What is Tritan plastic?
Most of us don’t talk to plastics on a first-name basis – so why are we expected to do so now? Coffee enthusiasts will have noticed that a novel wave of brewers have hit the market in recent years, with many boasting that they are made from “Tritan plastic.” This plastic is a clear, unbreakable and BPA-free formula invented by Eastman company (a name you may recognize from its earlier days as part of Eastman-Kodak).
Tritan is considered a “copolymer” (which, no, is not a related status) and is composed of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT – no, not DMT), cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) and 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (CBDO). There is also a ‘Tritan Renew’ model available which boasts up to 50% recycled content.
Is Tritan plastic novel?
A little. Tritan plastic was invented in 2007 as an alternative to plastics containing bisphenol A (BPA), which is considered an endocrine disruptor. It is also slightly lighter than other plastics. In the food and beverage world, Tritan first came to market in water bottles —Nails AND CamelBak switched to Tritan shortly after its introduction. The Tritan trend is a bit newer in coffee.
“As the coffee industry has evolved, consumers have realized that many of the products they utilize do not have sufficient properties to withstand the heat and staining of coffee after normal utilize,” explains Austin Fullbright, market development manager at Eastman. Fullbright adds that Tritan is the “obvious choice” (get it?) for brands looking for durability, clarity and stain resistance in a BPA-free plastic.
Is Tritan a “safer” plastic?
Many of us are hesitant to prepare food or drink with plastic due to fear of chemicals that may leach into what we consume, especially when preparing foods that require high temperatures, such as coffee. Tritan aims to improve on the plastics of the past and claims to avoid potential endocrine disruptors like BPA (or its friend, bisphenol-S). It is not yet known whether this polymer will prove to be a cure for our tough situation with plastics.
How scorching can Tritan plastic safely get?
“Tritan and Tritan Renew have excellent heat resistance and can withstand temperatures up to 50°C for 264 hours without signs of degradation,” Fullbright said. He adds that Tritan plastic is very hard-wearing in the dishwasher – it can withstand over 150 washing cycles before any damage appears on the plastic.
Wait, can I quit this too?
Vivid. Fullbright promises that Tritan will withstand drops from up to 5 feet, “making it an excellent coffee drinkware material for brewers working in a variety of environments.” (You clumsy baristas know who you are.)
So what coffee equipment is currently made of Tritan? Does the coffee brewed in it taste different or better?
If you want to brew beer in a device made of Tritan material, you now have more choices than ever before Bodum French presses Down OXO Pour-Over Breweries down Tricycle (pictured at top) to recently renovated Aeropress transparent. The latter was introduced to the market, says AeroPress chief marketing officer David Cole, “for the overall more luxurious look and feel and durability of Tritan” – as well as better ability to observe the brew.
Neither Cole nor anyone Sprudge approached could detect a difference in flavor from beers made with Tritan, beyond that sweet taste of being able to throw down the beer with cheerful abandon.
