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Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: What’s the Difference?

Slow and smooth or fast and furious

cold-brew-vs-iced-coffee: a glass of cold brew, an iced coffee with milk and an americano
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When things get hot, there’s no beating a chilled, caffeinated drink. But while there’s no question of what temperature we want our morning cup of joe (frosty), does it matter if we choose cold brew or the iced stuff? And why is one so much more expensive than the other? In other words, cold brew vs. iced coffee—what’s the difference?! I spoke to two coffee experts to find out, and let’s just say there’s plenty of nuance.

For starters, Leonti told me that “cold brew is the gateway drug to specialty coffee,” which certainly sounds intriguing. But if you’re wanting to know more about what that means, exactly, I can spill the beans (sorry, had to). Spoiler: it all comes down to brew methods and flavor.

Meet the Experts

  • Craig Dubitsky is the co-founder & CEO of happy®, a lifestyle brand dedicated to bringing joy back into the everyday—starting with coffee. As an entrepreneur, he focuses on transforming everyday commodities into must-have essentials. This has led him to develop his coffee expertise through in-depth, hands-on study and close collaboration with his internal team of experts.
  • Jake Leonti is the Director of Coffee at Gregorys Coffee. He brings over two decades of expertise spanning barista training, roastin, and green coffee importing. With a career that includes leadership roles at La Colombe and Coffee of Grace, Jake has trained thousands of baristas, judged prestigious coffee competitions, and developed innovative cold brew programs on a global scale. He is also the host of the Food + Beverage Therapy podcast, where he continues to shape the industry through education and storytelling. 
cold brew vs iced cofee: a major jar of homemade cold brew
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What Is Cold Brew?

The first thing you should know about cold brew is implied in the name: There’s no hot water involved. Instead, you’re using steeping coarsely ground coffee in room temperature water for an extended period of time—typically about 12 to 24 hours, Leonti says, depending on your tastes and preferences. This is known for creating a smoother-tasting brew, and it doesn’t require a coffee maker—just a grinder, some good quality beans and a little patience.

cold brew vs iced coffee" a person pouring a glass of iced coffee
georgeclerk/Getty Images

What Is Iced Coffee?

As for iced coffee, “it is coffee that’s brewed hot via your preferred method (e.g., drip, pour-over, espresso, French press, etc.) and the beauty [of this method] is that it can be made to fit your preference, as coffee of any temperature can be poured over the ice,” says Dubitsky. Just keep in mind that the temperature of the brewed coffee will determine how diluted it becomes when you pour it over the ice. Still, it’s a very unfussy and highly customizable way to enjoy a frosty caffeine hit.

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: How They’re Made

Cold Brew:

“Cold brew has evolved a bit over the last 25 years, so there are a number of ways to get the same result,” says Leonti. Still, here’s the basic process, according to the expert: 

“At a ratio of about 1:5.6 (coffee to water), use coarsely ground coffee (as in, French press course). Put the grounds in a large paper filter. Put that filter into a larger nylon strainer (to ensure you are keeping the fines out of the beverage). Fill your brewing vessel with water and fully submerge your grounds in the room-temperature water bath. We recommend massaging the grinds to ensure they are fully saturated in the water. Then allow the grinds to soak for 12-24 hours, depending on taste preference. The longer you soak, the more you extract, which is not always a good thing. 

Once you have reached the desired time, remove the grinds from the solution and strain the grinds, as they will hold a lot of your brew. 

Once strained, dilute your concentrate by adding an equal amount of water as there is concentrate, creating a 1:1 mix. If you have the luxury of using a refractometer, I would mix it down to 1.8 - 2.0 TDS (total dissolved solids) and serve over ice.”

Personally, if I endeavor to make cold brew, I don’t think I will invest in a refractometer—even the name intimidates me—but if you really want to geek out with your coffee routine, more power to you.

Iced Coffee:

Per Dubitsky, the instructions for brewing iced coffee are very straightforward:

  • Brew coffee: Brew your coffee using your preferred method (drip, pour-over, French press).
  • Cool slightly: Allow the brewed coffee to cool for a short time, preferably to room temperature, but that’s a matter of preference, depending on how diluted you want your coffee to be. (Also feel free to expedite this process with a stint in the fridge or freezer.)
  • Pour over ice: Fill a glass with ice and pour the brewed coffee over it for rapid cooling.
  • Add flavorings (optional): Customize your iced coffee with milk, cream and/or sweeteners to taste.

Leonti notes that the brewing process is also important, since the longer you brew the coffee in hot water, the more you extract. The takeaway? “For an ideal brew, you want to be done extracting in less than six minutes.”

cold brew vs iced coffee: an iced cold brew and iced coffee with milk
zeynepkaya/Getty Images

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: How They Taste

Cold Brew:

“Cold brew can taste very sweet and round (meaning little to no acidity), which is an effect of being brewed without heat. It's full-bodied, thick and concentrated,” explains Leonti. For what it’s worth, both Leonti and Dubitsky agree that cold brew is a decidedly smoother operator than your average iced coffee.

Iced Coffee:

When you’re ordering an iced coffee, it’s brewed hot and then poured over ice, resulting in a more pronounced classic coffee flavor profile,” says Dubitsky. What is this classic coffee flavor profile, you ask? Leonti describes iced coffee as often having a “stale [flavor that] tends to highlight roast character,” adding that you can “often detect acidity and a bitter aftertaste, though the body is light.”

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: How Much Caffeine They Have

The experts tell me that cold brew has a higher caffeine content than iced coffee, particularly the kind that you buy at your local cafe or in a can. This is due to the longer extraction time and higher concentration. (For reference, a tall iced coffee at Starbucks, for example, has 135 mg of caffeine, whereas the same size cold brew at the chain contains 155 mg.) That said, when making cold brew at home, you have the freedom to dilute it however you see fit, so you can adjust the concentration (and therefore the caffeine content) to your preference.

So, Should You Drink Cold Brew or Iced Coffee?

I think most coffee connoisseurs will agree that cold brew is the preferable option, but ultimately that depends on your personal needs and preferences. Are you sensitive to caffeine? If so, regular iced coffee is a better choice. Are you short on time and making a home brew? Again, iced coffee is for you. Do you prize smooth, robust flavor and low acidity above all else? Cold brew it is.

Bottom line: Acquaint yourself with the distinctions as they’re described above, and find the pick-me-up that you prefer.



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Freelance PureWow Editor

  • Has 5+ years of experience writing family, travel and wellness content for PureWow
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