Iced coffee is one beverage that people look forward to drinking in the morning when they need that pick-me-up.
If you’d rather save money and spend less by preparing your iced coffee at home, it’s important to know how to make it.
The refreshing beverage is great to have before work, school, or any other activities because it’s caffeinated and full of flavor.
If you’re going to make it at home, you’re probably asking the question, “Can you put hot coffee in the fridge?”
Use this guide to find out what you can do to make a delicious iced beverage each morning.
Is Putting Hot Coffee In The Fridge A Good Idea?
Putting hot coffee in the fridge isn’t a bad idea.
It’s a great way to save money when you want to stop making pit stops at your local coffee shop, where you might spend more money than you’d like to.
However, if you’re planning to put a hot cup of coffee in the fridge, you’ll need to store it properly to prevent oxidation from impacting the flavor of the coffee.
The best way to keep a hot cup of coffee cold and fresh is to pour it into a large mason jar, sealing it with a lid before putting it in the fridge to keep it fresh.
If you store hot coffee the right way, you can expect it to remain caffeinated and flavorful for you to enjoy.
Why Do People Refrigerate Hot Coffee?
People choose to refrigerate their hot coffee for many reasons.
It’s a great way to avoid waste while making sure you have something flavorful and caffeinated to enjoy whenever you want it or need it, whether you like to drink it first thing in the morning, afternoon, or any other time of the day.
Check out this list of some of the primary reasons people choose to prepare their coffee and then place it in the fridge to drink it whenever they want it.
To Chill The Drink Without Adding Ice
Some people prefer drinking iced coffee. While there are people who like to drink the beverage hot, others prefer to drink it cold.
One reason people put hot coffee in the fridge is to make sure it’s as cold as they like it without using ice cubes or an ice bath.
Adding a few ice cubes to your beverage will cool it down. However, as the ice cubes melt it can water down the drink, changing the flavor of your freshly brewed cup of coffee.
Some coffee lovers use coffee ice cubes to counteract this problem. These are made by pouring coffee into your ice cube tray which will freeze overnight.
Adding frozen coffee ice cubes will cool down your drink, but won't water it down.
However, these coffee ice cubes can take a bit of work, so storing hot coffee in the fridge overnight is the best way to keep it cold and fresh without it getting watery.
You Have Hot Coffee But You Want To Leave It A Little Longer
If you have a cup of coffee but you have other things to do and don’t want it to go to waste, putting it in the fridge is a great idea.
You can make sure you’re storing it properly in an airtight container to keep it fresh and let the coffee sit in the fridge a little longer until you’re ready to pour it into your favorite mug or reusable coffee cup and sip on it for that caffeine boost you want and need.
You Have Brewed Several Cups Of Coffee In Your Coffee Maker And Want Some For Later
A true coffee lover may not want to use instant coffee because it doesn't capture the flavor of the coffee beans. Instead, they may prefer to prepare freshly brewed coffee in a large coffee pot.
However, when they do that, they will end up with multiple cups of coffee.
If you're brewing coffee in bulk then the best way to save the coffee instead of wasting it is refrigerate it in an airtight container it to drink later.
You can then leave half a pot of coffee for later in the week.
You can make a large pot of coffee on a Monday morning and have enough of it to last you for about three days if you want to make your cold coffee in advance.
Can You Put Hot Coffee In The Fridge To Make Iced Coffee?
A lot of coffee lovers ask the question, "Can you prepare iced coffee by putting hot coffee in the fridge?"
The truth is that it's possible, but it's important to know the differences between cold brew coffee and coffee that you've prepared at home and put in your fridge.
Putting hot coffee in the fridge is a simple solution. However, it's not quite the same as cold-brewed iced coffee.
Cold brewed coffee beans don't go through a heating process, so it never gets hot.
The oils and caffeine from the cold brew coffee get extracted over a set period instead of relying on the brewing process.
The thing about cold brew coffee is that it’s stronger and also has more caffeine than coffee you’d brew and then put in the fridge to chill.
However, not everyone likes their coffee to have such a strong taste.
If you prefer a slightly mild taste, it’s better to prepare hot coffee and then put it in the fridge to let it chill.
It should take anywhere between 15-60 minutes for your coffee to get cold enough for you to drink it without having to add any ice to it.
Of course, the amount of time it takes to make the cold coffee will depend on the amount of coffee you’re trying to chill.
If you have a smaller cup of coffee, it should chill within 30 minutes or less.
However, if you’re trying to chill a large container full of coffee, it can take up to two hours to store coffee so it gets as cold as you’d like it.
If you want it cold faster you can use an ice bath, but it's generally better to be patient and use the fridge.
How To Put Hot Coffee In The Fridge Correctly
If you've decided that you'd like to start putting your hot coffee in the fridge, there are specific steps you need to take to make sure you’re doing it correctly.
When you take the right steps, you can expect to drink coffee which is flavorful, caffeinated, and delicious.
You can also customize the refrigerated coffee to your liking by adding different ingredients, such as sugar, creamer, and even whipped cream!
You would no longer need to visit the coffee shops for your coffee because you could make it at home using this process and then add the ingredients that you enjoy pairing with the coffee the most.
Chill The Coffee As Fast As Possible
Be sure to chill the coffee fast instead of leaving it out.
You don't want to leave the coffee sitting in the coffee pot for an extended period because it will oxidize and lose its freshness.
The key to successfully preparing the most flavorful hot coffee in the fridge would be to prepare it in your coffee pot and then immediately put it in a heatproof container before placing it in the fridge to get cold.
It should only take a few minutes for you to complete this process of pouring out the coffee in the right container and placing it in your fridge for it to chill.
Reduce The Changes Of Compromising The Flavor Of The Drink
The best way to reduce the chances of compromising the taste of the drink is to pour the hot coffee into an airtight container.
You don’t want excess air to get into the coffee because then it oxidizes and takes away from the great taste of it. A glass container often works best.
If you’re using the right container, you can expect the coffee to continue having a fresh and flavorful taste that will go great with any creamer or extras that you enjoy adding to your cup of coffee in the morning or throughout the day.
Cause No Damage To The Food Items In The Fridge
Be sure to place your coffee in a convenient spot where you’ll have easy access to it.
However, you don’t want to put it in a location where it can get knocked down with ease and start spilling all over the place.
You should also be mindful of placing it in spots too close next to other food and beverages.
As long as you’re using a sealed container to store your hot coffee while it’s chilling in the fridge, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Coffee In Fridge FAQs
Do you have to let coffee cool before refrigerating?
No, you don’t need to let the coffee cool before putting it in the fridge.
It's best to start pouring it out while it's still hot, placing it in the appropriate container, and then putting it in the fridge for a fresh and flavorful taste.
How long can you keep hot brewed coffee in the fridge?
When stored properly, you can keep your hot brewed coffee stored in the fridge for up to four days! So, if you’re making it early in the week, you’ll have enough to last the rest of the week.
Can you refrigerate Keurig coffee?
Yes. You can refrigerate any type of hot coffee that you decide to make.
However, if you’re using the Keurig, it’s only going to make one cup at a time, so be sure to consider that when you’re preparing hot coffee to put in the fridge.
How do you store iced coffee in the fridge?
Storing iced coffee in the fridge is so simple. You pour it into an airtight container, place it in an ideal spot in the refrigerator, and let it sit there to get as cold as you like it before you drink it with all your favorite ingredients.
Conclusion
You may have asked, “Can you put a hot coffee pot in the fridge?”. Well, the answer it yes.
If you're storing coffee in a proper container you can extend the shelf life of your brew and keep it fresh for longer (just like when you store hot food in the fridge).
Many coffee lovers choose to do this so they can make coffee in batches, but it works for single cups too.
As the coffee cools it should retain all the flavor, so this is a great way to enjoy fresh and delicious cold coffee without having to go to the coffee shop.
