diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch_v1.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch_v1.cpp
index f5410f910e..2c1f7a79e0 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch_v1.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch_v1.cpp
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ void ESP32TouchComponent::loop() {
     // If we've never seen this pad touched (last_time == 0) and enough time has passed
     // since startup, publish OFF state and mark as published with value 1
     if (last_time == 0 && now > this->release_timeout_ms_) {
-      child->publish_state(false);
+      child->publish_initial_state(false);
       this->last_touch_time_[pad] = 1;  // Mark as "initial state published"
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Touch Pad '%s' state: OFF (initial)", child->get_name().c_str());
     } else if (child->last_state_ && last_time > 1) {  // last_time > 1 means it's a real timestamp
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch_v2.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch_v2.cpp
index 12b8989ee2..105ac19c0a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch_v2.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_touch/esp32_touch_v2.cpp
@@ -309,21 +309,16 @@ void ESP32TouchComponent::loop() {
   // In setup mode, periodically log all pad values
   if (this->setup_mode_ && now - this->setup_mode_last_log_print_ > SETUP_MODE_LOG_INTERVAL_MS) {
     for (auto *child : this->children_) {
-      uint32_t raw = 0;
-      uint32_t benchmark = 0;
-      uint32_t smooth = 0;
-
-      touch_pad_read_raw_data(child->get_touch_pad(), &raw);
-      touch_pad_read_benchmark(child->get_touch_pad(), &benchmark);
+      uint32_t value = 0;
 
+      // Read the value being used for touch detection
       if (this->filter_configured_()) {
-        touch_pad_filter_read_smooth(child->get_touch_pad(), &smooth);
-        ESP_LOGD(TAG, "  Pad T%d: raw=%d, benchmark=%d, smooth=%d, threshold=%d", child->get_touch_pad(), raw,
-                 benchmark, smooth, child->get_threshold());
+        touch_pad_filter_read_smooth(child->get_touch_pad(), &value);
       } else {
-        ESP_LOGD(TAG, "  Pad T%d: raw=%d, benchmark=%d, threshold=%d", child->get_touch_pad(), raw, benchmark,
-                 child->get_threshold());
+        touch_pad_read_raw_data(child->get_touch_pad(), &value);
       }
+
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Touch Pad '%s' (T%d): %d", child->get_name().c_str(), child->get_touch_pad(), value);
     }
     this->setup_mode_last_log_print_ = now;
   }