Does Cold Brew Have More Caffeine? What you should know!

Published: September 30, 2021

Last updated: October 23, 2022

Mornings can be hectic, but there is one thing we all want to do - wake up and start our day off right. We need a cup of coffee that will kickstart us into morning mode. But what about those times when we find ourselves with no time? It is then that cold brew becomes the answer to our prayers. You don't have to wait for hours or days for it to get ready; you just put it in your fridge the night before, so by morning, you are ready.

Since you are looking for that caffeine fix, you may wonder, does cold brew have more caffeine? First, let us look at how much caffeine is in cold brew versus regular hot coffee. The debate has been going on for a while. One side says that cold brew coffee is less caffeinated than hot brewed coffee because it has different heating temperatures, but the other side argues that this isn't true. So who is right? This article will try to answer this question and highlight what exactly makes up a cup of cold brew.

Does Cold Brew have more Caffeine than Hot Brew?

Caffeine is a stimulant mainly in foods and drinks throughout the world. Coffee contains more than 300 milligrams per single cup, which may explain why many people can't start their day without one. Luckily for us, researching this part was relatively easy and also pretty interesting. The easiest way to tell how much caffeine is in cold brew versus hot drip coffee is by looking at its simple chemical formula.

You may have already noticed that there are more things inside it than just the stimulant; however, this doesn't change the fact that it does have caffeine. So does cold brew have more caffeine than hot brew? Yes, it does! Cold-brew contains roughly 158 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce. On the other hand, hot coffee has up to 72 milligrams per ounce when made with espresso and 106 milligrams for brewed coffee, meaning you get more caffeine from a single cup.

How to make a Cold Brew caffeine drink

How To Make The Best Cold Brew Caffeine Drink at Home

Cold brew coffee has been around for a long time, but it is now becoming mainstream in the United States. It is quickly becoming popular with people who are looking for an alternative to drinking caffeinated beverages. So, how do you make a cold brew caffeine drink? It is pretty simple. The only trick is that the process takes time. Of course, you can make it hot if you want.

Cold-brew makes for a better dessert or just something to sip on when you are relaxing! Here is a simple cold brew coffee recipe that is easy to make and will last for a week. It is perfect for those hot summer days when iced coffee seems like it would be too much.

Ingredients:

1 quart of cold water
Three tablespoons of coarse coffee grounds

Directions:

Put some coffee beans in a container with enough water to cover at least half of them to create room to move around so that more flavor gets extracted from them.
Cover your container and let it sit overnight (12 hours or more).
After all the soaking is done, use your French press to strain any residue left inside it.
Put your liquid in your refrigerator to cool it down. Again, we recommend using an airtight container so that no odor gets lost in the process of getting cold.
Serve with ice cubes or just plain ol' water.

How much Caffeine in Cold brew?

Understanding how much caffeine in cold brew will help you make an informed decision on whether to take a cold beverage or a hot beverage. The reason why cold brew has more caffeine than hot brewed coffee is pretty simple. Cold brew takes way longer because, unlike traditional methods, there is no warming involved. That means more time between soaking the beans and drinking time. Though, it can also affect how much caffeine is in cold brew versus hot coffee. The longer something takes to make, the more of its ingredients are extracted.

Cold-brew also contains less acid than conventional iced java. The taste of both drinks is different because hot coffees also contain more carbonic acids, while cold brew does not have any carbonation whatsoever. So how much caffeine does cold brew have? There is no accurate answer for this as several factors can affect the amount of caffeine in your cold brew. Below are some factors that will determine how much caffeine in the cold brew is present in each cup.

Amount of coffee beans

The amount of beans you use is important because it can affect the taste, caffeine content, and how strong your cold brew will be. If you want a weaker beverage, then using more beans with less water will do just that.

Serving size

The serving size of cold brew is measured in fluid ounces. Therefore, the more you drink, the higher your caffeine consumption will be.

Coffee bean type

Although all beans contain caffeine, not all of them have the same amount. Some coffee beans contain more caffeine than most beans available in the market today. You can look at a coffee's label to find out the ratio of caffeine in each pack. Not all types of most cold brews will use this as their primary ingredient either. Some will even add more than just water, such as milk or cream.

Rinse method

The flavor profile of most cold brews also depends on the rinse method you used to make it. Using this method may improve the beverage but only up to a certain point because too much filtering results in less caffeine content.

Brewing time

A longer brewing time means higher levels of caffeine. Don't leave your drip coffee steeped for hours unless you want an instant energy rush.

Water temperature

The same rule applies here as well. Although cold water will extract less caffeine than hot water, the longer the extraction time is, the more of it you will get out of your coffee beans. But, again, it doesn't matter if you use room temperature or even ice cubes: it won't change a thing.

Grind size

The size of the grinds can make a world of difference in terms of caffeine content. If you want more, then use a finer grind and concentrate on making a lot of finely ground coffee beans.

What is the difference between Iced Coffee and Cold Brew?

Most coffee lovers often ask, what is the difference between iced coffee and cold brew? Well, Iced coffee is a cold brewed hot coffee that has taken some time to cool down before being poured over ice. On the other hand, cold brew involves cold brewing a very concentrated amount of ground beans with cold water for 12-24 hours at room temperature; or in the refrigerator before straining any solids. As a result, most caffeine levels in most cold brew coffee are 40% less than that of hot brewed coffee. The cold brewing process is also at a lower temperature. It does contain moderate heat that will not destroy any caffeine unless the brewed coffee was left sitting out for several hours before cooling down and being served over ice. Did cold brew’s taste ever make you yearn for more? Well, this is because cold brew does have more caffeine.

Conclusion

With all of the caffeine-related questions out there, we thought it would be helpful to answer a few, such as does cold brew have more caffeine? Keep in mind that the amount of caffeine extracted depends on whether it is brewed at the right temperature and for a specific amount of time. Which means there is no difference in caffeine level between hot or cold coffee, but only how it is created. Try something new or just save time, enjoy your caffeinated cold brew today!

PS: you could also check out our article about the 10 best small coffee machines.

Dave Carter

As a coffee enthusiastic Dave share with you his latest and greatest coffee news and insights. He es always interested in trying out new things about the best bean of the world!