Why are we able to sip hot tea or milk faster from a saucer rather than a cup?

We can sip hot tea or milk faster from a saucer than a cup primarily due to the increased surface area exposed to the air. When a hot liquid is in a cup, the surface area is relatively small. Heat loss occurs mainly through convection (movement of heated air) and radiation (emission of infrared radiation). However, when the same liquid is poured into a saucer, the surface area significantly increases. This larger surface area allows for much faster heat loss through evaporation and convection. The increased evaporation causes a cooling effect, making the liquid cooler and therefore safer to sip more rapidly without burning the mouth. The wider, shallower shape of the saucer also allows for more efficient cooling through air circulation compared to the more contained environment of a cup.