system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do we prefer drinks such as Coffee or Tea either hot or cold but not at room temperature?
gpt
Two reasons:

1. Best flavor profiles are found at either end of the temperature spectrum: coffee tastes less bitter and more of the bean characteristics come out at low temperatures (floral, sometimes earthy notes), whereas more of the roasted character is found at higher temperatures (tobacco, chocolate, sometimes caramel). Lukewarm coffee is pretty bland.

2. Psychological perception. When you're drinking iced coffee or iced tea, you're expecting the drink to be cold. If it becomes lukewarm it is now too warm and you perceive it to be less pleasant. When you're drinking hot coffee or tea, you're expecting the drink to be hot and when it cools to lukewarm it is now too cold and therefore unpleasant.