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

Treat yourself to deliciousness today or any day really with an Iced Coffee or Cold Brew, but first, know the difference.  Our intern, from the University of Central Florida, developed our latest read...Thanks to Colleen McCaffrey @colleen.mccaffrey

So, let's find out the difference between Iced Coffee and Cold Brew, shall we?

Coffee Can Be Pretty Cool… Literally.

Coffee is an everyday essential, let’s be real. But the spring and summer seasons are upon us, and it’s time to opt-in for a nice, cool cup of coffee (unless you’re one of those people who drink iced coffee year-round, which is cool too.) With the seasons changing, there are some decisions to be made: do you want to drink a cold brew or an iced coffee? Now, you may be thinking “Wait, there’s a difference? How can I choose between the two if I thought they were the same thing?” We’re here to help provide some clarity. The main difference is how the two beverages are made.

Let’s Discuss the Classic: Iced Coffee.

It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Regularly brewed coffee poured over ice. This tastes like your typical cup of coffee, just a tad diluted by the ice that will inevitably melt (especially in our hometown Florida heat) but still has a full-body taste. If you’re going to prepare some iced coffee at home, try your hand at making some coffee ice cubes to avoid your drink being watered down! All you have to do is pour cooled coffee into an ice cube tray, freeze it, and there you have it.

What’s So Special About Cold Brew?

Cold Brew is a bit more complex. That may sound silly, but hear us out: The process of making cold brew is not as straightforward as the aforementioned iced coffee. Cold brew is created by steeping coarse-ground coffee in cold water for a lengthy period of 12+ hours. Once the batch of coffee is done steeping, the grounds are then filtered out. This leaves you with coffee concentrate. You can drink it straight up, add milk, sweeteners, ice- it’s all up to your personal preference. In general, cold brew is less acidic/bitter than iced coffee, so if you’re someone with a sensitive stomach this might be the better option for you to get your chilled caffeine fix in.

But Wait, What About Nitro Cold Brew?

Ah, yes. Nitro cold brew is essentially the Guinness of the cold coffee variety. No, seriously, nitro cold brew has a smooth mouthfeel, similar to a nitrogen-infused beer such as Guinness. Nitro cold brew and regular cold brew endure the same brewing process. The difference between the two is that nitro cold brew is stored in a keg and is infused with nitrogen to be put on tap upon brew completion. It tastes smooth and delicious on its own- we suggest trying out Barnie’s Nitro Cold Brew next time you head on over to our cafe. It’s a real crowd pleaser!

Cheers to warmer weather!

Here’s to hoping that we cleared up some possible confusion, and encouraged you to indulge in a cool Barnie’s iced coffee or cold brew in the months ahead!