Set the timer to 168 seconds

Online timer for 168 seconds

Your coffee is too hot, but your attention is already on breakfast, packing a bag or checking the morning forecast. A two-minute and forty-eight-second countdown gives it a brief cooling pause without making you watch the mug. Leave it somewhere stable and uncovered while you finish the task already in your hands.

That cooling pause can disappear into the clatter of dishes, an espresso machine or a radio carrying the morning news. Keep the phone close enough for its signal to be heard, especially in a busy kitchen, and raise its volume before turning back to what you were doing. A vibration alert may help when the phone is on the bench, though it can be difficult to notice through a tea towel or inside a bag.

While the coffee loses its first burst of heat, a phone usually suits someone moving between the kitchen bench and the front door. A laptop can work when you are staying at the table, but its alert is easier to miss after stepping away to rinse a cup or gather your keys. When the signal sounds, take a cautious sip; a wide mug, takeaway cup, warm room or cool Melbourne morning can all change how quickly the drink settles.