well. Made properly steam (which would probably kill most germs) is pressed through the beans, then steam is used to heat and froth the milk, then espresso and milk is combined.
Most airlines don't actually have an espresso maker, nor milk steamer onboard, so it is just an instant coffee product where hot water is added to powder.
But either way, your cappuccino does not save you from tank water on an aircraft.
I flew for 37 years with the major airline. Drank the coffee, no issues. The tanks are overfilled, and flushed with potable water. They are constantly being overfilled and flushed, the water is fine. The coffee makers bring the water to a boil, further sanitizing the clean water.