Some crowded coffee shops make a batch of espresso in the morning that they use all day long, but only for cold coffee drinks with milk. It is obvious that they do not serve reheated and refrigerated espresso in an attempt to pass it off as freshly brewed coffee.
So, can you refrigerate espresso?
Yes, you can refrigerate espresso. Only if it will be used for a cold coffee drink is it acceptable to keep an espresso shot in the refrigerator for up to half a day. Never put an espresso shot in the fridge to enjoy later; always take a fresh shot. A hot, creamy, smooth espresso will turn into a bitter, chalky, difficult-to-swallow mess.
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Table of Contents
Introduction Of True Espresso
Espresso is a distinct variety of coffee. Finely ground coffee is required to make espresso. Medium or dark roasted coffee beans are required for this coffee.
To prepare a true espresso you need an espresso machine. For pressure, these devices use a pump or steam. Espresso can also be made using the Mokka pot and Aeropress. The quality and flavor of the coffee produced differs, though.
You must be aware of the variables in order to make a true espresso. The Italian Institute of Espresso has defined these variables as below:
Coffee is concentrated when it is mixed with pressurized water and fine grounds. In comparison to regular coffee, an espresso shot has more caffeine per ounce. However, because it is a drink with a small volume, it contains less caffeine per serving.
True espresso is a three-layered, stronger beverage. The heart is the area with the darkest appearance, resembling regular coffee. The crema should be placed on top of the lighter portion of the body. A few minutes later, the espresso cream, which makes up 10–15% of the total beverage, disappears.
This thick crema is created when carbon dioxide bubbles combine with fat, sugar, and oil. Crema can only be achieved with freshly ground coffee and filtered water. True espresso is a craft, and imperfect ingredients cannot be tolerated.
It’s Not Ideal To Refrigerate Espresso Though You Can
While you can keep espresso in the fridge for up to half a day, it’s not the best place to keep leftover coffee because oxidation will ruin the flavor and cause the coffee to break down.
More specifically, even if you top off a refrigerated espresso with boiling water, a fresh espresso will taste citrusy and smooth while a refrigerated espresso will taste more bitter.
Making espresso involves squeezing hot water through ground, roasted coffee beans to flavor the water.
A typical espresso contains about 25ml (0.84 oz) of liquid, which is best consumed hot, right after it has been brewed.
Some people sweeten their espresso, while others choose to drink water along with it.
Illycaffè has been making coffee since 1933 – they specialize in making espresso and they say that to make the perfect espresso:
A seven-gram (.25 oz) cake-like layer of ground and tamped coffee is passed through by a jet of hot water that is 88°–93°C (190°–200°F) hot and under a pressure of nine or more atmospheres.
Given this, it stands to reason that cold espresso won’t taste as good as freshly made espresso made with hot water.
Espresso Can Be Refrigerated For Up To 10 Hours
Espresso can be kept in the refrigerator for a maximum of 10 hours before it becomes too unpleasant to drink.
This is due to the fact that espresso’s organic aroma and flavor profile will begin to change as soon as it begins to cool down.
Due to the tannin present in coffee, the cold temperature in the refrigerator will increase the bitterness of the espresso.
Tannin is an organic substance that gives some food products, like tea, wine, and coffee, their astringent flavor.
The flavor and nutrient compounds of the espresso liquid will change as a result of oxidation, which occurs when something comes into contact with air.
Refrigerate Espresso Using An Airtight Container
While it may be tempting to simply place the coffee in the refrigerator, the best way to chill espresso is to pour the liquid into an airtight glass or plastic container. You should also make sure that your refrigerator is set to a temperature of 41°F (5°C) or lower to slow the rate of oxidation.
Do Not Reheat Espresso
Espresso can be reheated, but it’s not a good idea because the coffee will have been heated, cooled in the fridge, and then reheated again — significantly changing the coffee’s flavor and making it very bitter and astringent.
Drinks Made With Espresso Are Not Cheap!
Espresso is essentially concentrated coffee that is served in small quantities. As a result, it contains much more caffeine per serving. Espresso shots are taken from the machine and typically mixed with milk or non-dairy milks to make drinks like lattes, americanos, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and flat whites.
Additionally, the cost of these espresso drinks is high. Espresso-based drinks typically start at $3 and can cost as much as $7.50 depending on where you live, the size, and how much they charge more for alternative milks than a cup of coffee, which can cost anywhere from less than $1 to $3.
Daily payments of $3, $4, $5, and $6 add up. Not to mention that there are many days when you make or order a second latte in the afternoon. What do you do with that leftover coffee/espresso if, by the end of the workday, you have a not insignificant amount of that latte left over? See more about Can You Freeze Freshpet Dog Food?
Cold Espresso Drink Ideas
To avoid reheating the coffee, which would ruin the flavor, if you’re going to store your leftover espresso in the fridge, the best thing to do with it afterward is to make a cold brew with it.
I’ve listed five of the best cold espresso drink recipes that I’ve personally created below.
Frothy Iced Cinnamon Coffee
In recent years, foamy coffee has gained considerable popularity and is available in many different forms all over the world.
For instance, it is referred to as Frappé in Greece and Dalgona in Korea.
Try this recipe below with your cold espresso:
Ingredients
- 1 espresso shot.
- Sugar to taste.
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon.
- 250ml (8.45 oz) milk.
- ½ Cup crushed ice.
Instructions
- With a milk-frother beater, combine your espresso shot with the sugar in a cup, and stir until the mixture begins to froth.
- If you don’t have a milk-frother beater, you can combine sugar and espresso in a bowl and beat with a hand mixer.
- Your milky coffee should now be very frothy. Add the cinnamon and milk, and beat again.
- Enjoy this cool beverage by pouring it over some crushed ice.
Coffee Choc Mint Milkshake
This was a fun milkshake to make, and milkshakes are a perennial favorite in my family.
It had a lovely depth of flavor from the espresso that went well with the chocolate ice cream.
The milkshake can only be made with a high-quality blender.
Here’s what you need to do:
Ingredients
- 1 espresso shot.
- a leaf or two of fresh mint.
- 100 g (3.5 oz) chocolate ice cream.
- 100 ml (3.38 oz) milk.
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the mint leaves and espresso shot.
- Then add your milk and ice cream after giving everything a quick blend.
- Remix, then pour into a glass.
Banana Berry Coffee Shake
When you need something quick, this is a lovely all-in-one breakfast beverage.
Ingredients
- 1 banana.
- 50g (1.76 oz) blueberries.
- 1 espresso shot.
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) honey.
- 200 ml (6.76 oz) vanilla ice cream.
- 50 ml (1.7 oz) milk.
Instructions
- Blend all the ingredients together in a blender until they are completely smooth.
Condensed Milk Coffee
Those who have an extreme sweet tooth should try this.
Condensed milk’s decadent sweetness gives this beverage a rich creaminess.
Ingredients
- 1 espresso shot.
- 200 ml (6.76 oz) milk.
- 80 ml (2.7 oz) condensed milk.
- 2 ml (0.06 oz) vanilla extract.
- ½ cup crushed ice.
Instructions
- Espresso, milk, condensed milk, and vanilla are all combined in a blender.
- Pour over the ice after blending until smooth and enjoy!
Coconut Rum Espresso Cocktail
This is an enjoyable way to finish off your cold espresso.
Ingredients
- 1 espresso shot.
- 25 ml (0.84 oz) rum liqueur.
- 100 ml (3.38 oz) coconut milk.
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) sugar syrup or molasses.
- Crushed ice.
Instructions
- Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker to combine them.
- Transfer to a cocktail glass.
What Espresso Tastes Like When Refrigerated?
A quality coffee bean blend is the basis for authentic espresso. Then you’ll need the right grinder, an excellent espresso machine, and some knowledge. You’ll benefit from the drink’s flavor and aroma.
If you haven’t tried a real espresso, you should put it on your list. The aroma envelops you, and the taste is vivid, bittersweet, and robust. This is what freshly brewed espresso tastes like.
No such flavor profile can be found in refrigerated leftover espresso. Your palate will find it to be bitter, acidic, and unpleasant. The taste will linger for a very long time and there won’t be a strong aftertaste.
If you mix coffee with milk, water, ice, some syrup, or honey, the opposite is not true. The bitterness of chilled coffee tends to disappear in drinks that are sweeter.
If you use it as the foundation for a cold coffee drink, it won’t make a difference whether you use a fresh shot or a cold one.
Your leftover coffee will stop tasting bitter if you add milk to it. A stronger countermeasure is honey or sugar. You won’t notice a difference if you add ice or cold water; it will just improve the flavor profile.
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Why Does Reheated Coffee Lose Some Of Its Flavor?
You may have noticed that reheating espresso or black coffee (without milk) can cause it to become extremely bitter. This is due to the fact that coffee’s chemical composition changes as it cools; therefore, if you microwave it, the heat will destroy any aromatics that are still present, giving you a sour beverage.
Because the drink already contains milk or a milk substitute, reheating the beverage doesn’t intensify the bitterness in the same way. Providing the milk is still fresh.
Coffee and espresso are meant to be consumed hot, according to purists. Espresso is specifically made to be consumed as soon as possible after brewing. As part of the tradition surrounding the coffee shop, Italians frequently drink their coffee right away because the flavor is at its best.
Editor’s Pick: Sriracha is one of the most consumed hot sauces worldwide. But, does sriracha need to be refrigerated?
Even Better, Repurpose Old Coffee To Create Fresh Iced Coffee!
All of this is to say that espresso will never taste exactly the same when it is reheated, even if it has been chilled.
However, it is preferable to refrain from heating it all up if you decide to save your espresso for the following day. Instead, enjoy an iced coffee or iced tea by adding a few ice cubes to it.
“if you have no more coffee at all and are looking at a cold pot from that morning.” said Carmichael, “Drink it over ice without reheating. It will improve, I assure you.”
Always try reheating something to see if your taste buds like it first. Alternatively, you can use a tried-and-true approach. Try it over ice if you run to a café to grab a takeout espresso and it’s cold when you get back to your home office! Even though the coffee might not be as hot as you had hoped, it won’t be as bitter as if it had just come out of the microwave. You need to be aware of how many amps a refrigerator use which is the key to making a successful purchase.
Related Questions
Can You Reheat Espresso?
Never reheat coffee, as La Colombe’s CEO Todd Carmichael advised. “Coffee is a consumable item. You prepare it, consume it, and prepare more if it gets chilly.” Reheating coffee will completely alter its flavor profile and, in most cases, ruin it, which is why we don’t advise doing so.
Coffee Ground Should It Be Refrigerated?
Never put coffee in the refrigerator, not even the beans. In a dry place away from direct sunlight, they should ideally be stored at room temperature. Coffee that is refrigerated is potentially exposed to moisture, which will cause the coffee to become completely ruined. If you’re interested, I wrote a comprehensive article on how to preserve coffee’s freshness.
What Can I Do With Espresso Leftovers?
Utilizing leftover espresso can be done in a variety of ways. Are there any leftovers in your glass or do you have a full shot? If you want to change the flavor of your oatmeal, try adding some hot espresso. You might be shocked to learn how well the oatmeal, milk, and espresso go together. Making a mocha by combining leftover espresso with hot chocolate is another way to use the coffee. Additionally, it can be used to make tiramisu, baked goods, and little coffee ice cubes by combining it with water and freezing.
Conclusion
Espresso is undoubtedly best consumed right away.
It is possible to refrigerate, but you should only do so when necessary and only for specific uses like iced coffee or baking, which should be done within 10 hours.
Espresso can be kept for a longer period of time by freezing; however, once defrosted, it must be used right away.
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