Cold brew adds the same carbonation as iced coffee, which has more caffeine. On hot summer days, only one drink sounds great: cold coffee. However, which of the following best describes cold brew or iced coffee?
We’re here to answer your burning questions about cold brew coffee drinks. From brewing methods to taste, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between these popular coffee beverages. Cold brew coffee vs. iced coffee: let’s get started!
These chilled cousins are more different than you might think. Cold Brew is made without heat, which creates lower acidity for a smoother, naturally sweet taste. Iced Coffee is brewed double strength then cooled, which creates a refreshing, lighter body. It’s served sweetened, often with a splash of milk.
What Is Iced Coffee?
Iced coffee is another cold coffee beverage, but the brewing process is different. Just as its name suggests, iced coffee is regular coffee served over ice. So, you brew it using a more traditional approach with hot water. That hot coffee beverage is either chilled for a few hours or immediately poured over ice to create the refreshing drink you love to sip on in the summer.
How Is Cold Brew Coffee Made?
If you are okay with prepping your coffee one day before you plan to drink it, then cold brew is a great option to quench your coffee cravings on a hot day.
All you need is freshly ground coffee, room temperature or cool water, a good cold brewer or a large container like a mason jar or French press, and cheesecloth. Place your coffee grounds into your container and add water. More coffee equals a more potent concentrate. You can learn about the importance of coffee to water ratio in the cold brew in this post.
The difference in Brewing Method
The cold brew Brewing Method
is made by steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold water for 12 to 24 hours.
Iced coffee Brewing Method
is exactly what it sounds like: regular brewed coffee poured over ice. To make it, you brew hot coffee using any brewing method. You can refrigerate this hot coffee or brew it directly over ice.
But what exactly is happening in each of these brewing methods, and how do they result in different flavors? Differences in time and temperature affect the final cup of coffee.
The process of drawing flavor from coffee beans is known simply as “extraction,” and this is influenced by countless different factors. Most notable, however, is time. The different flavor compounds in coffee beans are extracted at different speeds, so the total time spent brewing can have a profound effect on what comes out of the beans.
Cold brew is a lengthy steeping method, lasting anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. Because you’re leaving the coffee grounds in the water for so long, you want them to be coarsely ground. If you grind them too finely, you could end up over-extracting the beans, resulting in bitter coffee.
Iced coffee is made much more quickly, usually in just a few minutes, so you’ll typically want to use more finely ground beans. This method also relies on another factor: hot water.
The difference in Flavor
Cold Brew Flavor
Despite high caffeine levels (caffeine is naturally bitter), Joyride’s cold brew carries notes of chocolate, with a smooth, Guinness-like mouthfeel and a lower perceived acidity than traditional iced coffee. Since it is brewed as a concentrate, it will not taste watery even when you add milk and ice!
Iced Coffee Flavor
Since iced coffee is brewed hot, it can taste bitter, although high temperatures can also extract more coffee solubles than cold brew. While this can lead to a fuller body versus cold brew, the additionally extracted solubles include organic materials that can also add to bitterness.
The difference in the Preparation Method
Iced coffee is regular hot brewed drip coffee that is served over ice. The brewing process for iced coffee usually takes a matter of minutes.
Which Has More Caffeine?
Now that you know not all cold coffee is alike let’s compare caffeine levels. Most cold brew coffee has more caffeine. The brewing process extracts more caffeine than an auto-drip coffee machine using hot water. So, cold brew concentrate will have more caffeine than an equal part of traditionally hot brewed coffee. However, most people dilute the concentrate to create a coffee that is not as strong. It’s really the water-to-coffee ratio that dictates the caffeine in cold brew coffee. In other words:
Typically, iced coffee is even more diluted and has less caffeine, but this is not always the case. In the end, it’s up to your own preferences and methods of preparing.
Does Iced Coffee Taste Different than Cold Brew?
While it may depend on who you ask, the flavors of iced coffee and cold brew can differ greatly. Many people describe plain cold brew coffee as sweeter and smoother than that black iced coffee — this is partially due to the fact that it is made with room-temperature or cool water.
Cold brew is also usually less acidic-tasting and bitter than iced coffee. This is why some people might prefer to drink cold brew with little to no milk, cream, or sweetener. Iced coffee will simply have a flavor profile quite similar to hot brewed coffee, just at a lower temperature. Additionally, Walzer describes the flavor of some iced coffee as being acidic, floral, and fruity at times.
Is Cold Brew Stronger than Iced Coffee?
When it comes to caffeine content, cold brew coffee is typically stronger than traditional iced coffee. There are a couple of reasons for this: Cold brew coffee often requires a higher ratio of coffee grounds to water compared to iced coffee, which means it typically has more caffeine than the same volume of iced coffee.
With that said, Walzer explains that the amount of caffeine in a cold brew or iced coffee really depends on the number of grounds used to make each and how much each is diluted. Products labeled “cold brew concentrate,” for example, are much stronger and less diluted than a beverage simply labeled as “cold brew.” (And, as the name implies, they are meant to be diluted before serving.)
Which Stores Better, Cold Brew Or Iced Coffee?
Cold brew stores are better than iced coffee. Homemade cold brew concentrate can last up to two weeks in the fridge if stored properly. Iced coffee does not last this long, only up to several hours.
This is probably due to their different methods of preparing. With cold brew, you can store the concentrate and dilute it for drinking. Bear in mind that storing any drink affects the taste.
Is Cold Brew Better For You Than Iced Coffee?
Cold brew is less acidic, so if you have a sensitive stomach, it may be better than iced coffee. This is due to differences in the way cold brew and iced coffee are prepared.
Hot-water brewing accentuates the acidity in coffee, which is why iced coffee could be harder on your stomach. However, if you are watching your caffeine intake, iced coffee tends to be the better option.
Why Is Cold Brew More Expensive Than Iced Coffee?
Cold brew is more expensive than iced coffee because the cold-brewing process takes much longer and tends to use more coffee. For example, to make a cold brew you use one cup of coffee beans and five cups of cold water.
To make the concentrate, you reduce this ratio to 1:2. This is a bigger amount of coffee than iced coffee which requires approximately two teaspoons to one cup of boiling water.
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