Can I Drink Cold Coffee?
Some might say cold coffee is simply undrinkable! They may be wrong though, because there are times when you may actually prefer cold coffee to hot coffee. Whether it’s because it’s a hot day, you don’t have the time to wait around for your coffee to cool down or you actually just prefer the taste cold, there are benefits and drawbacks to sipping on iced coffee.
Although cold coffee is more common as an iced beverage during the hot summer months, drinking cold coffee as a hot day no-no isn’t justified.
“It’s important to know how our taste buds differ in terms of how we process hot and cold beverages,” said Sara Haas, a registered dietitian, culinary nutritionist and the Culinary Council’s Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Our taste receptors respond differently to hot and cold liquids. Some can influence how sweet we perceive a drink to be.”
The psychological aspect behind people’s dislike of cold coffee is that it isn’t considered as enjoyable as hot coffee. Where as hot coffee can be savoured, cold coffee can be slammed back very quickly and doesn’t have the same savoring effect. Coffee connoisseurs may not be tempted by this speedy guzzling of an icy cold brew, but in some aspects, cold coffee can have more complexity of flavour than hot coffee.
It is thought that the icy drink can have more delicate masses, due to the way the beans are brewed. Cold brewing (brewing coffee without heat) extracts the coffee ingredients, such as fatty acids and chlorogenic acids, differently to conventional hot brewing, allowing for more complex flavours. Iced coffee that has been cold brewed can contain as much as 70% fewer acid as hot brewed coffee.
What to Keep in Mind When Drinking Cold Coffee
When it comes to cold coffee, there are a few things to consider to get the most out of your cold brewing experience. Primarily, don’t rely on regular coffee and sugar for your cold coffee. To give the cold brew a more intense and fresh flavor, you should utilize a different technique and ingredients.
Firstly, grind your coffee beans more coarsely than what you’d normally use for a hot brew. If ground too finely, the coffee can taste bitter and acidic. Secondly, use more ground coffee, as a lot of the flavour can be lost while cold brewing. For example, you could use 1 part ground coffee and 4 parts cold water, then soak for up to 24 hours.
Lastly, note that the flavours of cold-brewed coffee typically bring out more intensity and sweetness without the bitterness of traditional hot-brewed coffee. Cold-brewing also brings out the subtle notes that may not be present in hot-brewed coffee.
Can I Add Milk to Cold Coffee?
You certainly can. Milk tastes delicious in coffee of any temperature, and you may even find that the stability of the coffee’s flavour and acidity is enhanced even further with cold brew.
There isn’t one definite answer or ‘correct’ way for adding milk to coffee. What is certain is that the personal preference of the coffee-drinker needs to be taken into account. Some coffee-lovers may prefer creamier, denser textures over smoother, more velvety coffees. There is no rulebook and so exploring personal tastes, experimenting with your cold brew coffee and having fun with it should be the intention.
When to Opt For Cold Coffee
The decision to drink cold coffee may simply come down to preference.
If you usually drink hot coffee but are after a stunningly smooth and light flavour, perhaps cold brew is a good option for you. But if you’re someone who prefers the intense, deep flavour of your regular espresso, then cold brew might not be the best choice for you.
Cold coffee might be for you if you simply want to enjoy a refreshing drink with milder and simpler flavour. Or, if you’re looking for a way to reduce your overall acid intake. Whether drinking hot or cold, the acidity in coffee can wear down your enamel, making it important to brush your teeth before sipping on your morning brew.
Storing Cold Coffee
A great way to store cold brew concentrate is by pouring it into an airtight container, labeled with the date, and storing it in the refrigerator.
Optimally, it should be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks without significant degradation of taste or increase in bitterness, sourness or unpleasant aftertastes. There are also some cold brew coffee machines that come with a keep-warm feature and so this can come in handy for those who plan to enjoy a hot cup of coffee from the fridge.
Mixing Cold Coffee with Hot Water
Maybe drinking cold coffee isn’t quite your cup of joe. Some have started to experiment with cooling their coffee down in various ways: adding cold milk, an ice cube or even taking the sippable approach with cold brew cubes. Additionally, you can mix hot water and cold coffee. This way you get the smooth and light characteristics of cold coffee, but still benefit from the intense flavour that comes with hot coffee.
All these different ways to enjoy your daily cup of joe truly demonstrate the subjective nature of food and drinks. For some, cold coffee might just be a summertime treat, and for others, it may just become your new daily brew.
Brew Strength
When brewing cold coffee, two main types of coffee beans are used: regular and robusta. Regular beans are typically used for a light and sweet flavour, while robusta coffee beans are used for a more intense coffee.
Additionally, cold brew coffee is often brewed for an extended period of time. Therefore, stronger concentrations are required, resulting in a more concentrated, intense coffee. When this intense coffee is mixed with hot water, you get a sweeter, yet more intense cup of coffee.
Health Benefits of Cold Coffee
When hot coffee meets ice and milk, the process of cold brewing can result in a creamier and less acidic drink than traditional hot coffee, due to the more laboured brewing process.
In addition, unlike traditional iced coffee, cold brew has all of the same nutritional benefits as hot coffee, as the brewing temperatures of cold coffee do not reach high enough temperatures to kill caffeine, antioxidants or acids. Some believe that unroasted beans are healthier because they are retain a higher level of antioxidants and are naturally low in acid. Therefore, cold brew coffee may offer an enemy to the sensation of an “acid stomach”, which some coffee drinkers experience.
Conclusion
Cold coffee has become increasingly popular amongst coffee-lovers, as it often serves up a lighter and creamier taste than traditional hot coffee. Cold brewing also enables coffee-drinkers to unlock and explore more complex flavour. There are also several health benefits for cold coffee drinkers, as cold coffee has the same health benefits as hot coffee, but with added creaminess, acidity control and fewer calories.
