Why is cold brew coffee less acidic than hot coffee?

Hot water extracts acidic compounds from coffee grounds much more efficiently than cold water. Cold brewing at refrigerator temperature for 12-24 hours extracts sugars, caffeine, and flavor compounds while leaving behind much of the acid. The result is a coffee concentrate that is 60-70% less acidic than hot-brewed coffee — smoother, naturally sweeter, and gentler on the stomach. People who experience acid reflux from hot coffee often find cold brew perfectly comfortable.

Does cold brew have more caffeine than hot coffee?

Cold brew concentrate has more caffeine per ounce than hot coffee — but you dilute it before drinking. A typical cup of diluted cold brew (1:1 or 1:2 ratio) contains roughly the same caffeine as a cup of hot coffee (80-120mg per 8oz cup). The caffeine perception that cold brew is stronger comes from people drinking undiluted concentrate. If you dilute normally, the caffeine content is comparable. Some people find that cold brew caffeine absorbs more smoothly — fewer jitters — though this is anecdotal.

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