Does Cold Brew Offer the Same Health Benefits?
Cold brew coffee is all the rage these days. It is a favorite among younger coffee drinkers looking to change things up from what their parents and grandparents did. And in the summer, nothing is quite as refreshing as a delicious cup of cold brew.
Two questions we want to pose in this post are as follows: does cold brew offer the same benefits as hot brew coffee? And if not, is it worth skipping the cold brew in order to get the maximum benefit from hot coffee?
Cold Brew Basics
Let us start with some basics before we get to answering the questions. First and foremost, cold brew is not the same thing as iced coffee. Iced coffee is brewed hot. It is then chilled in the refrigerator or poured directly into a cup and chilled with ice cubes.
Cold brew is brewed with cold or room temperature water. Brewing typically takes 12 to 14 hours and results in a less acidic coffee with a more balanced flavor.
The Health Benefits Question
Moving on to the health benefits of coffee, studies have already established that drinking moderate amounts of hot coffee may reduce the risk of a number of diseases including heart disease, liver disease, and type II diabetes. Researchers think the benefits are primarily derived from antioxidants and caffeine.
A recently released study shows that cold brew does not contain the same volume of antioxidants. In fact, the difference can be as much as 50% in some cases. Caffeine content in cold brew is also not as high. Why? Because caffeine is soluble in water. You extract more caffeine with hot water than you do using cold water.
The study suggests that the health benefits of cold brew should be fewer because both antioxidants and caffeine occur at lower volumes. However, bear in mind the study did not track cold brew drinkers and their health. All it did was measure acid, antioxidant, and caffeine levels.
What to Do with It
Let us close this post by discussing whether or not you should forgo cold brew. In short, it is entirely up to you. Bear in mind that all of the studies demonstrating the health benefits of coffee are epidemiological studies. In other words, they show links between coffee consumption and reduced risk for certain diseases. But links do not establish causation.
If you are sold on the health benefits of coffee to the extent that you want to maximize every cup, foregoing cold brew might be in your best interests. But if you enjoy the balanced, less acidic taste of cold brew enough to settle for fewer antioxidants and less caffeine, keep drinking it.
Here at Galaxie Coffee, we have both. We are more than happy to stock your break room in any way you like. We carry traditional hot brewed coffees, cold brews, teas, juices, and bottled water. Feel free to check out the Products section of our website to see our complete inventory.