What’s The Difference Between Cold Brew and Iced Coffee?

Your customers are out on the town in the heat of summer and need a pick-me-up, they drop into your store and are faced with a tough decision; iced coffee or cold brew? Having both options on your menu, served just right, could mean a boost in profits for your coffee business. That’s why we’re here to answer what’s the difference between cold brew and iced coffee and share the details you just might need.

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee

The core differences between cold brew and iced coffee are brewing temperature and time. Cold brew uses cold water and takes 12 to 24 hours, and iced coffee is brewed with hot water, typically in a traditional drip/batch method, and served over ice. Here's a handy dandy cheat sheet listing the big differences between cold brew and iced coffee. 

There are more differences to cover though, like grind size and serving methods, so be sure to stick around.

Selecting & Grinding A Roast

The secret to the best cold brew and iced coffee is the beans; not only which ones you select, but also how you prepare and brew them. While any roast can be used, certain origins and blends will express different notes, so you’ll want to consider the best flavor profile to approach with each.
More importantly, after you select your beans, you need to grind them to the perfect coarseness. Given iced coffee is made like batch brew, you can keep your grind size similar, but to get the perfect texture and mouthfeel of cold brew, your grounds must be coarse.

Alternative Options for Your Shop

There is a standard way these drinks are made, but it’s not the only way! If you’re looking to streamline operations or ensure a consistent product across your team, you’ll want to consider these potential profit-boosting alternatives:

• Dilworth Coffee Cold Brew Filter Packs: Why grind and filter coffee if you don’t have to? Our cold brew packs are a great bulk coffee option where you get the perfect grind every time in pre-portioned packages. Simply add 3 filter packs per gallon of water and allow it to steep for 12 to 18 hours.
• Big Train Blended Iced Coffee Mixes: These packs are likely the fastest substitute for brewing iced coffee. You simply add the contents and water, milk, or a milk alternative to a shaker, shake for 30-60 seconds, and pour over ice.

What About Nitro Cold Brew?

If you have the capacity to add a kegerator-style fridge and tap to your shop, offering nitro cold brew could be an idea worth pursuing. If you’re not familiar, nitro cold brew is infused with nitrogen gas, like how carbon dioxide is used to carbonate soft drinks. This takes the already smooth cold brew coffee and gives it a creamy, almost velvety texture.

Nitrogen also creates an interesting effect when the coffee is poured, and your customers can enjoy watching their drink settle over time. This is a great way to add a premium offering to your menu that will stand out to the higher-budget buyers looking for something a little different.

Serving Styles & Preferences

It seems the recipes for iced coffee get more innovative every year, so it can be fruitful to stay up to date on what is popular in your area. Our recipe blog is a great resource for this, as we’re constantly sharing some of the most creative coffee creations from across the industry. To ensure your arsenal is ready to make any creation, it is a great idea to stock up on all your products, like seasonal sauces and syrups.

You’ll find that a lot of cold brew drinkers prefer their coffee black given the smooth texture offered by this brewing method, especially regarding nitro. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be customized in the same ways iced coffee so often is. One of the most popular customizations to consider is making your own cold foam. The process is simple, and once you get it down, you can make some pretty amazing creations, like a pomegranate cold brew with cinnamon cold foam.

Sharing Your Grasp on Cold Brew & Iced Coffee

Turning a coffee novice into a regular at your shop can come down to sharing what you’ve learned along your way. They may not just be asking “What’s the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?”; here are some of the most common questions about these pretty cool coffee options.

Is Cold Brew Stronger Than Iced Coffee?

In terms of caffeine, cold brew is typically stronger than iced coffee. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer though, as concentration is customizable, so be sure to let your customers know what they can expect.

Is Cold Brew Sweeter Than Iced Coffee?

Yes, typically cold brew has a sweeter, more syrupy taste than iced coffee, but it can vary based on the kind of beans used to brew the cold brew or iced coffee.

What Is the Advantage of Cold Brew Coffee?

Your customers can expect cold brew to be advantageous over iced coffee in that it is rich and intense, but still silky smooth - not to mention the opportunity for unique enhancements like cold foam.

Is Cold Brew Just Chilled Coffee?

As we’ve covered, cold brew is an entirely different product than chilled or iced coffee. Be sure to enlighten your customers on the fascinating process.

Can You Add Milk to Cold Brew?

If your customers typically prefer milk in their coffee, they certainly can still do this with cold brew, but let them know that black cold brew is much more approachable than traditional coffee.

Grow Your Profits With a Little Help From a Friend

We hope you’ve found what you were looking for on cold brew and iced coffee differences. Whether you’re serving up Big Train iced coffee or have a pretty impressive collection of cold brew options, we bet your customers are happy campers and you’re seeing a bump up in profits.

As your neighborly coffee shop supplier and consultant, Dilworth Coffee is happy to provide advice for your business in any way; give us a ring today.