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Have you ever wondered if the temperature at which you brew and drink coffee really makes a difference? It definitely does! Just a few degrees too cold or hot can turn the perfect brew into a flat, lackluster cup.
In this article, we dive deep into the science behind the ideal temperatures for brewing and drinking coffee. We’ll explain how temperature impacts flavor, aroma, and enjoyment while giving you tips on maintaining your coffee at the perfect temperature for a delicious brew throughout the day.
How Hot Should I Brew My Coffee?
According to the National Coffee Association (NCA), the best temperature to brew coffee is between 195°F and 205°F (90–96ºC) [1].
The best way to achieve this temperature is to use a temperature-controlled kettle. Alternatively, you can boil some water and test the temperature with a food-grade digital thermometer.
If you don’t have a thermometer, we recommend boiling some water and leaving it to cool for 30 seconds before brewing. The 30-second pause time will usually be enough for the water to drop down to between 195°F and 205°F.
The ideal coffee brewing temperature isn’t a made-up number. There’s a lot of scientific research to back it up. For more information on the impact temperature has on coffee extraction, take a look at this article from the National Coffee Association.
What Happens if my Water is Too Cold or Too Hot?
The temperature of the water you use for brewing affects the rate of coffee bean extraction. The hotter the water, the faster the caffeine, acids, and oils in the beans are extracted. Each of these individual elements impacts your coffee’s flavor in a different way.
If your water is too hot, you risk over-extracting your coffee. This strips away a lot of the oxygen, making your coffee taste bitter.
If your water is too cool, you risk under-extracting your coffee. This can result in a lack of body and a sour taste because the oils in the beans haven’t been fully extracted.
What’s the Ideal Temperature for Drinking Coffee?
The ideal coffee-drinking temperature is between 125°F and 155°F (51–68ºC) [2]. At this temperature, the subtle flavors of coffee beans shine through.
The trick is to find the perfect balance between the warming sensation you look for in a cup of coffee and the cooler temperature necessary for enjoying coffee’s complex flavor profile.
Although this study goes against many others and claims that the brewing temperature only makes a minimal difference, it also states that the temperature at which coffee is served makes a significant difference [3].
The hottest coffees were described as “bitter” and “more roasty” than the coolest coffees. Depending on the flavor profile you’re seeking, this could be seen as a good or a bad thing.
How Temperature Impacts The Flavor of Coffee
Our taste buds experience flavors differently at different temperatures. The way we interpret sweetness and bitterness is most powerful at mid-range temperatures that aren’t too high or too low.
In general, drinking coffee that’s hotter than 140°F (60ºC) comes with few added benefits. Coffee served at 140–158°F (60–70ºC) has a more powerful aroma, but the high temperature can mask the subtle flavors of the beans.
It doesn’t work the same way for lower temperatures. Sip a coffee that's cooler than 120°F (50ºC), and you may notice it's sweeter and more acidic. You don’t have to make iced coffee or cold brew to notice the difference — let your hot cup of coffee sit for five minutes before drinking, and the changes will be evident.
Coffee’s sweetness becomes most apparent at 111°F (44ºC), and the bitterness is least noticeable at 107°F (42 ºC). The acidity is most powerful at a very cool temperature, around 77°F (32ºC).
Most people who drink coffee with creamer prefer it at around 140°F [4]. Most black coffee drinkers prefer it hotter, with an average temperature between 136°F and 151°F being preferable [5].
It's important to remember that just because studies suggest one method or is the most popular, it doesn't mean that's the way you have to drink your coffee. The best temperature for coffee is the one you enjoy.
Surprising Results: The temperature of the coffee we drink can impact how we feel about people. A study revealed that we think people are more caring and generous if we hold a cup of warm coffee compared to a cup of iced coffee [6].
Practical Tips for Maintaining Ideal Coffee Temperature
It may sound tricky to serve your coffee at the perfect temperature, but that’s actually the easy bit! The difficult part is trying to maintain your coffee at the ideal temperature for enjoyment.
Here are some of our favorite tried-and-true ways of keeping your coffee how you like it:
- Preheat Your Mug — Pour hot water into your mug first to warm it up. This way you won’t waste the heat of your coffee on warming up the mug. (If you don’t like the idea of wasting water, you can save the water used to warm your mug and use it for washing up later.)
- Use a Thermal Mug — A well-insulated coffee mug can keep your coffee hot for up to four hours. Some of the high-end ones even promise to keep it hot all day!
- Keep it in a Thermos — Keep your coffee in a thermos flask and only pour out small amounts when you want to drink it.
- Use a Cup Cover — Buy a cup cover made with insulated fabric to keep your coffee warm and protect your hands. If you don’t want to buy one, you can make an at-home version with a fuzzy scarf.
- Cover Your Cup with a Lid — Keep the heat in your coffee by using a cup with a lid or using a makeshift lid for your mug, like a coaster.
- Use a Coffee Mug Warmer — Enjoy coffee at the perfect temperature all day by investing in a digital coffee mug warmer. You can buy mug warmers with USB ports that work in your car as well as at your desk.
- Invest in a Smart Mug — A smart mug not only looks cool, but it keeps your coffee at the perfect drinking temperature all day. You can control it via an app on your phone and set the exact temperature. Smart travel mugs are available if you drink coffee on the go.
Common Mistakes in Coffee Temperature
When you’re desperate or in a rush, you may be tempted to try absolutely anything to get your precious morning coffee hot again so it's drinkable. But many of the quick and easy methods will leave you with a bitter-tasting brew destined for the kitchen sink.
Here are some of the most common mistakes when it comes to coffee temperature management and solutions that guarantee a better brew:
1. Warming your coffee in the microwave
The microwave is almost certain to overheat your coffee, making it bitter. You also increase your chances of mouth and throat burns. Reduce the heat to 50% and check your coffee every 30 seconds. There will likely still be some bitterness, but it will be minimal.
2. Pouring your coffee into a cold mug or thermos
If you drink your coffee slowly, it will most likely be cold by the time you’re halfway through if you pour it into a cold vessel. Warm up your mug or thermos by pouring in some boiling water, leaving it to sit for a few minutes, and pouring it away.
3. Brewing your coffee too hot because it will cool down later
Overheat your coffee during the brewing process, and you run the risk of burning it. The whole batch will be undrinkable and a waste of quality coffee beans. Brew it at 195°F-205°F and store it inside an insulated mug instead.
4. Keeping your coffee on a hot plate all day.
Hot plates can be a great way to keep your coffee warm—but only up to a certain point. Hot plates actively warm up coffee, which can cause it to overheat and become bitter. After your coffee has cooled down, keep it on the hot plate until it returns to your desired temperature, then remove it immediately.
5. Using an insulated French press
An insulated French press will keep your coffee warm for a while, but it will also continue to brew the grounds long after you push down on the plunger. This will lead to over-extraction. Pour your coffee into a thermos or insulated mug immediately after brewing in a French press to avoid over-extraction.
FAQs: Coffee Temperatures
1. What is the best temperature to brew coffee?
According to the National Coffee Association (NCA), the best temperature to brew coffee is between 195°F and 205°F (90–96ºC) [1].
Cooler water will give you a flat, under-extracted coffee. Hotter water will reduce the quality of the taste.
2. At what temperature should coffee be served?
Coffee is best served between 125°F and 155°F (52–68ºC). This is the optimum temperature for tasting all the subtle flavors released from the coffee beans [2].
This is cool enough so it doesn’t burn your mouth while being warm enough to maintain its heat until you’ve finished your cup.
3. Can drinking temperature affect coffee taste?
Yes, the temperature at which you drink coffee affects its taste. Drinking coffee that's higher than 155°F (68ºC) can mask the subtle flavors while drinking coffee that's cooler than 120°F (49ºC) can enhance the acidity and sweetness. The only downside to drinking cooler coffee (with the exception of iced coffee and cold brew) is that it often becomes too cold too quickly to enjoy.
4. How can I keep my coffee at the ideal temperature longer?
There are many different ways you can keep your coffee as warm or as cool as you want it to be.
Here are some of the best ways to keep your coffee hot:
- Preheat Your Mug
- Use a Thermal Mug
- Keep it in a Thermos
- Use a Cup Cover
- Cover Your Cup with a Lid
- Use a Coffee Mug Warmer
- Invest in a Smart Mug
5. Is it bad to drink coffee that's too hot?
Drinking coffee that’s hotter than 155°F can make it difficult to discern the subtle flavors of coffee beans and increase the risk of burns.
Regularly drinking very hot coffee may even cause cancer [7]. This is because very hot coffee has the potential to burn your esophagus, which, in turn, increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer.
6. What should I do if my coffee is too cold?
Reheating coffee can make it bitter, so it’s a good idea to enjoy your cold coffee as best you can.
Consider storing some milk and coffee ice cubes in your freezer so you can add them to cool coffee and transform it into iced coffee whenever you need to. Regular ice cubes will dilute it, but milk and coffee ice cubes will enhance it.
7. How do I measure my coffee's temperature accurately?
The best way to accurately measure your coffee’s temperature is to use a food-grade digital thermometer. Measure the temperature of some boiling water to confirm the thermometer’s accuracy — it should read 212°F.
When you know it’s accurate, you’ll be able to brew and enjoy your coffee at the perfect temperature every time.
8. Does the type of coffee bean affect the ideal drinking temperature?
Most coffee is brewed at the same temperature, regardless of the type of coffee bean.
However, your personal preferences may influence the temperature at which you enjoy drinking coffee made with different beans. Experiment with higher- and lower-than-usual brewing and drinking temperatures until you discover your ideal cup.
9. What is the quickest way to cool down coffee that's too hot?
The quickest way to cool down hot coffee is to pour it into a shallow dish with a large surface area. The large surface area will help it cool much faster than it will in a cup.
Alternatively, you can pour the coffee between two cups repeatedly. This helps increase the surface area by including the air around the cups while oxygenating it at the same time. This will quickly cool your coffee while maintaining its flavor.
10. Why is the brewing temperature different from the drinking temperature?
Brewing at higher temperatures (195°F-205°F) optimizes flavor extraction, but this temperature range is often too hot to drink safely. Drinking coffee at a cooler temperature (125°F-155°F) means you’re less likely to burn your mouth and more likely to enjoy the subtle flavors of the coffee beans.
References
- National Coffee Association (NCA). How to Brew Coffee.
- Fredericka Brown, Kenneth R Diller. (2008). Calculating the Optimum Temperature for Serving Hot Beverages.
- Mackenzie Batali, William D. Ristenpart, Jean-Xavier Guinard. (2020). Brew Temperature, at Fixed Brew Strength and Extraction, Has Little Impact on the Sensory Profile of Drip Brew Coffee.
- Hye-Seong Lee, Michael O'Mahony. (2006). At What Temperatures Do Consumers Like to Drink Coffee?: Mixing Methods.
- William D. Ristenpart, Andrew R. Cotter, Jean-Xavier Guinard. (2022). Impact of Beverage Temperature on Consumer Preferences for Black Coffee.
- Lawrence E. Williams, John A. Bargh. (2008). Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth.
- Farhad Islami, Paolo Boffetta, JianSong Ren, Leah Pedoeim, Dara Khatib, Farin Kamangar. (2010). High-Temperature Beverages and Foods and Esophageal Cancer Risk—A Systematic Review.
