Study boils down cold-brew claims

Those claims that coldbrew coffee will cause less heartburn and is healthier than hot brew? They may be exaggerated.

Two researchers from Jefferson University decided to put the claims to the test and investigate the acidity and antioxidant activity of coldbrew coffee. The paper by Niny Rao, an associate professor of chemistry, and Megan Fuller, an assistant professor of chemistry, was published in Scientific Reports.

When looking at acidity, the researchers found that the pH levels of both brews were similar and ranged between 4.85 and 5.13 after they tested samples for all the varieties in their study. The higher the pH, the less acidic the brew, and the less likely it would be to cause an upset stomach.

They also found that hot coffee had more beneficial antioxidants than cold brew.

For the non-coffee drinkers among us, cold brew is made by steeping coarsely ground fresh coffee beans in cool water for an extended period of time. The grounds are then filtered out, using paper coffee filters, a French press or another such method.

Hot coffee is usually made with water heated to between 195 and 205 degrees, using one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water, according to the National Coffee Association. Iced coffee is made by pouring regular hot coffee that has cooled over ice.

What should coffee drinkers do with the recent study results?

“Don’t change your habits,” Fuller said. “You enjoy what you enjoy.”