system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why does temperature affect the appeal of food?

Some foods are best eaten hot, others are best eaten cold, and others still can be enjoyed either way. So first off, does the temperature affect the actual *taste* of food?

* If so, why?
* If not, why does it affect the appeal of the food?

Hope this makes sense.
gpt
Temperature increases volatility, and taste is roughly 75% olfactory. On top of that it affects texture and color, which also play a role in flavor. Taste in foods with a temperature higher than 86 degrees F or lower than 68 degrees also becomes more difficult to distinguish- Hot coffees taste less bitter whereas slightly melted ice cream tastes sweeter. Other variables include time of day it was eaten, age, gender and degree of hunger of the taster.