In preparing for the grinder lab blind taste split tests, it's clear that brewed coffee tastes vastly different when it's hot versus at room temperature. I've known the theory of this for a while but the reality of blind taste samples have made the contrast stark. My assumption in setting up these blind taste comparisons has been that people drink their brew hot as opposed to letting it cool to room temperature and to increase the relevancy of my comparisons I thought that it would be important to note the sample right after the pour. The reason for the poll is to find out if my assumption is correct or not. You're invited to post comments too. Thanks for your help!

Between about 50-55C for me (can be a tad cooler), room temp is too cool typically for hot brewed coffee (though some brighter coffees buck the trend, more usually in immersions).

If temperature is a concern, you could also get some Ember mugs and taste both hot and cold back to back. Expensive though. https://ember.com/products/ember-cup?variant=42039407182009

@"Emc2"#p60144 think most will its just kidolgy - there is no spoon haha

Do you prefer your brew hot or cool?

tompoland

Loonster thanks I looked at them but I managed to solve the temperature differential (between the two samples) so I have them consistently within one degree of each other for the blind tests. Whew.

tompoland

Thanks to everyone who voted so far. The more the merrier!

LMSC

I always let my Americano and filter sit on the table for about 5 mins before taking the first sip. I never measured what that temperature would be like, but it’s good for me to drink. It is not hot or cold or at room temperature.

John_Yossarian

Over the years I have noticed that if the meal had more salt in it, if it were hot the saltiness went a bit unnoticed. The same is true for sweet drinks. I have discovered that the shot “sweetness” comes through better if the temperature of the ristretto is not too high, very near ambient temperature. This might be due to the “fight” between my taste buds and the ones sensing the temperature and how they communicate with the parietal lobe.
My 2 p.

Cuprajake

I believe we can’t taste properly till temps get close to body temps. Or there about

Emc2

A few years ago at the Manchester Coffee festival, some researchers were testing this. They asked participants to identify the flavour notes in different cups. It was the same coffee at different temperatures but most participants found different flavours in the cups.

Cuprajake

Emc2 think most will its just kidolgy - there is no spoon haha

Pompeyexile

Whilst I ticked cool I mean warm. I often let my brew sit for a while and even find sometimes a good amount of time has passed before I have finished the drink. I think this stems for when I was working, I would make a hot drink forget it and be drinking it two or more hours later. But seriously, I find too hot and I lose any sense of flavour.

HarveyMushman

I agree that coffee doesn’t seem to taste its best until it’s cool enough to drink without any scalding sensation whatsoever.

A semi related story that provides me with regular light amusement;

Whenever we are at a trendy third wave coffee shop with my Father-in-law he always asks for his coffee ‘extra hot please’. I watch the barista smile and nod do absolutely nothing to make it any hotter than anyone else’s.

Father-in-law sits down and says ‘mmm good coffee’.

whinmoor85

I brew in to a server and then pour a little in the cup so it cools down quicker

tompoland

Sat down with wife for coffee and brekky.

I don’t understand why she says I’m anally retentive.

Anyone?

LMSC

tompoland anally retentive.

Example- That temp reader for your cup! IMHO, the obsessive attention to details, which might annoy those around us. I see it when my family members roll their eyes. 😂

John_Yossarian

tompoland I do not think it is the temp reader, rather the buttersoft spread is too close to the Tomato paste? 😄

Pompeyexile

What I want to know is, what is it that you have for your breakfast that requires Tomato Relish on it…a bacon butty?

tompoland

Pompeyexile just scrambled eggs with herbs and a fresh bun. No idea why the relish was on the table 😕