El cafe es o esta frio?
Uso ser o estar para "el café ____ frío"?
Gracias.
13 Answers
Do not use the temporary / permanent rule!
Does anyone recall this advice from out Ser/Estar Reference article.
I agree that Estar is the correct verb, but not for the temporary state reasons given.
Iced tea might serve as a better example.
If we were distinguishing iced tea from hot tea the we would use Ser as it is a classification. That CID usage for cold coffee does not apply as well. You can buy iced coffee, but no one sells cold coffee.
Cold coffee refers to a state in time. And the length of the time span is unimportant.
Molten metal, liquid metalls, solid metals take Ser as they are classifications of metals and it doesn't depend on whether the metal would change state if the temperature is allowed to alter over time.
So forget the temporary/permanent. Think CID or not.
Classification/identification/definition=CID
Some example of how switching the two changes the meaning-
La manzana está verde.
The apple is green. (condition)
La manzana es verde.
The apple is green. (essence)
What is she like? She is quiet.
Use ser: Ella es callada.
How is she acting? She is being quiet.
Use estar: Ella está callada.
Uses of ser
the hour, day, and date
place of origin
occupation
nationality
religious or political affiliation
the material something is made of
possession
relationship of one person to another
certain impersonal expressions
where an event is taking place
essential qualities
Uses of estar
geographic or physical location
state or condition
many idiomatic expressions
progressive tenses
Ser and estar (contrasting uses)
When a noun follows the verb, use ser
When an adjective follows the verb, decide between "essence" and "condition"
To tell where something is from, use ser
To tell where something is located right now, use estar
To tell where an event is taking place, use ser
Use "estar". Estar is used when something is in a temporary state.
El café está frío.
The coffee being cold is just temporary, it won´t be cold forever.
I seem to recall my Spanish teacher telling me it depends on what you are trying to say. If you are making a complaint to the water, as in 'this coffee is cold' use es. But, if you are trying to say the coffee got cold over time, as in 'We've been sitting here so long my coffee is cold!' use está. It's all context! Hope this helps.
Yes, do forget about the permanent condition, please read Lazarus¡s article about ser y estar.
The CID rule: SER is used to classify, identify, and define (CID)
The verb ESTAR is used for situations and states in time and space.
Absolutely, the answer really lies in weighing out which is most important to the meaning intended. That is one of the cool things about Spanish. It has a certain flexibility that English sometimes lacks. Ser and Estar are just one example. Don't even get me started on Por and Para LOL 
Muerte is a specific example of a word that does not appear to follow the permanent/temporary but, the truth is, it does.
I do not want to start a religious debate here by any means, but I was taught years ago that because of the influence of the Catholic church in Spanish speaking countries, death is considered a temporary condition, not a permanent one. So, with this in mind, estar does make sense.
Just my two cents
Do not use the temporary / permanent rule!
But that rule has helped me. Maybe you do not like it, or prefer not to use it, but others do...
I do not use that rule for all cases. I was using it this because we were dealing with drinks/food, and it works well here. Also that rule works well with feelings.
Another thing you cannot use it for is profession. Soy profesora. Using ser goes against the "rules". You may change your profession.
Rules do have faults, in whatever language. It is not a reason to use them.
I before E execpt after C, the two words its and it's,conjugating verbs ect.
So lets just say use estar if its a non permanent thing, except if you are dead or have a profession.
Hablando gramaticamente, es correcto usar el verbo 'estar' porque como dijo otra persona, el cafe no se va a quedar caliente. Es una condicion temporaria.
Hace frio en el café.
I do not want to start a religious debate here by any means, but I was taught years ago that because of the influence of the Catholic church in Spanish speaking countries, death is considered a temporary condition, not a permanent one. So, with this in mind, estar does make sense.
Just my two cents smile<
Make perfect sense
El cafe este frio El agua este caliente
I agree with Q here on not thinking about it in terms of temporary or permanent. You say, 'Está muerto' to say he's dead, but according to the temporary/permanent rule, you should use 'ser' instead of 'estar' but nope, you use 'estar' and I'm pretty sure being dead is a pretty permanent condition.
-Charlius-
