The difference between the iced coffee and cold brew is the process used to make them. Cold brew is made from coffee beans, which can come from any growing region and be a single origin coffee or a blend of coffee from several different growing regions. The coarsely ground beans are placed in room temperature water for at least twelve hours. Iced coffee is made from hot water. The process of brewing with hot water it extracts the oils and acidity from the coffee bean, which gives it a slightly bitter taste.
With cold brew coffee it is made without the use of hot water which will result with a coffee that has a much milder and sweeter flavor. Cold brew coffee is a better choice over iced coffee for people with sensitive stomachs or when they have frequent heart burn. However, there is more caffeine. Iced coffee is easier to prepare. Iced coffee has less acidity than cold brew which is a healthier choice if one is trying to limit caffeine.
Here is the most notable difference between cold brew and ice coffee:
Caffeine Amount:
Cold brew contains more caffeine than regular iced coffee. The cold brew will have a higher amount of caffeine than iced coffee because its coffee to water ratio is bigger.
Time:
Cold brew takes time to make compared to iced coffee because it has to steep for over twelve hours. Iced coffee can be done in less than an hour as it wouldn’t take long to cool down the coffee.
Flavor:
Iced coffee tastes like regular coffee cooled down. This coffee is usually thinner in consistency because of the melting ice it is served with, but it retains its full body. On the other hand, cold brew coffee tastes smooth and less acidic or bitter. It also has a chocolaty flavor that iced coffee lacks.
Strength:
Cold brew is higher in caffeine and stronger than traditional iced coffee. The amount of water or milk added determines its strength but almost always turns out to be stronger than regular coffee.