Conversations about iced versus hot coffee typically center on personal preference. But what about one's health? Which is better and healthier?
It has been demonstrated that hot coffee contains more antioxidants, which may have health benefits. However, further research must be conducted.
Thomas Jefferson University researchers discovered that hot coffee contains more antioxidants, which help prevent or reduce cell damage, than cold brew.
Also, The American Chemical Society concluded in a 2020 study that hot brewing yields somewhat more caffeine than cold brewing.
There is, however, one aspect of a hot cup of coffee that distinguishes it significantly from a cold one, and it has nothing to do with temperature: the aroma.
A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2008 found a link between bean scent and "potential antioxidant or stress relaxing activities."
Overall, studies have found no significant differences in how the human body reacts to the two types of java. Coffee, hot or cold, appears to be healthy in general.
It turns out, then, that the debate over hot vs. cold brew is still worth having, but hot coffee is better and healthier in many ways. However, additional research is required.
According to a 2017 study conducted by the University of Colorado, drinking coffee on a weekly basis can help reduce one's chances of having a heart attack by up to 7%.