Do you like getting the maximum caffeine boost possible from your coffee? Then you'll love cold brew!
Some people say it has more caffeine than hot coffee. Is that true? Who knows!
Thanks for reading!
Just kidding. I guess I'll have to investigate this.
Does Cold Brew Have More Caffeine Than Hot Coffee?
Alright, I did some digging to find out the answer for you.
It turns out that using the cold brew method does make coffee with more caffeine in it... in a way.
But in the vast majority of cases, the total caffeine in a cup of cold brew versus the total caffeine in a cup of hot coffee will be fairly similar.
Let me explain.
The Caffeine in Cold Brew vs The Caffeine in Hot Coffee
All other factors being equal—(which they rarely are)—when you're looking for the strongest possible jolt of caffeine in your coffee, the cold brew method is probably the better way to go.
Why?
Thanks to the higher coffee-to-water ratio used in the brewing stage, cold brew coffee generally has more caffeine than hot coffee.
However, this can vary depending on how the coffee is mixed.
For example, if for some reason you were to drink straight cold brew concentrate, you'd definitely get a major boost of energy.
Seriously.
You'd be wired. And I mean... wired.
Like that magazine with the typography that makes it really hard to read. At least it was like that the last time I saw a magazine, 15 years ago.
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Anyway, my point is, it would pack a huge caffeine punch. In fact, I don't recommend it. There's a reason no one drinks cold brew concentrate straight.
Sure, you can. But... why?
Even if you want lots of caffeine, you're just going to have a lot less coffee to actually drink.
What's the upside to that? That it "saves time?" Are you that guy Brian Regan always talks about who microwaves a Pop Tart because you don't have a minute and a half to wait for the toaster? Sorry, I'm very upset about this.
Anyway—if cold brew concentrate is diluted with water after you take it out of the refrigerator, which it pretty much always will be, the total caffeine content in a serving of cold brew coffee will be comparable to a serving of hot coffee.
If you "cut" that cold brew concentrate with a lot of milk or creamer—same result.
The Winner: Cold Brew (Technically)
Technically, if you want to know the coffee with the most caffeine possible, it's cold brew concentrate.
So if you're looking for a real pick-up, make sure to order your cold brew straight-up. (Catchy, right? I expect everyone to be saying this by the end of summer.)
But... don't drink undiluted cold brew concentrate.
Trust me. It's too much of a good thing.
Dilute it less if you want coffee with more caffeine, but dilute it.
Other Considerations
The other thing to keep in mind is that the brewing method isn't the only factor that determines how much caffeine is in your coffee.
There are other variables, like the type of coffee beans used, the grind, how long the coffee is brewed, and so on.
If you want the coffee with the highest caffeine content possible, you want Black Insomnia. That's because Black Insomnia has the highest caffeine content of any coffee distributed around the world, verified by independent lab results.
Make a cold brew concentrate with Black Insomnia, and you're looking at some seriously potent coffee.
Just remember—this stuff ain't for lightweights. We're talking extreme caffeine coffee here, folks.
Hopefully that clears things up a bit.
To Sum It All Up...
Cold brew concentrate has more caffeine than hot coffee, but the total caffeine in your cup will depend on how the cold brew is diluted.
In real world terms, the total difference in caffeine between hot and cold brew coffee will usually be pretty small due to the water and milk people add to cold brew concentrate to make it palatable and delicious.
And if you want the coffee with the absolute highest caffeine possible, go for Black Insomnia. Make some cold brew and dilute it a bit less than usual, and you'll have some seriously strong coffee on your hands. Or hopefully, in your cup.
