Is Iced Coffee Cold Brew Coffee? How Beginners Can Make Delicious Iced Coffee

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Iced coffee seems like the perfect summer treat. We haven't entered the hot season yet, but it's approaching. But first, how do we make iced coffee? Is it really different from other cold coffee drinks? Indeed, there's a very broad name, so it can encompass several drinks as a category. So, let's take a closer look at iced coffee. See what it really is, what kind of coffee we need, and (most importantly) how to make coffee at home!

What is Iced Coffee?

Iced coffee is just as its name suggests. Literally, it's coffee cooled with plenty of ice. This is actually one of the few non-confusing coffee type names out there.

Is Iced Coffee Cold Brew?

No, iced coffee is not cold brew, not entirely because cold brew starts cold, while iced coffee starts hot. Additionally, there are significant flavor differences between cooled hot coffee and cold brew coffee. Cold brew is more delicate and usually not suitable for large amounts of ice, even if it's cold.

Is Iced Coffee Black?

Most of the time, yes. Iced coffee is usually black. But it's not truly black coffee—with sugar or milk. Most of the time it's just without added milk. Any sweetness is done with simple syrup, or it could also be flavored syrup.

Can Iced Coffee Have Milk?

That being said, yes, milk can be added to iced coffee. It's still iced coffee, although it leans a bit towards iced latte. Personally, I love the look when milk is poured last over the coffee and ice in a large glass. Because I really like watching ink drop into water.

What Kind of Coffee Beans Are Suitable for Iced Coffee?

For the taste of iced coffee, FrontStreet Coffee has always believed that ingredients are the most crucial, so fresh coffee beans are important. FrontStreet Coffee's flavor descriptions for each coffee are based on freshly roasted beans. If coffee beans are stored for more than a month, the aroma has likely partially dissipated, making it difficult to restore during brewing. FrontStreet Coffee also deeply understands the importance of freshness, so we ensure only coffee beans roasted within 5 days are shipped, so everyone can enjoy the most complete flavor period upon receipt.

Of course, besides freshness, choosing the right type of coffee beans according to your taste is equally important. If you like sweet and sour cold brew, FrontStreet Coffee recommends FrontStreet Coffee's Guodingding, FrontStreet Coffee's Strawberry Candy, and FrontStreet Coffee's Flower Queen specialty coffee beans, which are not only rich in fruit aroma but also present delicate sweet and sour taste under low-temperature extraction; if you prefer a balanced taste, then FrontStreet Coffee recommends Diamond Mountain, FrontStreet Coffee's Kafa Forest, and FrontStreet Coffee's Gesha Village Chaka, which have a good balance of sweet, sour, and bitter; but if you're someone who only loves rich, dark-roasted coffee, then you should start with FrontStreet Coffee's Queen's Manor, FrontStreet Coffee's Bird of Paradise, FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling, and FrontStreet Coffee's Huilan single-origin coffees.

Can Instant Coffee Be Used?

No, using instant coffee to make iced coffee will change many flavors. This is because instant coffee itself is very different from regular brewed coffee. So if you brew instant coffee with hot water and then cool it with ice, the result won't be very good.

If you want to make iced coffee by mixing instant coffee with cold water, then you'll get a frappé. With or without milk, it's still a frappé.