Are you in the mood for some delicious, refreshing, cold coffee? But wait a second, do you want an iced coffee or a cold brew? Both are cold and come with ice—so what's the difference? Iced coffee vs. cold brew—let's "steep" right to it!
WHAT IS ICED COFFEE?
Iced coffee, much like it sounds, is regular hot coffee served over ice. Brewing hot coffee utilizes heat in the form of hot water to rapidly extract the coffee's flavor compounds. It's important to note that if you don't let the coffee cool down before pouring it over ice, your coffee will get watered down. There are a few methods to avoid this. One approach would be allowing your coffee to fully cool before pouring it over ice. Putting your coffee in the fridge can speed up the cooling process. Another method would be brewing your coffee extra strong, so your coffee maintains its flavor when the ice melts. The last method requires a little more prep, but it's a great option if you have the time and are feeling fancy. You can make a tray of coffee ice cubes. To do this, simply pour cooled-down coffee into an ice tray and place it in the freezer. Once you're ready to enjoy an iced coffee, add the frozen coffee cubes to your freshly brewed coffee.
WHAT IS COLD BREW?
Cold brew coffee is made by steeping ground coffee in cold or room temperature water for several hours, anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. The longer the coffee grounds steep, the stronger the flavor of your coffee. The grounds are then filtered out, leaving you with coffee to be served over ice. This brewing process relies on low temperature and time, not heat, for coffee extraction.
The main difference between iced coffee and cold brew is their brewing method. Iced coffee starts as hot coffee, brewed rapidly using heat, while the cold brew never gets hot and requires more time and patience. These two brewing methods result in different coffee flavors. Using heat to create iced coffee can lead to more acidic or slightly bitter coffee. Since cold brew is made without heat, the flavors tend to be smoother and sweeter in comparison. Additionally, cold brew relies on a more extended extraction period, which can often produce more complex flavors.
Whichever way you enjoy your cold coffee, iced or cold brewed, the key is starting with fresh, high-quality coffee beans. At Green Screen Coffee, we supply you with the finest 100% Arabica coffee beans from responsible farms, roast with air for a smoother taste, and ship within 24 hrs of roasting for guaranteed freshness.
Click here to place your Green Screen coffee order!