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

Iced Coffee and Cold Brew are two cold coffee staples served year-round all across the globe. While many people (and some cafes, tsk! tsk!) use the terms interchangeably, they’re actually very different drinks. Today, we’re breaking down the difference between these two delicious beverages so you can spread the word to all your coffee-loving friends and family.

Cold Brew

Cold Brew exploded in popularity about a decade ago, and it’s still holding strong in the café world. Although it shares some surface-level similarities with iced coffee, the primary difference lies in how it’s brewed.

Cold Brew is made using an immersion method. Coarsely ground coffee is placed into a filter (often a “cold brew sock”) and left to steep in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. Since the brewing process doesn’t involve heat, the long steep time allows for a deep extraction of the coffee’s flavors.

This is why Cold Brew is often considered stronger and sometimes higher in caffeine than iced coffee, although caffeine content can vary depending on the recipe.

Iced Coffee

Ah, Iced Coffee, the better of the two. (Okay, maybe our bias is showing, but hey, coffee is subjective!) Iced Coffee tends to be a bit more lively and bright than Cold Brew.

While there are a few ways to make it, the most popular brewing method is the Japanese-Style Iced Coffee Method. It’s similar to a standard pour-over brew, but with a twist: you brew the coffee directly over ice.

Typically, you replace a portion of your brewing water with ice. For example, if your pour-over recipe calls for 100ml of water, you might use 50ml of hot water and 50ml of ice for a 50/50 ratio. (You can adjust this depending on how strong you like your coffee.)

One of the reasons this method is so beloved is that it locks in the coffee’s flavor profile. Instead of muting the flavors like Cold Brew sometimes can, Japanese-Style Iced Coffee keeps those juicy, complex notes front and center.

Which Should You Choose?

It all comes down to personal preference.

If you want a darker, richer coffee, especially if you plan on adding milk or sweeteners, Cold Brew might be your best bet.

If you want a drink that truly highlights the unique flavors of the coffee beans, we recommend reaching for an Iced Coffee.

At the end of the day, every café and coffee shop does things a little differently, so the best way to find your favorite is to try them both!

Check out our recommendations below for Iced Coffee and Cold Brew!

Iced Coffee Recommendation

Cold Brew Recommendation