Even casual drinkers of wine know white wines are served cooler than reds. But few realize the difference a few degrees can make — and not just with wine.
Here’s what some beverage experts said about the optimum temperatures for a variety of drinks, and a few common mistakes people make.
BEER
Most beer is served too cold, but with most mainstream beers — the stuff produced by the major brand brewers — cold is fine.
Aromatic beers that are brewed with more ingredients — pale ales, for example — should be served about 40 to 42 degrees.
Beers with big flavor, such as Belgian ales, don’t release their aromas until they hit about 50 degrees.
WINE
The old advice about serving reds at “room temperature” comes from the days when the “room” in question was a drafty medieval castle.
Red wine should be served about 60 degrees, though some light reds, such as Beaujolais, are better served cooler.
White wine should be chilled to about 55 degrees; the glass should feel cool but not ice-cold.
Champagne and other dry or sweet sparkling wines: 40 to 50 degrees.
Dry whites and roses: 45 to 55 degrees.
When in doubt, check the label: many bottles indicate the optimal serving temperature.
POP
Pepsi is best consumed at 42 degrees, plus or minus 3 degrees.
Coca-Cola’s ideal temperature is 38 degrees.
COFFEE
A brewing temperature between 195 and 205 degrees is essential to achieve the right mix of soluble solids that make coffee look, smell and taste like coffee.
The most common mistake is serving coffee that’s not hot enough. Frequently, the culprit is a drip coffee maker that doesn’t get the water hot enough and has too long a brewing cycle.
Percolators are “devastatingly bad” for coffee because they circulate already brewed coffee and drive temperatures over 205 degrees.
TEA
For black tea, near-boiling water is required to extract the most flavor. After 3 minutes of steeping, the tea should be about 185 degrees.
There are telltale signs when a cup of black tea is served at below-optimum temperature: the liquid will look clear and there will be a brown ring around the bottom of the cup.
For white or green tea, cooler temperatures are required, about 165 to 185 degrees.
Associated Press
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