Why We Drink Hot Coffee In The Summer

When the temperature rises, reaching for a hot beverage might seem like a strange thing to do. After all, everyone knows that iced coffee and other cold beverages quench your thirst and keep you cool. But hot coffee is proven to help you stay cool all season. Learn why we drink hot coffee in the summer and consider adding this beverage to your daily routine.

Hot Coffee Tricks Your Brain

Hot coffee actually tricks your brain into cooling down your body. Here’s how.

The heat from your hot coffee activates the transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV1) nerve receptors on your tongue and in your mouth, plus the thermosensors in your stomach. Those receptors and sensors tell your brain that your body is hot, which prompts your brain to tell your body to produce sweat. After the sweat evaporates, you feel cooler. 

There’s only one drawback to this brain trick. Your sweat needs to evaporate for you to become cooler. If you’re drenched in sweat and drink hot coffee, your body will stay hot instead of cooling down. 

Hot Coffee Helps Your Body Relax

Now that you know the science behind drinking hot coffee in the summer, maximize your coffee break. Sip your coffee slowly and relax. 

When you’re physically active, your body temperature rises. But when you sit down and take a break, your body temperature drops. So prepare a hot coffee beverage and cool your body as you relax, unwind and recharge. 

Iced Coffee Makes you Hotter

Still not convinced that hot coffee helps you stay cool? Let’s revisit the idea of cold or iced coffee. While iced coffee tastes refreshing in the summer, its cooling effect is short-lived. 

Adding one cold beverage to your hot body is like dumping a glass of ice into a hot bath. You won’t notice a big difference. 

And before you drink multiple iced coffees, consider that this strategy will backfire. Too many cold beverages at once cause your blood vessels to tighten. The result? You’ll feel much hotter. 

Types of Hot Coffee Beverages

To stay cool this summer, brew your favorite blend of coffee and enjoy it hot. You can add your favorite creamer, flavoring or sweetener. Or try one of these coffee beverages from around the world.

• Yuanyang (China) — three parts coffee and seven parts Hong Kong-style milk tea
• Café Touba (Senegal) — ground coffee flavored with Grains of Selim (Guinea pepper) and cloves
• Turkish Coffee (Turkey) — roasted and finely ground coffee beans boiled in a tiny pot and served with sugar
• Espresso Romano (Italy) — one shot espresso with a slice of lemon served on the side or squeezed onto the mug’s rim
• Cortado (Spain/ Portugal/ Columbia) — espresso cut with a splash of warm milk, cream or condensed milk 
• Café de Olla (Mexico) — cinnamon and piloncillo (sugarcane candy) added to coffee prepared in an artisanal clay pot

The next time you feel hot, grab a hot coffee. It will cool you off and help you relax and recharge this summer.