Scorching temperatures are gripping the nation, and this week it's only going to get worse. British homes are simply not designed to cope with extreme heat, so the search for ways to stay cool has become an obsession. One claimed method, according to scientists from the University of Ottawa's School of Human Kinetic, is drinking a hot coffee or tea, which apparently encourages the body to sweat more and regulate its temperature. But when Nicola Roy, a writer at Wales Online, put that theory to the test, the result was far from refreshing.
Roy started with a steaming hot double flat white at 9.30am in an already unbearably warm flat. 'I wasn't looking forward to it,' she admitted, but in the name of journalism, she accepted the challenge. Researchers had suggested that consuming a hot drink sends a signal to the brain, prompting the body to perspire more, and that the evaporation process assists in cooling us down. Yet Roy's experience told a different story: 'The hot coffee didn't quite induce sweating, though it certainly warmed me up — far from ideal given it was already stifling hot.' By the time she finished, she was 'desperate for something that would genuinely cool me down'.
“A hot coffee made me warmer, not cooler, while an iced coffee and a portable fan proved effective during the heatwave.”
Discarding the scientists' advice, Roy opted for an iced coffee instead. She filled a glass with ice, added an espresso shot, oat milk, and stirred. 'Even from the very first sip, I immediately felt more relief from the heat than with the hot coffee. It was a far more enjoyable experience altogether,' she wrote. Holding the ice-cold glass was also comforting, something she hadn't experienced with the first option. Afterward, she felt it had refreshed her far more effectively.
Meanwhile, those seeking mechanical relief have another option. The Shark ChillPill, a premium portable fan tested by The Scotsman in 30°C heat, was found to keep the user cool. It is now on sale on Amazon for Prime Day. As the heatwave shows no signs of letting up, consumers are left to decide: hot drink, cold drink, or a powerful fan? For Roy, the answer was clear.