Welcome back to another Café Session, where we mix a little coffee knowledge with a lot of seasonal flavor. September is such a weird month—it feels like fall, but only because school’s back, football is kicking off, and fantasy drafts have people arguing over their “sleeper pick” like it’s life or death. In reality, summer is still hanging around, and the weather doesn’t let you forget it. Drafts are wrapped, rosters are set, and now comes the real fun: watching your “can’t-miss” pick either carry your team or crash and burn by Week 2.
For this month’s Café Session, we’re tackling two big questions: first, why coffee tastes different as it cools (because yes, your iced latte is pulling a sneaky move on your taste buds), and second, which coffee would be the MVP if drinks really did go head-to-head on draft day. September may be a season stuck between summer and fall, but one thing’s for sure—coffee is always in play.
WHY DOES COFFEE TASTE DIFFERENT AS IT COOLS?
If you drink enough coffee, you’ve probably noticed this: your cup doesn’t taste the same from the first sip to the last. In fact, the flavor can change drastically as it cools. Personally, I used to assume this shift came from tiny coffee grounds sneaking into the cup and settling as it cooled—but there’s actually some solid science behind it.
First off, when you first get a fresh cup of coffee, it’s usually too hot to gulp down anyway. That’s why professional tasters “slurp” their coffee—to spread it across the palate and let the taste buds inside your mouth pick up all the different flavor profiles. (We dove deeper into this in our session on coffee cupping.)
As the coffee cools, those hidden notes start to come forward. Why? Hotter temperatures can actually mask subtle flavors while amplifying aroma. As the coffee loses heat, aromatic compounds dissipate, and what’s left shifts the balance of how you perceive flavor. Since smell is such a big part of taste, that shift can make the coffee feel like it’s “changing” right under your nose.
On the molecular level, the science is pretty fascinating. Heat excites molecules, making them more volatile and harder for your taste buds to parse. As the coffee cools, those molecules slow down and settle into a more stable state. That stability lets sweeter, fruitier notes shine, while acidity can become more pronounced. Interestingly, your coffee will often taste most complex as it nears body temperature—because that’s when your palate can detect the broadest range of flavors.
If you prefer to slow down the cooling process, here’s a trick: add a little cream. Cream helps stabilize the coffee’s structure and enhances body, which not only balances flavor but also keeps the temperature steady a bit longer.
So, next time you notice your cup tasting a little different from start to finish, don’t chalk it up to “old coffee.” It’s your mug taking you on a mini flavor journey—one sip at a time.
IF COFFEE DRINKS WERE A FANTASY DRAFT, WHAT WOULD BE THE #1 PICK?
Given the spirit of the season, this is one of my favorite questions yet. If you’re a nut for fantasy football (like me), you know draft day is all about strategy. For those who aren’t as familiar, here’s the gist: the most popular players—like quarterbacks—aren’t usually the smartest first-round picks. The key is finding the difference-makers: the workhorses who separate themselves from the pack, lock in top-5 production at their position, and carry your team to victory week after week.
So how does that translate to coffee?
Espresso feels like the quarterback. It’s the signal caller, the foundation, the piece that dictates the play at the line of scrimmage. In coffee terms, it’s the first ingredient that sets the stage for lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, and more. Essential? Absolutely. First-pick worthy? Probably not.
Regular drip coffee comes to mind next—it’s reliable, a true staple that gets the job done every single day. But just like a steady flex player in fantasy, the upside isn’t quite there. It’ll give you safe, consistent points, but it’s not the kind of pick that wins you the championship.
That’s why, if I’ve got the #1 overall pick in the Coffee Draft, I’m going with nitro cold brew. Like your #1 draft pick— this is an every-week starter with game-breaking upside. On its own, it’s smooth, delicious, and flat-out dominates in the matchup against sleepiness. But when you factor in the extra caffeine kick? That’s the 30-point explosion you need to win the week.
Here at Rise, we even call it “jet fuel”—the drink you turn to when you need a serious jumpstart to your day. Just like a top draft pick, nitro cold brew has the potential to carry your team (or in this case, your morning) on its back.
So, what about you—what’s your #1 pick in the Coffee Draft?
