Ideal temperature for drinking coffee

What is the optimum water temperature for making coffee?

The role of the barista is often broad and complex. They need to know what to focus their energy on, what to learn and how to learn it. Aproperly tuned espresso is essential! The key is to know what flavour you want to achieve, to make the coffee a little more than just a drink. If you burn your tongue on the first sip, it's a clear sign of poorly brewed coffee. And with a burnt tongue, even the fritters won't know what they taste like.

Too low a water temperature results in insufficient extraction, hence a weak taste with sour notes. According to professional baristas, water around 90°C is needed to release all the desired substances. This is the temperature that the water should be at when it comes into contact with the coffee bean. The freshly brewed coffee itself should be around 84 to 87°C in the cup .

Of course, it depends on the method of preparation and the coarseness of the grind. Since thetemperature of the water affects what ingredients are released into the water, setting the temperature is the first step to enjoying your favourite coffee.

And how does filtered coffee do with temperature?

One of the differences between espresso and filter coffee is temperature. You can tell if the flavour profile is chocolatey, nutty or more fruity in espresso at first sip. Whereas with filter coffee, the sweetness develops as it cools and theflavour profile becomes more pronounced.

If you have an adjustable temperature kettle at home, the ideal temperature for filter coffee is 90 - 93°C. If not, it's a good idea to turn off the kettle just before the boiling point so that the taste of the coffee you're looking forward to doesn't burn. After prolonged extraction, the coffee loses its aroma, flavour and character. And nobody wants to drink bitter coffee. If you don't know how to make filter coffee at home, you can check out our article How to make filter coffee.

Even cold coffee can be great!

We don't always feel like hot coffee. What if your kettle has just died, the water in the pot doesn't want to boil, but you just need coffee? There's a simple answer. Theubiquitous Cold Brew. You'll find this coffee wonder in coffee shops, especially in the summer. Served on ice, it tastes great!

If you're not in the mood for café company, don't worry! Cold Brew can easily be prepared in your own home.

The right milk temperature for a cappuccino

The million-dollar question. I say this because the ideal temperature of milk in combination with coffee is a matter of dispute between many coffee shops and their customers. Theespresso is set, the milk is whisked in such a way that the barista finally gets that long-awaited swan in the cappuccino, and he goes to take that perfectly brewed coffee to the table with a great feeling when the feedback comes back "but that's lukewarm".

Consider that milk, like everything you can burn. So when you ask the barista to make your cappuccino hot, you're actually asking him to bring you burnt coffee. Just like the right water temperature, the temperature of the milk affects the taste of the coffee.

Why does coffee milk need to be the right temperature?

Casein is the main protein found in milk. Along with sugar, they are the main key to creating a tasty, creamy and perfectly glossy froth. During the whisking process, the sugars in the milk are also released. Thus, when you reach the optimum temperature of 60°C, the sugars break down into their sweetest form. The ideal first step for those who want to start drinking coffee without sugar.

Milk reduces the taste and texture at 70°C. If the milk is heated too much, the sugars are lost and the protein is reduced. Thus, you will no longer be able to create the perfect micro-foam. So if you're a fan of "extra hot coffee,"try taking advice from us coffee lovers and enjoy your cappuccino or caffé latte the way it should be served temperature-wise.

How to drink coffee properly?

You all know the saying 100 people, 100 tastes. For me, coffee has an exception to this. Because if you really want to enjoy your coffee, don't even think about sugar or milk.

Dive into the flavor profiles

My favourite coffee shop game "know your flavour profile" or cupping is something I enjoy every morning. When my boss finally brings me that anticipated morning kick, I recognize all the flavors and aromas by both smell and taste. To really enjoy your coffee, it's a good idea to limit your consumption of overly salty and spicy foods. I'm still trying.

Cupping, or cup tasting, is a method by which we can evaluate the taste, aroma and quality of coffee. To some people, coffee just tastes like coffee. But cupping can convince you of how beautifully different all coffees taste.

How to drink espresso properly?

As we've already said, the most important thing is to add neither sugar nor milk. Since all the sweet and fruity notes settle at the bottom of the cup, try stirring the espresso with a spoon before drinking it. Drink the espresso as quickly as possible so it doesn't get cold. The flavours change with temperature and the espresso will become bitter after a long time.

When tasting, we assess acidity, body balance and overall impression. We also assess 3 other factors:

Aroma - what we pick up with our nose.
Taste - what we feel on the tongue alone
Aromas - what we can smell with our nose and tongue

If you're not exactly a pro and want to look for the flavour profile just for curiosity's sake, try putting a spoonful of coffee to your lips and sucking the espresso into your mouth so that it spreads across your tongue and palate. What's important is the taste you feel in the first second and the aftertaste you feel at the end. In a properly adjusted espresso, you should taste sweetness with slightly bitter notes and acidity or tartness.