Hot coffee has higher levels of antioxidants than cold coffee, which are believed to be responsible for some health benefits, says a new study.
The study explored that hot coffee has some measurable health benefits, including lower risk of some cancers, diabetes and depression.
For the study, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University in the US showed that hot coffee had more total titratable acids — any acid that can lose proton(s) in an acid-base reaction — which may be responsible for the hot cup’s higher antioxidant levels.
Results published in the journal “Scientific Reports” also found that pH levels — acidity indicator– of both hot and cold coffee were similar, ranging from 4.85 to 5.13 for all coffee samples tested.
However, coffee companies and lifestyle blogs have tended to tout cold brew coffee as being less acidic than hot coffee and thus less likely to cause heartburn or gastrointestinal problems.