It’s cold outside, and everyone is griping about the cold. Not me! I love winter, especially the coffee that comes with it. Now, you might say that it’s not the coffee that comes with winter that I love, but the comfort and relaxation one gets from the hot delicious beverage.
Americans drink coffee daily—64 percent of them, to be exact. But is there a special reason they crave more of the stuff during the holidays? Keep reading to find out.
Reasons Why Coffee Should Be Your Go-To Beverage
Get Rid of the Winter Chill
In winter, the weather can be wet and cold, leaving you unable to warm up. However, when you have a hot cup of coffee in your hands to warm up your body, you will enjoy your commute to work.
Fight off Winter Colds
It’s common to cough and sneeze in winter as your body tries to fight off winter bugs and viruses. But did you know that coffee also has some health benefits? It contains a whole host of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins B2 and B5, that can keep you healthy.
Boost Yourself
For most people, Christmas is a whirlwind of activity. They work hard to meet deadlines and try to find the time to do some last-minute shopping. Coffee in the office helps them get through their workload quickly and efficiently.
Ah, the Hot Chocolate!
As the winter season approaches, you might be craving hot chocolate. If so, why not add coffee to spice things up? Mochas are delicious, and they cut through the sweetness of most hot chocolates. There are many mocha recipes on the Internet, so take some time to search for one that appeals to you.
Makes you Feel Relax and Comfy
In cold weather, hot coffee can help warm your body. The drink has minimal impact on body temperature, though. Drinking hot coffee during the fall or winter helps you relax and feel comfortable. And holding a hot cup in your hands will keep them warm, too.
Keeps you Hydrated
Hot coffee is a great way to keep your body hydrated when it’s freezing. Drinking enough water helps regulate your body temperature, but most people like to drink cold liquids when it’s hot outside.
However, we should also remember to drink plenty of fluids when it’s cold outside. The body tends not to get thirsty in cold weather, so we might forget about drinking if we’re up against the elements.
Even the Grounds are Beneficial
You can use ground coffee beans to make a homemade scrub for your skin. Coffee is an exfoliating agent that gently removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling soft and moisturized.
Loaded with Antioxidants
The environmental pollutants in the air, water, and food cause free radicals to form. These molecules cause damage to your skin. Coffee contains antioxidants that help fight against those free radicals and slow down the aging of your skin by protecting cell energy.
In fact, a study has shown that coffee is great for skin rejuvenation because of its anti-aging capabilities. To make your own natural exfoliant out of coffee grounds, brown sugar, and olive oil, grind up some beans until they’re coarsely ground.
How about Cold Coffee in Winter?
When the temperature drops, it may seem like iced coffee and cold brew would be the last thing on your mind. But in a Dunkin Donuts poll, 56 percent of those surveyed said it is never too cold for an iced coffee. Devotees aren’t deterred by dropping temperatures — maybe they just wear gloves.
Iced Coffee vs. Cold Brew in Winter
Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is brewed hot, so it can be stronger than cold brew. But high temperatures also extract more soluble from the coffee grounds, making the resulting brew more flavorful and creamier.
To make tasty iced coffee, it is essential to cool hot brewed coffee quickly. The best way to do this is to brew directly over ice. This will maintain the desired acidity and aroma.
Cold Brew
Cold brewing coffee is the process of steeping coffee grounds at room temperature or cold water for many hours. It doesn’t require any special equipment and can be enjoyed with or without fancy gadgets.
Essentially, all you need to do is set it up and walk away. You can mix it up in a pitcher and just let it sit in the fridge until it’s time to separate the brew from the grounds with a sieve or other filter.
Cold brew coffee is stronger than your typical cup of joe because it’s been steeped for so long. This consistency makes it extremely easy to pair with dairy, so don’t let anyone make your customers feel bad about ordering their iced coffee with cream or milk.
So, Which One is the Winner?
Cold brew is a bit easier to brew and can be prepped ahead of time, giving you more control over when to drink it. But iced coffee preserves more solids than a cold brew and therefore preserves more nuances of the coffee’s character.
Conclusion
For millions of people, drinking hot coffee in cold weather is a way to warm up as well as prevent illness. Although drinking hot beverages does not actually warm the body, it can provide comfort by warming cold hands.
