FOOD NEWS
Room Temperature Cups Aren't The Best Option For Elevated At-Home Espresso
By Haldan Kirsch
It takes more than just a fancy machine to make high-quality coffee, since everything from the grind size to the brewing time to the water-to-coffee ratios can play a role. One underrated aspect is brewing temperature, and keeping your coffee hot does far more than just make your first sip warming and pleasant.
The flavor of hot coffee, especially espresso, is greatly affected by the brewing temperature, and that’s why it's imperative you maintain that temperature until you're ready to take that first sip. When brewing espresso at home, you should always preheat your cups, and this "extra" step makes a huge difference from using room-temp cups.
When coffee is poured into a room temperature cup, the drink's temperature drops by ten degrees, affecting the espresso's signature flavorful and velvety crema. This is why many machines are built with cup warmers on top, and you also pour hot water into cups and let them absorb the heat before replacing the water with coffee.