Many people like making coffee using the pour-over brew technique, especially when it’s freshly brewed and hot. The only problem is that pour-over coffee cools so quickly! Learning how to keep pour-over coffee hot can help you enjoy your coffee for a longer time and keep you from drinking cold coffee again.
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How to Keep Pour Over Coffee Hot
This method allows for more control over the brewing process, allowing you to control the strength and flavor of your coffee. However, you can do some things to ensure your coffee stays hot as long as possible.
- Use a thermal carafe
- Use glass or ceramic mugs with lids
- Brew small batches of coffee at a time, so you don’t have to wait too long between cups
- Use a metal filter instead of paper filters (which absorb heat)
Pouring over coffee isn’t exactly known for being hot, especially when you’re getting started in the morning. The good news is that some simple ways to keep your coffee hot.
Ensure That the Water Has Just Come off the Boil
One way to ensure that your coffee stays hot is to heat up your water before brewing. This will help keep things warm while they steep in the filter, which means less time spent waiting around for them to finish brewing.
Use a Mug With an Insulated Lid
A thermal mug is also a good option because it has an insulated lid that keeps heat in and prevents steam from escaping when you’re drinking from it. These mugs are more expensive than regular ones, though well worth the investment if you’re serious about making pour-over coffee at home regularly.
Heat the Cup
Before brewing, heat a mug or cup with hot water. Empty it after one minute and start brewing. This will keep the coffee hot. Just as a cold cup of coffee will cool quickly if it’s not wrapped in a cozy, a ceramic cup will maintain its heat if preheated.
Use a Thermal Carafe
A simple glass or plastic container can be used as a carafe, though if you’re serious about your brews, then you’ll want something more substantial. A thermal carafe will help keep your coffee warm for hours without burning the liquid or diluting it with heat from the sun.
Thermal carafes come in different styles and sizes, so shop around until you find one that suits your needs.
Use a Porcelain Mug
When it comes to keeping your brew warm, porcelain mugs are one of the best options available. Porcelain mugs have a thick layer of insulation around them, which helps keep heat trapped inside and prevents spills from cooling off too quickly.
Porcelain also has a naturally insulating property because it absorbs heat slowly over time rather than letting it dissipate into the air right away, as glass or metal does. This makes porcelain mugs ideal for keeping hot drinks hot, especially when paired with ceramic filters.
How Hot Should Your Coffee Be?
You might think that the most important thing when making your coffee is the quality of your beans and your water. What if you learned that the temperature of your water is as critical?
It’s true. The ideal temperature for pour-over coffee is 195 degrees Fahrenheit—or just below the boiling point.
Why 195 Degrees?
The reason that 195 degrees is the ideal temperature for this particular brewing method is that it’s slightly below the boiling point. Boiling water will extract too much from the grounds and make your drink taste bitter, so anything above 200 degrees will result in a poor-tasting cup of joe.
How Do I Get My Water up to 195 Degrees?
There are two ways: either use an electric kettle or heat water on the stovetop (and remember that both methods have their advantages).
Electric kettles can heat up water very quickly and are very convenient if you’re trying to make multiple cups at once. If you’re using an electric kettle, there are two ways to get water up to the right temperature:
- Pour your desired amount of cold water into the kettle and wait for it to boil. Then pour it over your grounds and let them sit for 30 seconds before pouring out the “puck” of grounds.
- Bring your kettle up to a boil, then remove it from the heat and let it sit for 30 seconds before pouring it over your grounds.
If you’re making one cup, then using an electric kettle might not be worth it since you’ll need to wait while the kettle heats up again. On the other hand, if you want to use a stovetop or percolator, then it’s best to get one with a built-in thermometer so you can monitor how hot your water is getting. If you’re heating water on the stovetop (or in an electric pot), bring it to a boil, then turn off the heat and let it sit for 30 seconds before pouring it over your grounds.
Myths About Keeping Your Pour-Over Coffee Hot
There are many myths about how to keep your coffee hot, though they aren’t always true. A few common ones to avoid:
Myth 1: The Best Way to Keep Your Coffee Hot Is by Using a Microwave
Fact: The microwave can heat your coffee quickly, but it will also cook the flavor. If you want to use the microwave, ensure that you only heat small amounts and stir before drinking.
Myth 2: Adding Sugar Keeps Coffee Warm Longer
Fact: This myth is valid only if you add sugar before pouring your coffee in—and even then, it will keep your drink hot for about five minutes longer than it would otherwise be. However, if you’re adding sugar after pouring your cup, it won’t make any difference because the sugar dissolves in water rather than sticking to the bottom of your mug.
Myth 3: Coffee Loses Its Flavor When It Gets Cold
Fact: When you first make a cup of coffee, it has all its flavor compounds intact. They begin to degrade as soon as they come into contact with oxygen. You shouldn’t leave your pot on the burner for too long. If you do leave it there too long, brew another pot! It may not taste as good as it did when fresh off the grinder, though it will still be better than nothing at all.
Myth 4: You Can Microwave Your Coffee Mug and Then Put Your Hot Drink in It
Fact: In theory, this should work because the microwave will heat up the outside of the mug and keep it hot while you drink your coffee from the inside. In reality, however, this does not work because microwaves cannot heat objects made from glass that are thicker than about 6 inches.
The glass does not allow microwaves to penetrate through it well enough to reach its contents.
Related Questions
How Do You Keep Coffee Warm in a Thermal Carafe?
The most common way to keep coffee warm in a thermal carafe is by pouring hot water into it before adding the grounds. This warms up the walls of the carafe, which helps keep the coffee hot for longer.
What Causes Pour-Over Coffee to Lose Heat?
Your pour-over coffee loses heat by transferring some of its heat energy to the mug, the surrounding air, and other water molecules within itself through convection.
Conclusion
There are several ways to keep your pour-over coffee hot, including an insulated lid, a thermal carafe, a porcelain mug, or the proper grind size. 195 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for coffee as it allows for an even extraction period and prevents beans from burning.
