Why Is Cold Coffee So Bad – 4 Main Reasons

Here’s the biggest reason why cold coffee tastes so bad:

Once it loses its heat, the lactones in the liquid turn into chlorogenic and carboxylic acids. These acids, together with the oxidization process, impact the flavor of the coffee causing it to taste bitter and unpleasant.

Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg when talking about why lukewarm coffee tastes like sandpaper.

There’s a lot more to this topic, so if you’re interested in exploring it further, keep scrolling down.

4 reasons why cold coffee is so bad (#2 might surprise you)

Reason #1

It’s all about the smell

According to Science World, our sense of smell has a significant impact (as high as 80%) on how our food tastes.

Some researchers have come up with an interesting theory based on this exact principle.

They believe that a cup of java that has cooled naturally is gross simply because it doesn’t give off an amazing aroma compared to when it’s nice and hot.

Reason #2

Your mind plays tricks on you

Did you know?

When hot coffee that has cooled suddenly turns ‘bleh,’ it’s probably because it wasn’t even that flavorful in the first place.

The high temperature, together with the evaporating aromas from the beverage temporarily confuses our senses so that your drink tastes better when it’s hot.

Once it reaches room temperature, however, our senses are more alert, so we can immediately pick up on the fact that our coffee wasn’t actually great, to begin with.

Pretty fascinating, right?

I reckon this theory would make for a good hot coffee, cold coffee study for the java lovers out there who are also keen on science.

Reason #3

Oxidation plays a role

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, oxidation is a chief contributing factor to the horrible flavor of lukewarm coffee.

The process of oxidation actually begins as soon as the coffee beans are ground. So time is of the essence when it comes to preserving its freshness and quality.

The longer coffee is exposed to the air, the higher the chances of it turning stale. During this time, the pH levels also rise, contributing to its bitter taste.

That’s why it’s recommended you don’t leave your java exposed for too long – once it loses heat and turns cold, the flavor profile is dramatically altered and you’ll most likely end up tossing it down the sink.

Reason #4

Sour milk

Coffee with more milk in it is going to start tasting a bit off if you leave it out for a few hours.

This is due to the increased lactic acid content in the milk.

It increases the presence of hydrogen ions, which in turn, lowers the pH levels, thereby giving the milk a sour taste that completely spoils your coffee.

In Conclusion

Among the disadvantages of drinking cold coffee is that it simply doesn’t taste great once it’s at room temperature.

Furthermore, if it has been kept out for several hours, you may end up with an upset tummy if the milk in it has turned sour.

The bottom line is this:

Do try and drink your coffee as hot as possible.

Not only will the aroma be absolutely wonderful, but your coffee will also taste fantastic.