On the hottest summer days, only one drink is love: cold coffee. But then, some people think that cold brew coffee and iced coffee are identical. But, hey, there is a lot of difference between these two. Although they look similar, they taste different. If you have tasted these two, one is refreshing, and the other is smooth and sweet. So, from the brewing methods to the flavor, let’s look at the differences between these two famous cafe beverages.
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WHAT IS ICED COFFEE?
Iced coffee is something which is served with ice. There are various ways you can make iced coffee, but let’s talk about the most popular way to brew it.
You must be imagining, pouring the hot coffee over ice results in a diluted brew. That is the only reason why most chain food stores you get iced coffee from taste watery and flavorless. In general, iced coffee is enjoyed with sugar and milk in simple forms.
WHAT IS COLD BREW COFFEE?
When we are talking- about cold brew coffee, it is brewed with cold water and steeped for 12 hours. Cold-brew coffee takes a long time because cold water does not extract the oils. But, hot water does definitely does that. With cold brew, you can simply immerse your coffee grounds in water and prepare it in any container you like. It could be a mason jar, a clever dripper, or a french press. Since cold brew coffee is smooth and not acidic, you can add milk with sugar and cream.
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FLAVOR DIFFERENCE:
When coffee is brewed hot for iced coffee an oxidation reaction takes place, which gives it a stale taste. While this does not happen immediately, the heat speeds up the process, and the coffee beans are roasted. These then begin to oxidize at a slower rate. Big coffee chains make this coffee the way we have described. That is only the reason why the iced coffee tends to taste watery and flavorless. A few coffee shops have begun to flash chill their iced coffee that is brewing hot coffee directly onto ice. This method keeps all the natural aromas released with hot water. It is done by cooling the coffee immediately and preserving a lot of flavors too. Also, iced coffee made this way tastes brighter and crisper.
In comparison, the cold water used in cold brew changes the flavor significantly. When we talk about, cold brew, it is smoother and sweeter than brewed iced coffee. But it lacks the acidity and bitterness found in hot brewed coffee.
CAFFEINE DIFFERENCES:
When we talk about brewing methods, the caffeine content present in it can vary wildly between cold brew and iced coffee. Cold brew coffee has more caffeine than iced coffee because it sits for a longer time. At most coffee shops cold brew will have roughly 50 mg more caffeine than the average iced coffee.
THE RIGHT PICK FOR YOU: ICED COFFEE or COLD BREW? Every person has a different taste, and he prefers one drink to the other. Iced coffee is for someone looking for a light and more refreshing drink with a classic coffee flavor. They can easily add milk and sugar to it. On the other hand, a cold brew coffee is for someone looking for a smooth and sweet coffee that is a little more caffeinated and needs some amount of cream and milk. A traditional iced coffee will always dilute further as the ice melts. Talking about a cold brew it will remain a strong coffee. We would suggest that try them both
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