As the weather warms up across the Central West, the question we get asked most at the counter is simple: what's the difference between iced coffee and cold brew? They look similar in the glass, but they're brewed in completely different ways — and that changes how they taste.
Two different brewing methods
Iced coffee starts as hot coffee. You brew it as you normally would — through a machine, a plunger or a pour-over — then cool it down quickly, usually by pouring straight over ice. Because it's brewed hot, it keeps the brightness and acidity you'd expect from a regular cup, just served cold.
Cold brew skips heat altogether. Coarse coffee grounds steep in cold or room-temperature water for anywhere from twelve to twenty-four hours. Without heat speeding up extraction, you pull through different compounds, which is why cold brew tends to taste smoother, rounder and naturally sweeter, with much less acidity.
Which beans suit which method
Cold brew's slow extraction tends to flatten out the more delicate, high-toned notes that make a single origin interesting hot. It still works well, particularly with naturally sweet, lower-acid origins — our single origins are worth experimenting with here. For an everyday iced long black, a balanced, consistent cup like our Balaka Blend holds up nicely over ice without losing its character.
Making both at home
For cold brew, use a coarse grind — similar to what you'd use in a plunger — at a ratio of around 1 part coffee to 8 parts water. Steep it in the fridge for sixteen to eighteen hours, strain it well, then dilute the concentrate with water or milk to taste over ice. For iced coffee, brew your coffee slightly stronger than usual and pour it straight over a full glass of ice immediately after brewing, so it chills fast without watering down.
A few tools that help
A coarse, even grind matters more for cold brew than almost any other method, so a decent burr grinder earns its keep here. A fine mesh strainer or a dedicated cold brew jug with a built-in filter also makes the whole process a lot less messy. Have a look through our barista tools if you want to set yourself up properly.
Whichever one you land on, both are worth having in rotation over summer. Grab what you need for pickup at Larder & Home in Lucknow or Tuckshop in South Orange, or order online for delivery. Any questions, our team members are always happy to help — just drop a line to gday@evercoffee.au.