Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: What's the Difference & How to Brew Both
When the temperatures rise, nothing beats a chilled coffee. But when you're craving that refreshing caffeine fix, do you know the difference between cold brew and iced coffee? While both are served cold, the brewing process is completely different—and that difference has a big impact on flavor, acidity, and strength.
Is All Iced Coffee Cold Brew?
Not at all. Cold brew is a type of iced coffee, but not all iced coffee is cold brew. Let’s break it down.
What is Iced Coffee?
Iced coffee is hot-brewed coffee that’s cooled and served over ice. Sometimes it's brewed hot and poured directly over ice (which can dilute the flavor), or it's brewed and chilled in the fridge before serving. The chilled version tends to be stronger to compensate for ice melt. It’s quick and easy, and still gives you that caffeine hit, but the flavor is often more acidic or bitter.
What is Cold Brew?
Cold brew coffee is made without any heat. Instead, coffee grounds are steeped in cold or room-temperature water for 12 to 24 hours. The longer brewing process draws out a smoother, sweeter flavor with much lower acidity compared to hot coffee or iced coffee. Cold brew is typically made using coarse-ground coffee and filtered using cloth, mesh, felt, nylon, or metal filters.
How We Do Cold Brew at Catfight Coffee
We make cold brew easy with pre-measured cold brew pouches you can drop straight into a pitcher of water. No fancy equipment needed, just patience and a fridge. While not all of our blends are available as cold brew pouches, we encourage you to experiment with others to find your favorite. You can find them here!
Can You Cold Brew Any Coffee?
Yes, and we highly recommend it. Whether you’re using one of our pouches or grinding your own, try adjusting the coffee-to-water ratio, test different blends, and experiment with steep times. You may find that some roasts shine more as cold brew than as a hot cup.
Final Tips
For best results, use a coarse grind, steep for 12 to 24 hours, and strain well before serving. Enjoy it over ice or dilute it slightly with water or your favorite milk.
Ready to Try It?
Check out our Cold Brew Collection or grab your favorite beans and brew it your way. Cold brew is one of the easiest and most versatile ways to enjoy coffee—especially when the heat kicks in.
Try our Cold Brew Starter Kit—pre-measured pouches, bold flavor, no mess. Browse our Cold Brew Collection or pick up your favorite blend and make it your way. Brewing cold never looked so good.
https://www.catfightcoffee.com/collections/cold-brew
