HOW TO REHEAT COFFEE (WITH AND WITHOUT A MICROWAVE)

As someone who is constantly reheating my coffee, I’ve found the best ways to reheat it as well as the best ways to prevent it from cooling off in the first place! Trust me, you won’t have to settle for lukewarm coffee ever again.

BUT FIRST, CAN YOU REHEAT COFFEE?

Yes! You can absolutely reheat coffee, whether it’s instant, from a coffee maker, or from your local coffee shop. With that being said, coffee is best enjoyed fresh.

Because coffee naturally has volatile compounds, when you reheat it you release more of those compounds, changing the chemical composition of coffee. Plus, as coffee cools its acidity increases. This can then lead to a slightly bitter flavor. 

However, even though it may have a more bitter taste, it’s perfectly fine to consume and, most importantly, does not impact the caffeine content! While some people think coffee tastes super bitter after reheating, others won’t be able to tell a difference – so whether or not to reheat is largely based on personal preference. 

BEST WAY TO REHEAT COFFEE (STOVE METHOD)

Without a doubt the best method to reheat coffee is on the stove. Why? Because heating coffee on the stove allows you to slowly heat up your coffee at a low temperature without burning off the flavor. This way you’re able to still retain (most) of the aroma. 

• Add cold coffee to a small pot/pan on the stove.
• Turn the stove on to low heat / medium heat (don’t turn it to a high temperature or it can create a bitter aftertaste).
• Let the coffee warm up to your ideal temperature and then remove from heat.
• Pour into a mug and enjoy!

While heating your coffee up on the stove can sound time consuming, in reality it just takes about 5 minutes and a pot. 

Whenever I have coffee to reheat, this is my go to method. It’s quick, simple, and still tasty. Plus, the best part is you can remove it as soon as you have the perfect temperature.

Most people like to enjoy their coffee around 140-150F, where it’s pleasantly hot and not burning your mouth. Reheating on the stovetop gives you complete control over your desired temperature, so simply remove it when ready.

HOW TO REHEAT COFFEE IN THE MICROWAVE

In a pinch, you can also reheat coffee in the microwave. When you microwave coffee, the heating process happens extremely quickly. This can cause additional chemical reactions, leading to a bitter aftertaste. 

If you do choose to reheat coffee in the microwave, make sure to heat it in 20 to 30-second intervals to avoid overheating it. And, of course, make sure you are using a microwave-safe cup or microwave-safe mug. If you have a beverage setting on your microwave oven you can also use that.

OTHER WAYS TO REHEAT COFFEE

Beyond the stove top and microwave, there’s a few other ways to reheat coffee as well. If you have an espresso machine, you can reheat coffee with the steam wand. To do this, place your coffee in the container that goes with your steamer and place the steam wand in the coffee. Turn on the steam wand and let it heat your coffee.

You can also always add a splash of hot water or hot milk to your coffee. While this will help room temperature coffee, if your coffee is cold you may need to add a significant amount.

CAN YOU REHEAT DAY-OLD COFFEE?

You can reheat day old coffee if you have kept it in the fridge. However, if it has been sitting out for over 4 hours, then you’re better off making a new cup. If you do want to store leftover coffee in the fridge make sure to store it with a lid on or in an airtight container. Then, follow the above directions on how to reheat the coffee.

Additionally, if the coffee has milk and/or creamer in it, you don’t want it sitting out for over 2 hours. So, if it’s been out longer, ditch the coffee and make a new cup!

HOW TO TURN HOT COFFEE INTO ICED COFFEE

And, when all else fails you can always turn your hot cup of coffee into an iced coffee! Iced coffee is just hot coffee poured over ice, so the next time your coffee starts to cool off and you don’t feel like reheating it, grab a big glass of ice and pour the coffee over.