Hot or Iced Coffee: Which One is Better?

As our favorite, coveted beverage, fresh coffee secretes the most amazing aroma when brewed. You can consume coffee in many different mixtures, flavors, and forms, beginning with either hot or iced coffee, and taking it from there. Of course, it is safe to assume that hot coffee is best when the weather or your location is a little less than warm, and iced coffee is meant for the hotter, summer time months. However, the question arises: which form of coffee works faster, and which one is better for you when it comes to hot or iced coffee? We are on to something here at Koffee Kult. 

As far as caffeine content goes, we have figured out that caffeine content remains the same as coffee cools, whether the cup of coffee is sitting out and cooling or if it is poured over a cup of ice. The only way to lose caffeine in a cup of fresh coffee is if the liquid was exposed to extreme heat, such as a boiling point. Your cup of coffee could also lose caffeine if extreme cooling occurred. The only difference in caffeine is due to the mass of the cup. In a 12-ounce cup of hot coffee, you are getting 12 full ounces of drink if you consume the entire cup. In a 12-ounce cup of iced coffee, you are getting much less than 12 ounces of coffee, because the ice takes up space. Less coffee means less caffeine. 

When it comes to iced coffee, there are a couple of different ways to produce your brew. One of the most beneficial ways to milk your coffee beans is through the cold brew process. With this method, your coffee is never hot. Cold water mixed with your grounds allow the coffee to steep without heat. Iced coffee is beneficial in the sense of cold brew because it is actually better on your stomach. When coffee beans are heated, they release acidic oils. When using the cold brew process, the acid levels in the steeped coffee are lower than the ones present in hot coffee. More alkalinity in the coffee aids in your digestive process, which can explain why your stomach acts differently when you drink hot coffee versus cold brew iced coffee. In this case, when considering hot or iced coffee, the iced coffee is better. 

Although many avid coffee drinkers prefer their fresh coffee to be hot, iced coffee has not only grown in popularity, but has also grown in taste on our tongues. The question of hot of iced coffee and which one is better is difficult to conclude, considering the choice is truly all in personal preference. However, it is deemed to be true that when it comes to iced coffee, Koffee Kult agrees that cold brew is the better choice for your stomach and your taste buds.