A higher specific heat is generally better for cooling an object via contact.
Specific heat refers to the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount. It is the measure of a substance's ability to store heat energy. When you are cooling an object via contact, you want the cooling medium to absorb as much heat energy as possible from the object, which results in a decrease in the object's temperature.
If the cooling medium has a higher specific heat, it can absorb more heat energy per unit mass compared to a substance with a lower specific heat. This means that when the cooling medium comes into contact with the object, it can absorb more heat from the object, resulting in a more efficient cooling process.
Water, for example, has a relatively high specific heat compared to many other substances. It can absorb a significant amount of heat energy before its temperature rises significantly. This property makes water an effective cooling medium, which is why it is commonly used in cooling systems, such as radiators and heat exchangers.
So, in the context of cooling an object via contact, a higher specific heat is generally preferred as it allows for more effective heat transfer and better cooling performance.