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

When it comes to coffee, some like it cold. And when it comes to cold coffee, there are two choices: iced coffee, and cold brew. Though they sound similar, there are actually quite a few differences between the two. Let’s break them down for you.

Iced Coffee
Traditional iced coffee is prepared when regularly brewed hot coffee is poured over ice. This method is super simple, but one downside is that it can result in your drink being somewhat watered down. A great way to avoid diluted (and unsatisfying) iced coffee is to make it with the Mr. Coffee Iced™Coffee Maker. This iced coffee maker features RapidChill™ brewing, which works by quickly cooling hot, concentrated coffee over ice, resulting in flavor that is never watered down.

Cold Brew
When making cold brew, coffee grounds are left to steep in room-temperature water overnight. From there, the liquid is poured through a filter to remove the grounds, and then ice is added. The grounds are never exposed to heat, and the end result is flavorful coffee that has double the amount of caffeine compared to traditional iced coffee.

The Time

Iced Coffee
So much flavor in such a short time. With the Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker, your iced coffee is ready to enjoy in as little as 4 minutes.

Cold Brew
Conversely, cold brew coffee takes quite a while to prepare, as it uses time, rather than heat, to extract all the caffeinated goodness from the coffee grounds. The grounds have to steep for a minimum of 12 hours, and sometimes for up to 24 hours.

The Flavor

Iced Coffee
Traditionally brewed iced coffee, because it is made using heat, captures a complex, lively range of flavors, with high and low tones, as well as some notes of acidity. It has a light, refreshing feel, but as we mentioned before, can be “thin”, and prone to being watered down. The solution? Make your iced coffee with the Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker. It quickly cools hot concentrated coffee over ice to encapsulate the natural flavor of the coffee beans, for a medium-bodied, well-balanced flavor.

Cold Brew
Because it is made without heat, cold brew captures low flavor tones, resulting in a less complex, but more full-bodied flavor than iced coffee. It generally has a smooth mouthfeel, and an almost chocolaty taste, with no bright notes or acidities.

The Recommendation

Iced Coffee Made with the Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker
Both types of brew have their pros, of course. But for an iced coffee, flavor that is just as flavorful as cold brew, but is ready in a fraction of the time, Mr. Coffee iced coffee made with the RapidChill brewing method is our pick. Need more reasons?

1. Easy to make, and ready to enjoy in minutes
2. Delicious, refreshing iced coffee at home or on the go
3. Consistently great taste, every time.

Ready for some iced coffee? Take out your biggest glass (or your Mr. Coffee Reusable Tumbler), and enjoy a caffeine fix right at home.