Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee: What’s the Difference Between These Drinks?

Not all cold coffee drinks are created equal. Just because they are refreshing and give you a needed boost doesn’t mean the brewing process is the same.

So, let’s break down one of such dilemmas: cold brew vs iced coffee.

What is Cold Brew Coffee?

Just as its name suggests, cold brew coffee doesn’t use hot water. Yet, the brewing method is relatively simple. You don’t need to spend excessive amounts of money on a coffee shop’s cold brew when you can make cold brew coffee yourself.

So what is cold brew and what makes it special? Cold brew is less bitter, more delicate, and has a smoother taste (1). These qualities happen because the oils and acids that cause unpleasant flavors are not soluble in cold water. Although cold brew coffee already tastes better than other coffee drinks, you can always find ways to make your cold brew taste even better.

If you wish to make different cold brew drinks, here are some really cool and tasty cold brew recipes to try! Or check out this video, in which Steven from Home Grounds compares the various ways to make cold coffee:

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.

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 (2). 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:

Related: Hot Brew vs Cold Brew

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.

Brewing Methods

Now let’s explore the ideal brewing methods for a cold brew and iced coffee.

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 cold brew in this post.

Let this solution sit for 12 to 24 hours, although the precise steeping time for cold brew will depend on your preferences. Next, remove your concentrate and filter through the cheesecloth. You may want to repeat the filtration process to remove all of the fine particles. Finally, add cold water to taste, and you have a fresh cold brewed cup of coffee.

How To Make Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is a much faster way to get a chilled coffee beverage to cool you down. If you know how to make hot coffee, then you can make iced coffee.

First, brew your freshly ground coffee beans in whatever method you prefer. Then, either pour this hot coffee over ice or let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours. Keep in mind that the more time hot brewed coffee sits, the more its flavors degrade.

Any coffee maker can help you make an iced coffee, but these iced coffee makers can help you brew better-tasting drinks.

Final Thoughts

In the debate about cold brew vs iced coffee, you can be confident that either option is great on a hot day. Cold brew takes longer to make but has a less bitter taste. However, iced coffee can be brewed in minutes and still taste delightful.