Why coffee taste changes when it cools.

by Chadd
(Orlando)

QUESTION:

I have been wondering for a while why my cup of coffee changes taste when it cools. For example: when I brew a fresh pot of coffee and have a cup while it is still hot, it tastes great! If I leave my cup of coffee set for a while, and it cools down, it starts to taste bad.

It seems that cooling affects different coffees differently. I like Starbucks coffee, and think that though it does taste worse when it gets cold (not iced, just cooling down) - it taste much better cold then does the Maxwell House we have at work, when it gets cold. The Maxwell House actually takes on a sort of chemically taste. I am talking plain black coffee in all cases - not decaf either. Any idea why this is? Thanks in advance.

-chadd.

ANSWER:

What a great question.

First, let me say that I don't KNOW the answer to this one.

But here's a thought...the taste of coffee is closely connected with its aroma. And the aroma is made up in part by the evaporation of the oils founds in coffee.

As coffee cools, the evaporation decreases, and you no longer get that taste + aroma combination at work.

As for why Starbucks should taste better cold than Maxwell House I have no idea.

If anyone has a more definitive answer to this question, please share!