Is it true that heating a cold brew concentrate makes it more acidic? And, most importantly, would it be tasty? Why isn’t a tall hot cold brew coffee a standard order at Starbucks if it’s as good as the iced version?
Table Of Contents
−- What is cold brew?
- Hot cold brew coffee vs. Hot brew coffee
- Can you reheat cold brew coffee?
- What happens when cold brew coffee is heated?
- The advantages of heating cold brew coffee
- The drawbacks of making hot cold brew
- Will it taste different?
- Is heated cold brew coffee more acidic?
- What is the most effective way to heat it?
- What you shouldn’t do when heating cold brew
- Is it possible to order a hot-cold brew at Starbucks (or a cafè)?
- Conclusion
Let us explore this.
What is cold brew?
Cold brew coffee is a distinct style of smooth, adaptable coffee gaining popularity for a good reason. It is usually produced in concentrated form, which allows for maximum versatility without compromising its strong taste. The term “cold brew” refers to the method used to make this coffee. To bring out the taste of the coffee beans, they are steeped in cold water rather than heating up the water.
Using cold water instead of heating the water takes longer (typically 12 to 18 hours), but it soaks up all of the flavors the beans have to give. Coldwater also imparts bitter overtones to the bean, resulting in a smoother flavor and texture.
Hot cold brew coffee vs. Hot brew coffee
Hot, cold brew coffee tastes smoother and sweeter than hot brew coffee while being less acidic. If you favor the powerful flavor and harsh tang of hot brew coffee, even hot cold brew coffee may be too mild for you.
Hot cold brew coffee has less caffeine than hot brew coffee; however, the amount varies on the origin of the beans and how they are roasted. However, since hot cold brew coffee is first made with cold water, it will produce coffee with a lower caffeine level than regular hot brew coffee. This is because brewing coffee in hot water extracts more caffeine from the beans than cold brewing.
Compared to the standard technique of making coffee, hot-cold brew coffee often includes more water than coffee, which influences the caffeine concentration.
If you are short on time in the morning, hot-cold brew coffee is a faster and more convenient option than hot brew coffee. This is because you make a large quantity of cold brew coffee. This may then be used throughout the week to produce a warm cup of hot-cold brew coffee in as little as the time to boil some water, which is faster than brewing hot brewed coffee every morning, which involves a few more steps.
Read our full article: Cold brew vs Iced coffee
Can you reheat cold brew coffee?
Simple answer, yes.
Cold brewing is a technique of brewing coffee that requires soaking ground beans in cold or room temperature water rather than boiling water. In the same way that a cup of hot-brewed coffee may be served iced, a cold brew may be warmed up and served hot. As a result, you may heat cold brew coffee and consume it hot.
Using the cold coffee brewing technique to make your cup of joe has its benefits. The extraction procedure takes longer, but the end product is smooth, rich, and delectable.
It’s simple to produce a batch of cold brew, and if you keep the concentrate in an airtight container, you may use it for up to two weeks.
This is a wonderful set-it-and-forget-it brewing method for newbies since it’s difficult to mess up and produces consistent results batch after batch.
Now that we’ve cleared things up, let’s look at how to reheat up cold brew coffee properly.
What happens when cold brew coffee is heated?
Heating your cold brew coffee will only cause a few chemical component composition modifications; nothing to worry about.
Although there are over thirty different kinds of acids in a cup of coffee, only two of them are active when you heat your cold brew: quinic acid and chlorogenic acid.
When these acids are heated, their compositions gradually change, resulting in what is usually referred to as a “sour” taste.
The other acids are unaffected by the heating process and contribute to our favorite cups’ boldness and rounded tastes.
- Fast food restaurants
- At the airport
- A hotel breakfast
These establishments would often produce a huge quantity of coffee and leave it sitting on a hot burner for hours.
The benefit of a big, slow-burning batch is that you won’t have to wait more than two seconds for your coffee. The disadvantage is that it is not fresh and may have an acidic or sour flavor.
The advantages of heating cold brew coffee
If you’re in a hurry in the morning, using cold brew concentrate for hot coffee is a quick way to get your caffeine fix. You may produce a batch of cold brew at home over the weekend and add hot water as needed.
Because cold brew is more concentrated than hot brewed coffee, adding hot water does not dilute the coffee.
The drawbacks of making hot cold brew
To be honest, cold brew fans do have some reservations about drinking it hot.
Heat, they claim, accelerates the deterioration of cold brew by increasing the oxidation of coffee components. In most cases, you can store a pot of cold brew in the fridge for up to two weeks, and it will still taste great.
Another reason to avoid heating cold brew is that it alters its flavor, making it harsher. In the end, it is up to you to assess the benefits and drawbacks.
Will it taste different?
Certain chemical processes may somewhat affect the flavor and quality of coffee when it is warmed or reheated. When heat is added to coffee, the chemicals in the coffee react with oxygen, causing the taste to degrade more rapidly. Because of the unique technique of making cold brews, cold water reduces the oxidation of molecules inside the coffee. Even if you heat your cold brew, the “aging” process takes far longer than it does for hot-brewed coffee. There may be a minor difference in flavor, but it will be less obvious than reheating hot-brewed coffee.
Is heated cold brew coffee more acidic?
When it pertains to acidity, cold brew coffee is commonly thought to be less acidic than hot brew coffee. I’ve seen publications that indicate cold brew coffee is up to 65 percent less acidic than ordinary coffee. The acidity of coffee varies according to the kind of coffee beans used. According to this 2018 scientific report, there isn’t a significant variation in the pH values of hot and cold brew coffee.
Here’s if boiling cold brew coffee will make it more acidic:
The acidity of cold brew coffee would not be considerably affected if it was warmed up by diluting its concentration with hot water.
However, if you heat the coffee on the stove or in the microwave, there is a little more likelihood of increased acidity.
What is the most effective way to heat it?
You may dilute your concentrate as normal and heat it in the microwave or on the stove as usual. I would stick to utilizing a low-heat setting on the stove. Make sure you don’t keep it there for too long, or it will lose its taste. You could alternatively boil your concentrate and then dilute it with water, but this would ruin the flavor of your coffee, so I don’t suggest it.
Here’s the best technique to heat cold brew coffee:
- Heat water to a boil in an electric kettle or a pot on the stove.
- When the water begins to boil, turn off the heat source.
- Get your cup and pre-heat it by pouring some hot water into it and discarding it.
- Pour the cold brew concentrate into the warmed cup.
- Add hot water to the concentration to dilute it.
Warm milk may also be used to dilute the concentration. I like to warm up my cold brew with hot water before adding a dash of milk.
What you shouldn’t do when heating cold brew
1. Never heat concentrate in an electric kettle!
This is due to the cold brew concentrating on the coils used by most electric kettles during the heating process. Cleaning these coils may be time-consuming, and the remaining concentration might taint the water you heat up afterward. A good rule of thumb is always to heat concentrate with pre-mixed water and never use an electric kettle to heat anything other than water.
2. Never, ever microwave your cold brew!
The water and cold brew concentrate must blend precisely, which you cannot do if you combine the components and heat them in a microwave. Don’t waste perfectly fine cold brew on a terrible experience unless you’re willing to spend the time to properly heat the water, which will take at least a couple of minutes owing to the uneven heating abilities of a regular microwave.
Is it possible to order a hot-cold brew at Starbucks (or a cafè)?
To each of their own, and for those individuals who prefer a cup of smooth, hot, cold-brewed coffee, you might get a barista rolling their eyes when you request that your cold brew coffee be served warm.
With all the Starbucks secret menu list that they make for everyone, there’s no doubt you can order a hot cold brew.
Conclusion
You now know that you can have a hot-cold brew coffee and that diluting the concentrate with hot water is the best method to heat it.
You can make a huge amount that will last for two weeks, keep it in an airtight container, and have hot and iced coffee ready in no time.
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Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
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