Perfect temperature to brew coffee

What temperature should you brew coffee at?

Baristas, coffee connoisseurs and even researchers that the perfect brewing temperature of water should be between 195 F (91 C) and 205 F (96 C). The closer to 205 F (96 C) it gets, the better.

The exact temperature is contingent upon temperature of coffee beans or coffee grounds used in brewing.

• The perfect brewing temperature is on a lower end of the range (closer to 195 F degrees), if beans or grounds are kept at a room temperature.
• Conversely, the perfect brewing temperature is on a higher end of the range (closer to 205 F degrees), if beans or grounds are frozen.

These temperature guidelines apply to all types of coffee makers (like drip brewers, single serve coffee makers, espresso machines, French presses and percolators.

However, the same temperature rules may not always apply to coffee machines that use aluminium cups, such as k-cup compatible coffee makers. Keurig, for instance, declares that the temperature of the water inside their brewers is 192 degrees F, which, according to them, is the optimal temperature for brewing k-cup, coffee, tea and hot cocoa.

What happens if coffee is not brewed at perfect temperature?

Why is perfect brewing temperature for coffee important?

Each time I put ground coffee in my coffee machine, I begin a process known as ‘infusion.’ When I brew coffee, I allow water to extract flavor compounds, solids and oils from coffee grounds or coffee beans.

Typically, we use hot water for brewing coffee because of the following:

1. Better flavor: flavor compounds and oils in the coffee grounds dilute more easily in hot water. When they permeate water, they yield richer, deeper and more tasteful flavors.
2. Faster infusion: coffee grounds or beans require a specific period of time to extract properly. This period of time varies by the temperature of water. Coffee extraction takes 2-4 minutes with near boiling water. On the other hand, coffee extraction takes anywhere between 3 to 24 hours with cold water.

Of course, complete extraction is impossible, but some brewing methods give better results than others

Coffee extraction: best infusion methods?

There are two ways in which infusion can occur: through percolation and through maceration.

Why do some coffee makers not reach perfect brewing temperature?

How do coffee machines heat the water? Well, all electric coffee machines have some sort of water heater or a heating element.

• A boiler 🏆 – THE BEST IN CLASS

A boiler has proved to be the best heating element in espresso machines. Though boilers can be made of stainless steel, copper and aluminium, a boiler made of brass is considered to be the best. It delivers most consistent results in terms of temperature.

The boiler heats the water inside the tank. Some wait might be necessary, but the boiler keeps water at an optimal temperature and is ready to use at any point. The boiler looks like a metal container and has a heating element inside it.

Some high-end espresso machines have dual boilers, one for brewing and one for steaming milk. This reduces the waiting time between brewing and steaming, and some machines like this can even brew and steam in the same time.

• A thermocoil

A thermocoil is similar to the thermoblock, but has a few advantages. Just like thermoblock, the thermocoil runs water through a tube-like pathway that heats water on demand. However, the advantage with a thermocoil is that here the pathway is coiled through a solid block of aluminium (which removes the danger of leaking). Encased in the same aluminium piece with the water tube, there is also a coiled heating element.

The thermocoil offers better temperature stability than the thermoblock, which results in espresso shots of a better quality.

• A thermoblock

A thermoblock is similar to a thermocoil, but comes with a few disadvantages. The thermoblock is what cheaper espresso machines typically come with. A thermoblock has two aluminium blocks lined with teflon on the inside. Water goes through a pathway inside the two thermoblock halves and gets heated on demand as it passes though.

The thermoblock is not the most reliable heater and it is known to be inconsistent when it comes to keeping the brewing temperature at optimal standards. Also, when the two halves are not sealed properly, the thermoblock can cause leaking.

What is perfect temperature for serving and drinking coffee?

The serving temperature can be impacted by 1) the temperature of the coffee grounds, 2) brewing temperature, and 3) temperature of the jug/dish to which coffee is poured. In fact, many manufacturers recommend that a carafe, a cup or a mug should be somewhat preheated before pouring coffee in.

The National Coffee Association of the USA suggests that the perfect service temperature for coffee is between 180° F (82°C) to 185°F (85°C). Coffee baristas and other coffee professionals are a little bit more lenient, and claim that a serving temperature between 160° F (71° C) and 185° F (85° C) is ideal.

What about lower serving temperatures for coffee?

It seems though, that many coffee connoisseurs prefer their coffee at lower temperatures. While some like their coffee to be somewhere between the following:

• 150° F to 175° F for rounded, sweet and bitter notes, and
• 120°F and 140°F for ‘coffee’s notes shine’ (the coffee gets brighter and sharper).

Science seems to agree with the lower serving temperatures. It has been determined that the optimal drinking temperature for coffee, one that will reduce the risk of burning and that will provide maximum satisfaction to the consumer, is 136 degrees F (57.8 degrees C). (Brown F, et al. Burns. 2008, Calculating the optimum temperature for serving hot beverages).

NEVER reheat coffee

But one rule to remember is this: a coffee that gets cold should never be re-heated. Reheating coffee drastically changes its profile, ruining the flavor. Instead, it might be a good idea to enjoy cold coffee. Coffee that falls below 120°F exhibits enhanced sweetness and acidity.

There are many ways of enjoying a cup of coffee, so just follow your heart and choose the temperature of your liking.

Should I use a warming plate on my coffee maker?

One of the interesting criteria brewers have to fulfill to be on the SCAA list of the best coffee makers (apart from the best brewing temperature), is to be able to hold the coffee at a stable temperature inside the carafe for at least 30 minutes after brewing cycle is over. Coffee machines keep the coffee hot for longer with the help of the hot plate. Having a coffee maker with a good hot plate is crucial, as implied by the SCAA tests.

However, keeping the coffee pot on the hot plate for too long is not beneficial for the taste of the coffee. This is what James Hoffmann, 2007 Barista World Champion, had to say about hot plates:

I would also avoid buying a machine with any sort of hot plate. Keeping a jug of coffee on a hot plate very quickly ‘cooks’ the coffee, producing some unpleasant flavors.

Choose instead a machine with a thermal carafe. Most electric machines perform best when brewing larger volumes. With most machines, I would recommend brewing at least 500 ml of coffee at a time, which will last around 30 minutes in a thermal carafe.” (The World Atlas of Coffee, 2018)

Basically, brewing large quantities of coffee and leaving them on the hot plate all day is not such a great idea. The constant heat causes evaporation and makes the coffee turn rancid and lose its natural taste. The recommended solution is either to brew small quantities of coffee at a time, or to use a thermal carafe.

What coffee makers brew at 195 – 205 F degrees?

• Espresso machines

For espresso lovers who don’t mind paying the money to buy a high-end machine, the issue of temperature control is well taken care of by quality heating systems (like an efficient boiler or thermocoil). These are some espresso makers that guarantee an excellent coffee extraction:

Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
DeLonghi ESAM 3300
Gaggia Classic Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker
Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista
DeLonghi EC702

• Drip coffee makers

When it comes to drip brewers, one way to make sure that the brewing temperature for your coffee is optimal, is to buy one of the certified coffee makers recommended by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCAA). These coffee makers had to pass certain tests to make the list of recommended drip brewers. One of the criteria for passing the tests was to be able to brew at 200 degrees F.

The 2019 SCAA certified coffee makers are:

Technivorm Moccamaster
Behmor Connected Brewer
KitchenAid KCM0802
Bonavita BV1900TS
Bonavita BV1900TD 8-Cup
OXO On 9-Cup
OXO On 12-Cup
Wilfa Precision
BUNN 10-Cup Programmable
Behmor Brazen Plus
Cuisinart PurePrecision Pour Over

• Coffee makers with programmable temperature

Controlling the brewing temperature becomes easy with a coffee machine that has a programmable temperature function. These machines are not cheap, but they allow me to brew my coffee at the temperature of my choice. One reason why programmable temperature control is useful, is altitude. Altitude is a natural factor that influences the boiling point of the water. If at sea level, water boils at 212 degrees F, this temperature drops as altitude increases, and becomes higher as altitude decreases. These are some coffee machines that come with temperature control functions:

Behmor’s Brazen Plus
Breville Precision Brewer Thermal
The Behmore Connected Coffee Maker
Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker DCC-3200AMZ
Cuisinart PurePrecision
The Nespresso Expert
Keurig K575
Keurig K475

What about cold brew?

As a lover of regular coffee, I find cold brewing uninteresting… Cold brewing refers to the coffee extraction that is done using cold or room temperature water. Cold water will still make infusion possible, but the time needed to extract all the soluble compounds from the coffee grounds will be way longer (it will take 3 to 24 hours).

More than that, the coffee made through cold brewing will have a different taste than hot coffee. It will lack the bitterness and the acidic flavor we might expect coffee to have. But, because it contains less acid, cold coffee is better for the health of our teeth and stomach. The taste will be smooth and quite mellow, and the coffee will have less caffeine and, unfortunately, less antioxidants.

Bottom line

Who knew that coffee temperature mattered so much? Well, probably baristas did… When it comes to coffee, why waste time drinking something that does not bring pleasure? That is what coffee is all about, after all.