Pu’er Coffee

 When ordering pour-over coffee at a café, most people instinctively choose the hot version. That’s understandable — if you want to experience the full complexity of a coffee’s flavor, hot brewing is absolutely the best way to go. But when the weather turns unbearably hot, it’s not always easy to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee. Many people still want that complete flavor experience, though, and often ask me, “Can I just brew a pot of hot coffee and add some ice cubes to cool it down?” That’s one of the most common questions I get every summer. And my answer is always the same: “You can, but I don’t recommend it.” Sure, it’s possible — adding ice will give you a cold drink. But it will also seriously compromise the taste and aroma. The result? A flat, diluted coffee that lacks the very character you were hoping to preserve. This is exactly why brewing iced coffee requires adjusting your parameters from the start. The Experiment: Hot Coffee with Added Ice To show you what I mean...