Cold brew coffee has quickly become one of the most popular brewing methods in recent years, primarily due to the rise in the popularity of iced coffee drinks. It’s now sold in mainstream shops, and many people have started to drink it at home instead of Americanos. But can you heat up cold brew coffee?
Hot cold brew coffee certainly sounds odd! But, you can heat cold brew coffee in several ways. Heated cold brew coffee adds a new dimension to your regular coffee and eliminates the unpleasant bitter taste that cold brew can bring.
When heated, cold brew coffee also comes with several unexpected benefits. These benefits could change how you make your coffee, so be sure to check them out below!
What is cold brew?
Cold brew coffee is very commonly mistaken for iced coffee. But it’s an entirely different thing! Iced coffee is prepared by serving hot coffee over ice cubes. Meanwhile, cold brew is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold or room-temperature water for an extended period. Usually, it takes from 12 to 24 hours to infuse.
It has quite a concentrated flavor, but not as concentrated as espresso. Cold brew can be mixed with cold water and sometimes a few ice cubes. This method gives an acidic and bitter-tasting drink.
Here’s how you can make cold brew at home:
1. Get your coffee ready. Freshly ground beans will always work best as they produce more flavor.
2. Pour cold water over the ground coffee. A ratio of 8:1 should result in a balanced brew but feel free to adjust it according to your flavor preferences.
3. Leave to steep overnight or for 24 hours.
4. Strain the coffee grounds. You can use a coffee filter or even a French Press if you have one.
Following these steps, you will get a batch of cold brew concentrate. Then, when you want to make a cold brew coffee, add milk or water to it and enjoy a nice drink. You can store your cold brew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Cold brew is inexpensive and easy to make. Try brewing a small batch to begin with until you achieve your preferred intensity and flavor. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the coffee to water ratio to find what works best for you.
A heated cold brew coffee can be seen as defying its purpose in the eyes of coffee snobs. But when served hot, it can bring out different flavor nuances that were not noticeable in cold coffee. Hot cold brew can be delightful, especially in the cold season, when you’ll want a hot coffee more than a cold one. So don’t be afraid to experiment and try it out for yourself!
How do you warm up cold brew coffee?
You can heat cold brew coffee in several ways. The method you select depends on your taste preference, time, and resources available.
Heat up cold brew on the stove
To heat cold brew coffee on the stove, you need a kettle, a small saucepan, and a cup.
Start by measuring just under half a cup of cold brew concentrate. Next, pour the cold brew into the saucepan and warm over low heat.
While you are doing this, put a kettle to heat water. When the water has boiled, and the cold brew is hot, pour the cold brew and boiling water into a cup. Stir to make sure the water and coffee are mixed well.
The stove is an excellent heat source to warm your cold brew because it is convenient and will heat the coffee evenly and consistently. But if heating on a stove is not an option for you, here are some other methods to make your coffee warm.
Dilute it with hot water
Cold brew concentrate can be quite strong, and you probably won’t want a whole cup for a regular coffee. So, a great way to weaken a cold brew and heat it simultaneously is to dilute it with hot water. It’s the most straightforward method for heating up your cold brew.
Fill half of your mug with cold brew, and then add boiling water. Adding hot water will help to dilute the acidity of cold brew, leaving you with a hot cup of coffee and virtually no mess to clear up.
Dilute coffee with warm milk
If you are a fan of latte coffee and you want to sweeten and enhance the flavor of your cold brew coffee even further, you can try adding warm milk. Heating cold brew with milk will give your coffee a creamy and balanced taste.
To prepare coffee using this method, you’ll first need to warm your milk. Add half a cup of milk to a saucepan and put it on a stove over low heat. Whole milk will work best for cold brews due to its richness and creamy texture. This heating process will also give you great control over temperature but ensure it doesn’t reach boiling point.
Fill your mug half with cold brew and half with warm milk for a great coffee drink full of flavor.
Microwave your cold brew
This heating method is incredibly convenient and great if you are in a rush. Start by pouring half a cup of cold brew concentrate into a mug. Next, fill the mug with water or milk, depending on your preference. Then, microwave until hot. This method may take around 2-4 minutes, depending on the power of your microwave.
If you want a hot coffee in the morning without spending much time, then the microwave method is perfect for you. However, you’ll have no control over the precise temperature, so you might end up with a lukewarm or overheated cold brew rather than a perfect cup of coffee. Nevertheless, it’s a great option if you’re short on time.
What happens when you heat cold brew coffee?
Heating cold-brewed coffee will change the chemical components of the coffee. But what does it mean, and why does it occur?
When you heat your cold brew, chemicals in the coffee react with the oxygen more quickly because heat promotes speed in particles. It means that the flavor of the coffee is broken down faster. It is great for cold brew lovers because steeping actually slows the flavor breakdown of the coffee and the hot water ultimately helps speed it up.
Cold brew has considerably slower coffee aging than other coffees prepared with hot water, meaning it will keep its flavor for longer.
Heating cold brew does relatively little else. For instance, the chlorogenic acid composition stays the same, and no other chemical reactions occur. So all you need to know is that heating cold brew enhances coffee flavor, making it enjoyable to drink.
There have been some recent studies conducted on the chemistry of cold brew coffee. They showed that cold brew coffee has a very different acidity from regular coffee. It may also be that cold brew contains more antioxidants than regular coffee.
Benefits of heating cold brew coffee
Heating up cold brew coffee has various benefits that can make this brewing method more attractive. Firstly, cold brew is a lot more versatile. For example, if you don’t want iced coffee in the winter, you don’t have to waste your cold brew, and you can heat cold brew coffee for a warm cup of joe.
The second benefit of heating cold brew is that it keeps low caffeine content. Many are attracted to cold brew as an alternative to iced Americano because it contains less caffeine. So, give hot cold brew coffee a try if you keep an eye on caffeine intake.
Another benefit is that you won’t water your coffee down. If you like your coffee strong, then hot cold brew coffee may be perfect for you. You don’t have to water it down with boiling water to warm it up; simply heat the concentrate. This makes hot cold brew coffee perfect for those who need a serious caffeine fix.
Finally, cold brew will keep its subtle and sweet taste when heated. It means you can have a hot cup of sweet coffee without syrups or sugar. It is an excellent option for your health without compromising on flavor. Who knew a little heat could make the best coffee for you?
Is heated cold brew coffee more acidic?
It has been confirmed that cold brew has lower acid content than traditionally prepared coffee, so some people prefer it over iced coffee. But would heating cause a rise in acid content? Well, no, it won’t. Changing the temperature of a cold brew will not affect its acid profile for many reasons:
- The temperature change is reversible, meaning nothing will be added or taken away in the process.
- The acid content of a cold brew is determined when you make it, not when you heat it.
- The acidity of cold brew is partially determined by the ratio of coffee grounds to water: the more coffee grounds, the more body, and therefore, the acidity it will have.
If you are worried about the acid content of your hot cold brew, then focus your efforts on the production stage of your coffee.
So should you try heating up cold brew coffee? Yes! Cold brew is overall an excellent way to have your coffee. It has less caffeine low acidity profile, and you can prepare a larger batch at once.
Cold brew is amazingly versatile too, and you can have it in its concentrated form, which will be fragrant and slightly bitter. Or, you can have it with ice for a more subtle flavor.
Finally, cold brew is very enjoyable hot! Warming it up will change the taste of your coffee, and you may find that one cup isn’t enough to satisfy your taste buds!
