What Are the Differences Between Cold Brew and Iced Coffee? How Long Can Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Last in the Refrigerator?

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FrontStreet Coffee recently saw discussions asking "What's the difference between ice-brewed coffee and cold brew coffee?" The responses varied—some said there's no difference, while others joked, "For coffee made by my hands, whatever I say it is, that's what it is!" Haha~ hardcore! So is there really a difference between the two?

What is Ice-Brewed Coffee?

Ice-brewed coffee is essentially cold drip coffee~ Ice brewing refers to using an ice-water mixture below 1°C to drip-extract coffee grounds. Common cold drip coffee makers consist of three parts: the upper chamber holds the ice-water mixture, some with valves to adjust dripping speed while others have preset dripping speeds through their design; the middle chamber holds the coffee grounds; and the lower chamber stores the extracted coffee liquid.

Extraction Time for Ice-Brewed/Cold Drip Coffee

Due to the low temperature of the ice-water mixture and the drip extraction method, the release rate of flavor compounds from the coffee grounds slows down, making it difficult for bitterness and off-flavors to be extracted. To ensure that the sweet and sour flavors in the coffee are fully extracted, the ice-water dripping speed should be 4 drops every 10 seconds, with a total extraction time of 4-8 hours.

After extraction is complete, you can't drink it immediately—at this point, the coffee has little flavor. It needs to be sealed and left in the refrigerator for over 8 hours. The sealing process produces carbon dioxide, and the pressure from CO2 allows the coffee's flavor molecules to better express themselves (mellowing process). Cold drip coffee overall presents a light feeling, truly clean, refreshing, and impurity-free, with abundant aroma that's absolutely delightful~

What is Cold Brew Coffee?

Cold brew coffee, also known as cold steep coffee, involves pouring cold water over coffee grounds for immersion extraction. The cold steep method can amplify various flavors and aromas in coffee, reduce acidity, and enhance the overall body of the coffee. The equipment for making cold brew coffee is very simple—you just need a lidded container and filtration tools, allowing you to make it anytime whether at home or in the office.

Should Cold Brew Coffee Be Extracted at Room Temperature or in the Refrigerator?

Both methods work, but extraction times will differ. For cold brew coffee at room temperature, it's recommended not to steep for more than 8 hours, while for cold brew at low temperatures, it's recommended to steep for 12-24 hours.

Cold brew coffee at room temperature will have varying extraction times depending on the room temperature. Coffee steeped at room temperature can immediately express richness after extraction is complete, but the downside is that if the extraction time doesn't suit the coffee grounds, it will release woody flavors to "protest" to you.

The advantage of putting it in the refrigerator is that it can extract richness while making woody flavors less likely to appear, but the disadvantage is that the time is really long... Although low-temperature extraction makes it difficult to extract off-flavors and bitterness from coffee beans, the extraction time is still quite long. To avoid the extracted coffee liquid becoming too concentrated, it's recommended to adjust the grind slightly coarser.

Coffee Bean Selection

Regarding coffee bean selection, FrontStreet Coffee believes you can choose coffee beans with different processing methods or roast levels according to your preferences, provided they are within their optimal flavor period (2 months). The extraction characteristics of cold drip coffee can highlight wine-like aromas, fruit fermentation notes, and sweet-sour aromas in coffee. For example, if you like clear fruit aromas, FrontStreet Coffee recommends cold drip made with Flower Butterfly coffee beans, which present the sweet taste of pomelo tea;

If you like fermented wine aromas, FrontStreet Coffee recommends Honduras Sherry Barrel cold drip, which has rich whiskey and vanilla notes on entry, along with honey-like sweetness;

But if you prefer full acidity with juice-like sensations, FrontStreet Coffee recommends sun-dried Guji cold drip, which has lively berries and passion fruit sweet-sour notes, obvious juice-like qualities, and a clean tea-like aftertaste.

How Long Can Ice-Brewed/Cold Drip Coffee and Cold Brew Coffee Be Stored?

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

Cold brew coffee, after filtration, can be sealed and stored in the refrigerator for 5 days. Although cold brew coffee becomes richer the longer it's stored, the refrigerator environment is "complex" (especially household refrigerators), making it difficult to avoid bacterial invasion. Therefore, it's really not recommended to store it for a week or even a month before drinking.

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