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Does Cold Brew or Regular Coffee Have More Caffeine?
Find out about caffeine and the different types of coffee drinks.
Published November 11, 2021
Jennie Backteman
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
A recent study has shown that human beings may be genetically predisposed to love the taste of certain beverages. One of these beverages is coffee. But why do we love it so much considering it has such a bitter taste? Many scientists believe that one of the main reasons we love drinking a cup of coffee is because of the stimulating effects that caffeine has on our brains. But what is caffeine, and is caffeine present in all of the coffee drinks we consume? Keep reading below to find out more about caffeine, the different types of coffee drinks, and whether there is more caffeine in a regular coffee or cold brew:
What are the Different Types of Coffee?
We have all been there, standing in line at our favourite coffee shop, sweating because we are not completely sure of the difference between all the types of coffee on the menu. Americano, latte, affogato; it is crazy how many different options there are available to choose from. Whether you are a coffee connoisseur, or you are a coffee newbie, here are some of the most common types of coffee you can find in a coffee shop:
- Black – this is pretty straightforward. Black coffee is simply ground coffee beans that have been mixed with hot water. This type of coffee is served warm.
- Latte – this is one of the most popular coffee drinks out there. A latte is made with a shot of espresso, steamed milk, and a small amount of foam. This drink is also served warm.
- Cappuccino – this drink is similar to a latte; however, it is made with less steamed milk and more foam.
- Americano – Americano coffee tastes similar to black coffee. A shot of espresso is added to a cup before hot water is added to dilute it.
- Espresso – this is a strong shot of coffee
- Café au Lait – This is a cup of coffee with milk added to it.
- Iced coffee – Iced coffee is a coffee served with ice. It usually has a dash of milk, cream or sweetener added to it.
- Cold brew – This is one of the most popular cold coffees out there. It is made by soaking coffee beans for anywhere between 6-36 hours. Once the beans have finished soaking, cold cream or milk is added.
- Frappuccino – This is another cold coffee drink. A Frappuccino is a blended iced coffee drink that is topped with syrup and whipped cream.
While there are lots of other types of coffee available for you to choose from in coffee shops, including Mazagran, Nitro, Affogato and Ristretto, these are the most popular types.
Choosing the Best Type of Coffee for You
Lots of people find it hard to choose the right type of coffee for them. However, here are some of our top tips to help you choose the best type of coffee for you:
- Decide whether you prefer hot or cold coffee – When finding the perfect coffee for you, the first thing you need to do is decide whether you prefer hot or cold coffee.
- Decide whether you like acidic coffee – You may be wondering is coffee acidic? The simple answer is that lots of coffees are acidic, but you can also make low acid coffee. Thanks to this you will need to decide whether you prefer acidic tasting coffee or coffee that is less acidic. If you want to know how to make less acidic coffee, it’s quite simple really. Use cold water instead of hot.
- Work out how strong you like your coffee – Coffee comes in a range of strengths. You will need to decide whether you prefer strong coffee like espresso or a weaker coffee like a latte.
Regular Coffee Vs Cold Brew: Which is the Most Popular?
Regular coffee and cold brew are both extremely popular drinks, so it is hard to work out which one of them is the most popular. In fact, it often comes down to personal preference. This is because these drinks are completely different. Here are some of the ways in which cold brew is different from regular coffee:
Cold brew has lower bitterness and lower acidity – If you are looking for a less acidic coffee, then cold brew is a great option for you. But why does brewing coffee with cold water make less acidic coffee? As you may already know, extraction happens when water dissolves and pulls things out of coffee grounds. These can be acids, sugars, particles that dissolve, oils, and other things. Different temperatures pull out different things at different speeds. Cold water reduces the number of acids pulled out of coffee beans. By using cold water instead of hot, you will reduce acid in coffee.
The flavours are completely different – As we mentioned above, oxidation happens much more slowly when you make coffee with cold water. But this is not the only thing that happens; degradation also slows down. This ultimately means less acidity and bitterness, as well as some big differences in flavour too.
Cold brew is more versatile – Hot coffee is rich and satisfying, but there is extraordinarily little you can do to change it, other than by adding flavours to it. However, cold brew coffee can be used in a variety of drinks.
Caffeine content – The caffeine content in cold brew is slightly different to the caffeine content in regular coffee. Coffee lovers should bear this in mind when deciding which drink to choose, as caffeine can have a negative impact on your health if it is consumed in large amounts.
So, which is the most popular type of coffee, cold brew or regular? There is no easy answer to this question, since it all comes down to taste. While some people prefer cold brew as this type of coffee takes the acid out of coffee, other people prefer to drink regular coffee because it contains a little bit more caffeine.
What is Caffeine?
Most of us enjoy a pick me up, such as a hot cup of tea, a freshly brewed cup of coffee or an energy drink. All of these things share a common ingredient: caffeine. But what exactly is caffeine?
Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that is usually found in coffee, tea, and cacao plants. It works by stimulating the central nervous system and the brain, preventing the onset of tiredness, and helping us to stay alert. Not only that, but caffeine can also help to reduce the risk of certain health conditions including Type 2 Diabetes and Parkinson’s. However, consuming too much caffeine can be bad for your health. So, it is important to monitor how much caffeine you are consuming in a day.
What Are the Side Effects of Drinking Too Much Caffeine?
In the past, caffeine was considered to be unsafe, particularly if large quantities were consumed. However, caffeine is no longer believed to be unhealthy. In fact, many experts believe it to be the exact opposite, as long as it is consumed in small doses.
However, although caffeine is generally considered safe, it can be habit-forming. As well as this, there have been a number of side effects linked to excessive caffeine intake, including:
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Miscarriage in pregnancy
- Insomnia
Recommended Dosages of Caffeine
The recommended daily intake for caffeine is currently four hundred milligrams. However, it is important to be aware that some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others.
Does Cold Brew or Regular Coffee Have More Caffeine?
Before we start discussing whether cold brew coffee or regular coffee has more caffeine content, it is important to bear in mind that the caffeine content in coffee is volatile. While drinks like energy drinks can confidently list the amount of caffeine included in them, coffee drinks can often vary considerably. For example, a 16-ounce cup of Arabic coffee can contain anywhere between 84 milligrams of caffeine to 580 milligrams.
Despite this, most cold brew coffees have a much lower caffeine content than regular coffee. This is because caffeine is soluble in water, and the hotter the water used to brew a cup of coffee, the more caffeine is extracted. This means that when you use hot water to make a cup of coffee, you get more caffeine out of the beans and into your cup. This suggests that hot coffee contains a higher amount of caffeine than cold brew, which is made using cold water.
However, cold brew does not always have a lower amount of caffeine than regular coffee. This is because cold brew is usually made with a larger number of coffee beans. In fact, cold brew typically takes 2 to 2.5 times more coffee beans than regular coffee. However, cold brew coffee is made as a concentrate. This type of coffee needs to be diluted with milk or water before being consumed. This reduces the amount of caffeine content in the drink, meaning it is usually lower than regular coffee.
If we take Starbucks coffee as an example, a 16-ounce cold brew from this company is believed to contain approximately 200mg of caffeine. However, a regular 16-ounce coffee from the same company is believed to include anywhere from 260 to 360 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the types of beans you choose. This is a huge difference in caffeine content.
Over 80% of the UK population choose to start their day by drinking a cup of coffee. There are many reasons for this. Not only does it warm the soul, and help to jumpstart our day, but it also helps to make us happy and gives us a much-needed energy boost. However, not all coffees are equal. Some types of coffee contain much higher levels of caffeine than others, and some have more health benefits. This makes it extremely difficult for coffee lovers to decide which type of coffee to start their day with.
While many coffee lovers choose to start their day with a regular cup of coffee, others choose to enjoy a cold brew. But which one of these types of coffee is the best? Both cold brew and regular coffee are enjoyable beverages, so it often comes down to preference when choosing which type of coffee to drink in the morning. While cold brew is a less acidic coffee, many people enjoy the taste of hot coffee too. However, the taste is not the only thing you need to consider when choosing which type of coffee to drink. You must also think about the caffeine content in both of these options, as drinking too much caffeine can be bad for your health.
About the author
Jennie Backteman
I´m a ultramarathon runner, landscape designer and a coffee lover.
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