Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee: The Differences Explained

Summer is here! The sun’s out and it’s time to bring out the all-time classics - the iced coffees and the cold brews. Both drinks are known to be refreshing, but just because both are served cold, it doesn’t mean that they are the same. With differing flavour profiles, varying caffeine levels and distinct brewing methods, both coffees have numerous differences that set them apart from each other. Read on to know more about cold brew vs iced coffee and let us help you decide which one will tickle your taste buds the most!

The Cold Brew

Cold brew coffee is brewed with cold water and steeped for at least 12 hours. The longer the coffee sits, the stronger the flavour. The brewing process for cold brew isn’t as straightforward as one would imagine. Since the cold brew is known for its smoothness, serving it with ice is a match made in heaven.

Cold brews are usually made with coarse-ground coffee; this helps in keeping the resulting brew from becoming bitter. Cold brew is known to have a sweeter aftertaste and is less acidic than your average cold joe. You can also store the brewed cold brew coffee for up to 5-6 days in the refrigerator.

For all those who wish to enjoy the refreshing flavour of a cold brew in the comfort of your homes, we bring to you our Easy Cold Brew Bags. With no equipment needed for its preparation, our exquisite cold brew bags come in various options such as the Medium Roast and the Medium-Dark Roast. Head over to our website to buy coffee online and while you’re there, make sure to try your hand at each of these amazing flavours.

The Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is a decoction consisting of hot brewed coffee served over ice, with the occasional addition of sweeteners such as table sugar, chocolate powder, or vanilla syrup. The brewing process is a pretty simple one, all you need to do is brew a normal hot coffee, cool it down and pour it over ice. 

Iced coffee tends to be light, refreshing and a bit more acidic - although this mainly depends on the beans used. The iced coffee has numerous variants around the world - like the Vietnamese iced coffee, which features sweetened condensed milk and the whiskey-infused iced Irish coffee. The easy brewing method, along with the refreshing aftertaste has made the iced coffee and its distinct cousins a staple for coffee lovers during harsh summers.

Also Read: How To Brew The Perfect Mocha Coffee

Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee: The Differences

We reached out to our team of remarkable baristas and had them answer the question of cold brew vs iced coffee; this is what we got

• The iced coffee is regular coffee that has been brewed using hot water with a coffee machine, then cooled before being served over ice. Cold-brew on the other hand is made by steeping fresh coffee grounds in cold water for a duration of at least 12 hours.
• Cold brew is beloved for having a slightly sweeter flavour profile with less acidity than its counterpart.
• The slower brewing process of the cold brew extracts more caffeine than the traditional brewing process of the iced coffee. This gives the cold brew a stronger and prolonged caffeine kick.
• The rapid temperature change in the case of iced coffee can cause it to get spoiled faster than its alternative.
  

Also Read: How To Brew The Perfect Iced White Chocolate Mocha at Home?

Cold brew and iced coffee are both remarkable decoctions that can give you a much-needed caffeine boost during dry summer afternoons and choosing the one meant for you comes down to taste and preference. Iced coffee is your classic cold coffee with more of the roast in the taste than the actual coffee. And the cold brew is known to express the flavour of the bean rather than the roast. If you’re new to either of these drinks, make sure to try them out before deciding upon one. This will help you understand your personal favourite and help answer the question of cold brew vs iced coffee in your own unique manner.