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Front Street recently saw a discussion mentioning "What's the difference between iced brewed coffee and cold brew coffee," and then some replies said there was no difference, while others joked, "Whatever coffee I make, I say it is what I say it is!" Haha~ hardcore! So is there a difference between the two?

What is iced brewed coffee?

Iced brewed coffee is actually ice drip coffee~ Iced brewing refers to using an ice-water mixture below 1℃ to drip-extract coffee grounds. A common ice drip coffee maker is divided into three parts: the upper pot is used to hold the ice-water mixture, and some have a valve to adjust the dripping speed, while others have the dripping speed set by the original design; the middle pot is used to hold the coffee grounds; the lower pot is used to store the extracted coffee liquid.

Extraction time for iced brewed/ice drip coffee

Because the temperature of the ice-water mixture is low and the drip method is used, the release rate of flavor substances in the coffee grounds becomes slower, and bitterness and off-flavors are also difficult to release. In order to ensure that the coffee's sweet and sour flavors can be fully extracted, the ice water should drip at a rate of 4 drops every 10 seconds, with a total extraction time of 4-8 hours.

After extraction is complete, it should not be drunk immediately. At this point the coffee has little taste and needs to be sealed and left to stand in the refrigerator for more than 8 hours. The sealing process produces carbon dioxide, and the pressure generated by the carbon dioxide allows the coffee's flavor molecules to present themselves better (the aging process). Iced drip coffee overall shows a light feeling, one could say it is clean, refreshing, and free of impurities, full of aroma and lovable~

What is cold brew coffee?

Cold brew coffee is also called cold-brewed coffee. Cold water is poured over coffee grounds for immersion extraction. The cold brewing method can amplify the coffee's various flavors and aromas, reduce acidity, and enhance the coffee's overall body. The equipment for making cold brew coffee is very simple; you only need a container with a lid and a filtering tool, so it can be made anytime whether at home or in the office.

Should cold brew coffee be extracted at room temperature or in the refrigerator?

Both are possible, but the extraction time will differ. Cold brew coffee at room temperature is recommended to be soaked for no more than 8 hours, while cold brew coffee at low temperature is recommended to be soaked for 12-24 hours.

The extraction time of room-temperature cold brew coffee will vary with the room temperature. Coffee soaked at room temperature can show a full body immediately after extraction. The drawback is that if the extraction time does not suit the coffee grounds, it will release a woody taste to "protest" at you.

The advantage of putting it in the refrigerator is that while it can soak out a full body, the woody taste is also less likely to appear. The drawback is that the time is really long... Although low-temperature extraction makes it difficult to extract off-flavors and bitterness from the coffee beans, the extraction time is ultimately relatively long. To avoid the extracted coffee liquid being too strong, it is recommended to adjust the grind size slightly coarser.

As for the choice of coffee beans, Front Street believes you can choose coffee beans with different processing methods or roast levels according to your own preferences, provided that the coffee beans are within their optimal tasting period (2 months). The extraction characteristics of ice drip coffee can highlight the coffee's wine aroma, fruity fermentation feel, and sweet-sour aroma. For example, if you like clear fruity aromas, the ice drip made with Front Street Flower Butterfly coffee beans is recommended; it presents the fresh sweetness of grapefruit tea;

if you like fermented wine aromas, the Front Street Honduras Sherry Barrel ice drip is recommended. It has a rich whiskey and vanilla taste on the palate, along with the sweetness of honey;

but if you prefer full acidity and a juicy feel, the Front Street Sun-Dried Flower Queen ice drip is recommended. It has lively berry and passion fruit sweet-sour notes, an obvious juicy feel, and a finish with the fresh fragrance of black tea.

How long can iced brewed/ice drip coffee and cold brew coffee be stored?

After extraction is complete, iced brewed/ice drip coffee can be sealed and put in the refrigerator for 3 days. As time passes, the flavor of the ice drip coffee after three days will weaken, and the taste will also become very light.

Cold brew coffee, after filtering, can be sealed and put in the refrigerator for 5 days. Although the longer cold brew coffee is stored, the fuller its flavor will become, after all, the refrigerator environment is "complex" (especially household refrigerators), and it is difficult to avoid bacterial invasion. So it is really not recommended to leave it for a week or even a month before drinking.

For more specialty coffee beans, please add the private WeChat Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: kaixinguoguo0925

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.