For many years, McDonald’s coffee was significantly hotter than the coffee served at most other restaurants. This made McDonald’s coffee a target for lawsuits, as people claimed that the coffee was too hot and caused them to suffer burns. In response to these lawsuits, McDonald’s has changed the temperature of their coffee so that it is now closer to the average temperature of coffee served at other restaurants. This change has helped to reduce the number of lawsuits McDonald’s faces, but some coffee drinkers still find the coffee to be too hot.
In 1992, an elderly woman suffered third-degree burns when she spilled coffee on her lap. It was heated to 190 degrees Fahrenheit at one point, making it extremely dangerous. Although McDonald’s has previously been sued for the hot coffee burn, two new lawsuits have recently been filed. McDonald’s used a manual from their operator that recommended storing coffee at temperatures ranging from 180F to 190F. According to one study, a hot drink should be consumed at a temperature of 136 degrees Fahrenheit. McDonald’s is facing two hot coffee spill lawsuits in Bexar County, Texas. The chain is being held liable for failing to properly handle hot materials as it delivered to customers. In two separate lawsuits, each of the plaintiff seeks $250,000 in damages, while the other seeks $1 million. According to both lawsuits, loosely fitting lids are to blame for spills.
You don’t have to be concerned because it isn’t as loud. According to Butch Wagner, McDonald’s keeps their hot coffee hot because hot coffee will stay fresh longer.
According to CAOC, McDonald’s used an operator’s manual that instructed them to keep the coffee at temperatures ranging from 180 degrees Fahrenheit to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
Other types of coffee are sold at much lower temperatures, and the temperature of the coffee served at home ranges between 135 and 140 degrees. Furthermore, McDonald’s quality assurance manager stated that the company actively enforces the requirement that coffee be held at 185 degrees, plus or minus five degrees.
She claims that because her coffee was so hot – reaching 190 degrees Fahrenheit, near boiling point – she nearly died, and she needed to undergo extensive surgery to treat the third-degree burns on her legs and genitals. McDonald’s apparently knew this was an issue.
What Temperature Does Mcdonalds Serve Coffee?
McDonalds serves coffee at a temperature of 180 degrees. This is hot enough to extract the maximum flavor from the coffee beans, but not so hot that it will scald your tongue.
The National Coffee Association of the USA recently released a new report saying that coffee should be served at 180F (5C) rather than lower than usual brew temperatures. In this report, the authors acknowledge that short-term exposure to liquids at temperatures above 155F can cause significant scald burns, but they argue that the benefits of coffee consumption, such as its ability to improve energy and cognitive function, outweigh these risks. Coffee companies are currently under scrutiny over their practices around serving temperature, and the report’s release coincides with this. Many large companies in the food and beverage industries have come under fire in recent years for serving coffee at extremely low temperatures, resulting in scald burns. Coffee consumption poses serious risks, but there are numerous benefits to drinking coffee, such as improving cognitive function and increasing energy levels. This report serves as a reminder to businesses that serving coffee at the proper temperature not only keeps their customers safe, but also helps them grow.
Mcdonald Hot Coffee Case Analysis

In 1994, Stella Liebeck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was in a McDonald’s drive-through lane when she spilled a cup of coffee on her lap. The coffee was so hot that it caused third-degree burns on Liebeck’s thighs, buttocks, and groin. She was hospitalized for eight days and underwent skin grafting. Liebeck sued McDonald’s, claiming that the company was negligent in serving coffee that was too hot. McDonald’s argued that Liebeck was responsible for the accident because she was the one who spilled the coffee. A jury sided with Liebeck and awarded her $2.86 million in damages. The judge later reduced the award to $640,000. McDonald’s appealed the decision, but the parties eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. The McDonald’s hot coffee case is one of the most famous product liability cases in U.S. history. It highlights the importance of product safety and the role of the courts in protecting consumers.
Mcdonald’s Coffee Lawsuit Payout

Liebeck was awarded $200,000 in compensatory damages, which were reduced to $160,000 because the jury found she was at fault, and $2.7 million in punitive damages, which were reduced to $200,000 because McDonald was found to have acted recklessly. McDonald’s revenue from coffee alone is expected to exceed $13 million per day (to put it another way, coffee accounts for approximately 27% of the chain’s overall revenue).
Stella Liebeck, 79, was severely burned after spilling hot coffee on herself in 2010. Liebeck was negligent and breach of the McDonald’s warranty in his lawsuit. Her jury awarded her $3.06 million in damages, but the amount was reduced to $640,000 after a hearing. In the wake of the case, there was a national debate about whether coffee at such high temperatures should be served. A woman decided to file a lawsuit after another incident occurred at a drive-in. Defective products are frequently linked to personal injuries, and product liability is a type of legal claim. If you need more information about your legal options, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.
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Hot Coffee Spill Lawsuits
Hot coffee lawsuits are nothing new, with a woman sueing McDonald’s in 1992 over burns she sustained when she spilled coffee on herself. Stella Liebeck was awarded nearly $3 million in punitive damages in that case, according to Consumer Attorneys of California.
Liebeck, 79, was in the passenger seat of her grandson’s vehicle when it was stopped at a McDonald’s in Albuquerque. Her body received second- and third-degree burns after she spilled coffee on her lap. Liebeck claims a $2.7 million jury award is the result of her lawsuit. There have been a number of scandals involving the fast-food industry. The plaintiff was awarded compensation after being diagnosed with a skin condition that required extensive skin grafts and surgery. The jury initially awarded Jennifer Liebeck a punitive award of $2 million, which was thought to be equivalent to two days of coffee sales. As a result, they reduced the amount to $160,000, owing to her causing the spill.
Later, the amount was reduced to around $650,000, with a further reduction made. Nonetheless, according to the juror, the initial award did not go unnoticed, but rather drew everyone’s attention. Since then, people have filed lawsuits against Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, Continental Airlines, and other companies for their alleged hot coffee. There was no monetary motive for me to take part in the project. Liebeck admitted to being involved because he wanted the temperature to fall.
What You Need To Know About The Mcdonald’s Hot Coffee Case
If you have been seriously burned as a result of a hot liquid, it is a serious issue and you should consult an attorney. A lawsuit will be based on whether or not the defendant was negligent in the scalding injury. Stella Liebeck, 79, drank a cup of takeout coffee and spilled it on her lap at an Albuquerque McDonald’s drive-through in 1992. Her attorneys filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s, which resulted in a jury awarding her nearly $3 million in punitive damages. Is coffee hot? McDonald’s was found to be 80 percent at fault in the case by the jury. Liebeck was awarded $200,000 in compensatory damages, and $2.7 million (equivalent to $5,000,000 in 2021) in punitive damages, which equals two days of McDonald’s coffee sales. As a result, you can learn about the McDonald’s hot coffee case. Liebeck was wearing cotton sweatpants, which they absorbed, held against her skin, and burned her thighs, buttocks, and groin. The coffee was heated to 190 degrees Fahrenheit in between pressurizations.
Hot Coffee Case Story
In 1994, Stella Liebeck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was in the passenger seat of her grandson’s car when she was severely burned by a cup of coffee from McDonald’s. Liebeck had purchased the coffee from the drive-through window of a local McDonald’s and was holding the cup between her knees while her grandson drove. The coffee spilled on Liebeck’s lap, causing third-degree burns on her thighs, groin, and buttocks. Liebeck was hospitalized for eight days and underwent skin grafting. She sued McDonald’s, claiming that the coffee was too hot and that the company had failed to warn customers of the risk of injury. A jury awarded Liebeck $2.86 million in damages, which was later reduced to $640,000 on appeal. The case drew national attention and sparked a debate about whether Liebeck was entitled to such a large award. Some people argue that the jury’s award was excessive, while others maintain that McDonald’s was at fault for serving coffee that was too hot.
Stella Liebeck, 79, spilled her coffee on the hood of her grandson’s car while she was waiting in line at McDonald’s. Her inner thighs, genitals, and buttocks were the most severely burned, with nearly a third of her body experiencing third-degree burns. She required skin grafts as a result of the high temperatures of the coffee. Stella Liebeck was one of hundreds of people who were burned after drinking McDonald’s coffee. Stella attempted to negotiate with McDonald’s for $20,000 and $15,000 to assist her with medical expenses. McDonald’s is being sued by a woman who claims that the chain sold coffee that was “unreasonably dangerous.” Customers who were burned after being served heated coffee between 180 and 190 degrees were not the only ones to complain. Stella died on August 5, 2004, after suffering from depression and no quality of life following the trial. Since the verdict was announced in 1994, several lawsuits have been filed against the coffee vendor.
