Can You Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee? – Tested and Answered!
The question “Can you heat up cold brew coffee” will definitely come to mind when you have some cold brew in the refrigerator but want a hot coffee drink instead.
Well, the short answer is yes, you can heat up cold brew coffee.
In this blog post, I will share some of the best ways to heat up cold brew and reasons to do so.
On top of that, you will also get Caffeine Dojo’s Cold Brew Recipe to prepare you for the summer!
Disclosure
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At a glance: Can You Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee
What Is Cold Brew Coffee
Cold Brew coffee is a type of coffee prepared by steeping coarsely ground coffee in room temperature water (occasionally cold water) over 12 to 24 hours depending on your preference.
This cold extraction method will typically yield coffee that has a smooth, rich, and full-bodied mouthfeel. On top of that, cold brew coffees have an overall lower bitterness and acidity in comparison to coffees made with hot water. Using specialty coffee with fruity flavor profiles makes Cold Brew coffee an excellent treat.
The best part is that you can brew a batch of cold brew and store them in the refrigerator for a week.
These traits are exactly the reason why cold brews have such a strong loyal fan base. Furthermore, cold brews are best to highlight the subtle bright acidity from the coffee beans and are excellent bases for coffee mocktails or cocktails!
Cold Brew And Iced Coffee: A Confusion
Cold Brew Coffee and Iced Coffee are often confused with one another simply because both are black coffees and are served cold.
The difference between Cold Brew and Iced Coffee lies in the brewing method.
As we all know by now, cold brew uses a cold extraction method by steeping coarse coffee grounds in ambient temperature water over an extended period of time. Iced coffee on the other hand is prepared by brewing hot coffee and then chilling it with ice.
Flavor-wise, the cold brew is comparatively smoother and does not have a hint of bitterness. Since Iced Coffee uses hot brew coffee as a base, the addition of ice will typically retain the intense bold flavors or at times mellow it slightly.
Lastly, Iced Coffee can be prepared quickly and immediately upon demand just like most coffee beverages. Conversely, cold brews take a minimum of 12 hours of steeping time to fully extract the flavors from the coffee grounds. Any lesser, the coffee will taste like a sour mess.
Barista tip: Besides Cold Brew Coffee and Iced Coffee, do not confuse them with Aeropress Iced Coffee too. All of these coffees have very different flavor profiles!
So, Can You Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee?
Well yes, you can heat up cold brew coffee if you prefer your coffee to be warm.
Since cold brews are usually kept in the refrigerator, you can grab some and heat them up right away if you do not feel like having a cold drink.
It is unconventional but a very convenient way to have a hot cold brew coffee!
This leads us to the next section where I will introduce you to 4 ways to heat up cold brew coffee.
4 Ways To Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee
Heating up cold brew can be done in various ways. Here we are exploring 4 of the best ways to warm up your cold brew.
1. Stove Top
The simplest and most basic way of heating up your cold brew coffee is by heating it up over your stovetop.
To do this, portion out the cold brew you want into a pot and heat it over low temperature.
Be careful not to overheat and boil your cold brew as this will destroy most of the aroma and flavor compounds present in the coffee.
2. Microwave
Using the microwave is another quick alternative to heat up your cold brew.
Pour your cold brew into a microwave-safe cup and leave it in the microwave to heat up the cold brew coffee.
Again, the microwave may overheat your cold brew coffee rapidly which will leave you with a hot and flat-tasting cold brew.
Therefore, I’d recommend microwaving the coffee for 30 seconds for the best results.
3. Hot Water (For Cold Brew Concentrate Only)
Cold brew aficionados usually prepare their cold brew coffees in two ways; ready-to-drink and concentrate.
In this context, cold brew concentrates are thick, rich, and intense and are usually prepared with a lower water-to-coffee grounds ratio. Before serving, these cold brew concentrates will be diluted with water and ice.
In this case, you can swap the water and ice with hot water instead to add to the cold brew concentrate if you want to have your cold brew hot and toasty.
4. Steam Wand
If you own an espresso machine, this method is for you.
The steam wand you often use to steam and texture milk works pretty well to heat up your cold-brew coffee too!
Simply pour the cold brew into a pitcher and heat it up with the steam wand until the desired temperature and you are good to go.
However, be wary that the hot steam from the steam wand may condense into water and dilute the cold brew. That said, the amount of condensing water is minimal and will not water down your coffee too much.
Reasons To Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee
Many people would argue that cold brew should be enjoyed in its cold chilly form. But I am here to tell you that you should enjoy all coffee the way you like it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Here are 5 reasons why people heat up cold brew coffee.
Convenient & Time-Saving
Heating up cold brew coffee is an extremely convenient way to have hot coffee. Instead of having to brew a fresh new cup of hot coffee, one can simply heat up the cold brews which are already lying around in the fridge.
Avoid Dilution
When steeped in highly acidic coffee beans, the cold brews may sometimes taste a tad bit too sour for our palates. Hence, the intuitive solution is to add hot water.
However, in doing so, you will dilute the cold brew too much resulting in a watery-tasting coffee.
So instead of just throwing them away, an alternative way to enjoy the cold brew is heating it up. As the temperature increases, our perception of sourness will also decrease.
Cost Effective
If you are on a budget, hot cold brews are a comparatively more cost-effective way of having coffee.
This is because you can prepare a batch of cold-brew concentrate which will last you for over a week. With just a fraction of cold brew concentrate, you can dilute it with water (hot or cold) to make yourself a great-tasting coffee.
After reading this, will you still spend 10 dollars for a cold brew next time?
Hot Drink For A Cold Day
When winter arrives and you still have a stockpile of cold brew in your refrigerator, no sane person would want an icy cold coffee.
In this case, heating up the cold brew coffee is perfect for this scenario. On top of that, you can also add hot milk to the hot cold brew concentrate to make a toasty cold brew latte!
Personal Preference
Nothing more, nothing less. Enjoying a hot cup of cold brew may just be someone else’s way of enjoying the coffee. After all, each of us has our own personal preferences.
Remember, there is no universal rule set in stone on how coffee should be consumed.
Will The Taste Of Cold Brew Change After Heating?
If you intend to heat up your cold brew coffee, you should know that doing so can affect its taste and flavor.
Depending on how much you heat up the cold brew coffee, you will increase the intensity and richness of the coffee. Therefore, cold brews will tend to taste stronger as you heat them up.
This is mainly because our perception of taste works best when the food and drink we are tasting are near our body temperature.
For instance, a can of Coca-Cola tastes cloyingly sweet when it’s at room temperature.
Similarly with cold brew, having it icy cold will mask a lot of the acidity and bitterness of the cold brew coffee. Although, it is not highly acidic or bitter, to begin with.
On the other hand, if you heat up the cold brew too hot, you will not be able to taste the flavors of the naturally occurring acids extracted from the coffee beans. Furthermore, the high temperatures will degrade the acidic compound present in the cold brew.
Making Cold Brew At Home
This blog post will not be complete without sharing my personal favorite way to make a delicious cold brew for the summer!
Step-By-Step Guide To Making Cold Brew At Home
Step-By-Step Guide To Making Coffee With Evaporated Milk
1. Pour the coffee grounds into a clean mason jar.
2. Fill up the mason jar with water. If you have a different size of a mason jar, simply adjust the ratio of water to coffee grounds.
3. Give your coffee slurry a few gentle stirs to make sure all of the coffee grounds are saturated in water.
Caution! Be mindful not to over-stir the mixture as this will promote the over-extraction of flavors.
4. Cover the jar and let the mixture steep in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours depending on your preference. The longer the steeping process the more intense the cold brew.
5. After reaching the desired steeping time, strain the coffee mixture through a fine mesh strainer.
6. You can now bottle up your freshly made cold brew coffee!
If you are passionate about crafting your own cold brew at home, the Toddy Cold Brew Maker is the perfect brewing gear for you.
This all-in-one cold brewer consists of a brewing container, a filter bag, a mesh filter, and a lid to keep your cold brew contaminant-free during the brewing process.
With this, you can make your cold-brew hassle and mess-free!
Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a all-in-one hassle free device that allows you to make your very own cold brew at home.
It is simple to use and easy to clean. No complains!
FAQ On Heating Up Cold Brew Coffee
Does heating up cold brew coffee make it acidic?
Contrary to popular belief, heating up your cold brew does not add increased acidity to your coffee as backed by research. Instead, the excess heat will degrade the acidic compounds which will in turn increase the perception of the bitter flavor compounds. This is why most of the bright and crisp flavors of the cold brew are lost when subjected to high heat.
Why is cold brew coffee better?
Cold brew coffee is better than regular coffee mainly because it is smoother and it highlights the bright acidity of the coffee beans. This stems from the fact that the brewing process uses low-temperature waters for the extraction of flavors. Hence, bitter compounds are less prone to be extracted from coffee grounds.
Is cold brew stronger than coffee?
In general, cold brews are stronger than regular coffee due to their higher caffeine content. This is because cold brews are usually prepared as a concentrate. For reference, cold brew concentrates use a brew ratio of 8:1 ratio of water to coffee grounds while drip coffees typically use a 16:1 brew ratio.
Closing Notes
I hope this comprehensive post on “can you heat up cold brew coffee” answers all your doubts. A hot cold brew does taste as good as a regular cold brew.
Seriously, if you have some cold brew lying around and it’s already wintertime, it is the perfect time to heat it up for a quick coffee fix. The last hot cold brew that I’ve made with an Ethiopian coffee from a microlot still leaves my taste buds yearning for more!
It’s simple, it’s quick and it’s convenient!
If you find this piece of article informational, please do share it with your fellow friends. baristas and home brewers!
Happy brewing!
