In this guide, speciality coffee experts explain the key characteristics and differences between cold brew and iced coffee. Discover more about chilled coffee and how it’s made, with detailed recipes, brewing guidelines, advice and expertise. Make your favourite coffee order right at home, and find out which is the best cold coffee for you.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLD BREW AND ICED COFFEE?
The key difference between iced coffee and cold brew is the brewing process. The time, temperature and type of brewing method are key differentiators, resulting in a different taste and strength of chilled coffee drink.
WHAT IS COLD BREW?
Cold brew is a brewing method that uses room temperature or chilled water to produce a rich, fuller flavour experience. The lower water temperature equates to a lower extraction, which is why the cold brew method takes time: coffee is steeped (extracted) for between 12 and 24 hours, resulting in a full-flavoured concentrate.
COLD BREW: THE BASICS
- Brewed cold
- Left to extract for at least 12 hours, up to 24 hours
- Smooth and balanced with classic and sweet tasting notes, like chocolate and sugar
- Needs time to prep before enjoying
WHAT IS ICED COFFEE?
Iced coffee is a brewed coffee served over ice. Simple, right? One of the reasons iced coffee is so popular isn’t just that’s a delicious chilled coffee drink, but that it’s so versatile, not to mention, quick and easy to make.
ICED COFFEE: THE BASICS
- Cooled down with ice
- Coffee extracted hot, in the same way as a normal brew
- More diluted in flavour, with heightened acidity
- Ready in minutes
ICED COFFEE VS. COLD BREW: BREWING TEMPERATURE
Although both iced coffee and cold brew are served as cold drinks, there is a key difference in the brewing temperatures. Iced coffee is first made with a classic shot of heated espresso, which impacts the brewing time and process. Cold brew, meanwhile, is made entirely without heat, which requires a longer brewing method.
Our coffee tasting professionals say..
"Heat is used as a catalyst in coffee to speed up a chemical reaction, and by brewing at a completely cool temperature, the balance of flavours in the coffee is changed."
ICED COFFEE VS. COLD BREW: TASTE
Cold brew tends to have less bitterness and acidity than an iced coffee, with classic and smooth tasting notes, commonly featuring chocolate. Typically made as a concentrate, cold brew is normally kept in the fridge after brewing, and often served over ice, diluted with water or milk, and even used as a base for cocktails. Thanks to its mild, sweet, and smooth profile, with minimal bitterness and acidity, cold brew is popular with good reason, an easy-drinking, pleasing choice for many looking for a cool caffeine boost in summer.
Iced coffee is popular for its ease and versatility, retaining any natural vibrancy and acidity. An iced coffee has a lighter body than a cold brew, and the perception of acidity is often greater. Iced coffees are light and refreshing, whether they’re enjoyed black, or with milk or a dairy alternative. Much like cold brew, exploring iced coffee presents a chance to explore different countries of origin, and discover your personal taste preference, which is all very much a part of the speciality coffee experience.
Read more about coffee acidity in our guide: What is acidity in coffee?
CAFFEINE IN COLD BREW VS ICED COFFEE
There’s plenty of conversation out there about whether a cup of cold brew contains more caffeine than an iced coffee - in fact, one of the reasons that cold brew is so popular is the belief that it contains more caffeine than other coffee options, such as an iced coffee.
While cold brew can contain more caffeine than other chilled coffee types, it doesn’t always. Any cold brew method will typically produce coffee with slightly higher caffeine levels than other brewing methods, such as a regular pour-over or batch coffee.
Our coffee tasting professionals say..
"There’s plenty of conversation out there about whIf you’re making cold brew at home, then you have greater control over how caffeinated you wish to make your drink, and you can even opt to make a cold brew using decaf coffee."
Curious to try your favourite coffee over ice? Sign up for our speciality coffee subscription today to enjoy a world-class coffee experience at home, to brew however you like.
ICED COFFEE VS. COLD BREW: STORAGE AND SERVING
STORAGE AND SERVING ICED COFFEE
Once made, you’ll want to serve and enjoy iced coffee straight away, as the taste will diminish the longer the coffee sits on the ice. Iced coffee is for the moment, easy to make, and for instant enjoyment: the only extra prep you’ll need is ensuring you’ve got ice on hand.
STORAGE AND SERVING COLD BREW
Once made, you’ll want to serve andCold brew is designed for longevity and has a good shelf life. If you’re planning to make cold brew coffee at home, it might take a little more time, but its the perfect chilled coffee to prepare in advance. Just remember to keep it in the fridge—a carafe or a sealed glass jar will work perfectly to store.
Our coffee tasting professionals say..
"When it comes to serving either cold brew or iced coffee, we’d recommend using good quality ice: If making at home, consider using filtered water, as the quality of the water as it melts, will have an impact on the flavours in your drink. We’d also recommend serving both iced coffee, and cold brew, in clean, chilled glassware."
HOW TO MAKE ICED COFFEE
To make any type of iced coffee, you simply brew to your normal recipe, and then serve over ice. Follow the steps for the following homemade coffee recipes:
- How to make filter coffee (with a V60)
- How to make cafetiere coffee
- How to make an espresso
Serve your favourite homemade coffee over ice. Simple! Looking for more advice and inspiration? Check out our blog: The 5 best iced coffees to try
HOW TO MAKE ICED AMERICANO
Classic and refreshing, an iced Americano allows the drinker to enjoy the bright acidity on offer in an iced coffee, without changing the flavour profile too much with the addition of milk.
- Chill a glass.
- Fill generously with ice (filter water is definitely key here—for the water and ice).
- Fill three-quarters with chilled, filtered water.
- Weigh and extract your shot of espresso in a cup as usual.
- Pour espresso over the ice and water.
- Serve, and enjoy.
HOW TO MAKE AN ICED LATTE
An iced latte is arguably one of the most popular choices when people order an iced coffee. It’s a great choice for those who enjoy milk and dairy alternatives blended with their coffee, and it’s easy to make, too.
- Use a chilled, tall glass.
- Fill generously with ice (preferably made using filtered water).
- Fill three-quarters with your preferred choice of milk or dairy alternative.
- Weigh and extract your shot of espresso into a cup as usual.
- Pour espresso into the glass.
- Stir, then serve and enjoy.
HOW TO MAKE AN ICED MOCHA
Use a chilled, tall glass. Fill generously withAn iced mocha is a popular option for those looking for a little extra sweetness in their iced coffee.
- Prepare a chilled glass
- Fill generously with ice (preferably from filtered water)
- Fill three-quarters with milk or a dairy alternative
- Weigh out 5g (roughly one tsp; you can adapt this to suit your personal taste preference) of drinking chocolate into a cup
- Weigh out and extract your shot of espresso into the cup
- Stir the chocolate and espresso to ensure both have blended
- Pour the mixture over the ice and milk
- Stir, then serve and enjoy.
Our coffee tasting professionals say..
"We’d always recommend using high-quality cocoa; direct-trade, responsibly sourced, such as Rio Nuevo or Land Chocolate's range of speciality drinking chocolate."
BEST COFFEE FOR ICED COFFEE
For iced coffee, explore coffees with prominent citrus notes to heighten the bright and vibrant acidity of the brew. Cooling a coffee with ice will naturally soften sweeter notes and lift natural acidity, so explore coffee varietals to find the best coffee to use.
Read our guide to coffee processing to find out more about how coffee processes can influence taste.
HOW TO MAKE COLD BREW COFFEE
There are two main methods for making cold brew: the immersion method, and the Kyoto cold drip. The Kyoto drip method is the quicker of the two, however, the immersion method is easier to prepare and set up, with fewer steps involved.
Our bag-in-a-box cold brew coffee offers a brilliantly balanced, smooth, and well-rounded recipe that’s delicious served straight over ice, used as a base for evening cocktails, or mixed with oat milk.
COLD BREW RECIPE: IMMERSION METHOD
You will need:
- Coffee filter papers
- Coffee grinder
- Carafe / French press
- Filtered water
HOW TO MAKE COLD BREW: STEP BY STEP
- Grind your coffee coarsely (just as you would for a French press)
- Place ground coffee in a vessel such as a carafe or French press
- Pour the room temperature or chilled water over the coffee
- Leave the mixture to steep for the desired time. 12 to 18 hours is recommended if left to brew at room temperature, up to 24 hours is recommended if you leave the cold brew to steep in the fridge
- After this time period, use a coffee filter paper to strain out the coffee grinds
- You’re ready to serve!
- Drink your cold brew as you choose - serving methods include: Neat over ice With a splash of milk or a dairy alternative Diluted with cold water Combined with hot water
Our coffee tasting professionals say..
"- We recommend a water-to-coffee ratio of 1:8 coffee to water.
- If possible, use filtered water, as good quality water has a big influence on flavour.
- Make sure your fridge is free of any strong-smelling food items and that your cold brew vessel for brewing is tightly sealed!
- If you’re making cold brew at home, we’d always recommend making batches on a smaller scale, so you can enjoy them at their best (and not take up all the space in your fridge)
- Planning ahead means you can make just enough for your weekend, or the right amount to see you through your Monday-Friday commute"
BEST COFFEE FOR COLD BREW
As the cold brew method produces a smooth, rich, and balanced flavour, it’s a great chilled coffee to explore with flavour varietals and countries of origin. The cold brew method brings out sweetness in coffee, which can be elevated with citrus notes. However, it’s completely up to you - the beauty of a cold brew coffee is that you can enjoy the journey of exploration and see where your cold brew takes you.
For our cold brew coffee bag in a box, we’ve Konga, a brilliant single-origin Ethiopian coffee using the washed process.
ORIGIN SPECIALITY COLD BREW
At Origin, our cold brew bag in a box provides 20 servings and is conveniently designed to sit neatly in the fridge. With an easy pouring mechanism and a handy cold brew coffee subscription option, you can tailor your delivery of cold brew to a schedule that suits you with direct-to-door delivery.
ICED COFFEE VS. COLD BREW FAQs
DOES BREWING TIME IMPACT CAFFEINE LEVELS IN COLD BREW?
No. Cold brew is a concentrate, but it’s often diluted before serving. Whether you choose to leave your cold brew to steep for 18 hours, or up to 24, the brewing time, past a certain point, won’t equate to more caffeine. While the longer brew time should give the water much more time to extract the caffeine, it’s still similar to other brewing methods in terms of caffeine content.
IS COLD BREW COFFEE STRONGER THAN ICED COFFEE?
Cold brew is stronger if you don’t dilute it, as you would with your normal coffee (water, milk, etc.). If you’re serving your cold brew over ice, the ice will dilute it, just as it will in iced coffee. In terms of caffeine content, a cold brew, depending on how it’s served, can be stronger than an iced coffee.
CAN YOU HEAT COLD BREW COFFEE OR ICED COFFEE?
Heating your cold brew coffee is optional when you serve it. As iced coffee uses heat at the start of the brewing process, it’s not advisable to heat it, as it is cooled down with ice, purposely to be enjoyed cold.
CAN COLD BREW BE DECAF?
Absolutely, but there are some limitations. As cold brew takes more time to prepare, you’re a lot less likely to be able to order a decaf cold brew from a coffee shop. At home, however, you can easily brew a decaffeinated version, following the same steps as you would for a regular cold brew.
CAN COLD BREW GO BAD?
While cold brew is the best chilled coffee type for longevity, it can still go bad. If you’re making cold brew at home, we’d suggest you only make enough for a week at a time, so it doesn’t lose its depth of flavour and freshness.
IS COLD BREW STRONGER THAN ESPRESSO?
Cold brew can definitely be stronger than espresso. This is because there’s a higher ratio of coffee to water used. And, if not diluted, then you’re drinking a concentrate, which means a much higher level of caffeine than espresso.
IS COLD BREW MORE EXPENSIVE THAN ICED COFFEE?
Cold brew takes more time and effort to make than an iced coffee, which is prepped up to 24 hours in advance. It’s for this reason that you might find ordering cold brew more expensive to order than iced coffee. Iced coffee can also be made as quickly as a hot coffee order, with no additional ingredients, which may result in a small difference in price.
Shop our speciality coffee collection to explore our range of coffee blends and types, so you can find the best coffee to make at home depending on your preferences. For more barista tips and advice, check out our journal.
