Flavor and Taste Differences Between Cold Drip and Cold Brew Coffee - Why Does Cold Drip Coffee Require Reservation?

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Recently, many friends have visited FrontStreet Coffee asking if we have ice drip coffee. FrontStreet Coffee's iced coffee selection includes not only ice drip but also cold brew, iced Americano, and iced pour-over extraction of various single-origin coffee beans. As the two most popular types of iced coffee, customers often ask FrontStreet Coffee about the differences between ice drip and cold brew, why ice drip coffee requires "pre-ordering," and what specific differences exist in their preparation methods. Don't worry, today FrontStreet Coffee will explain everything to you.

What's the difference between cold brew and ice drip?

Simply put, both are low-temperature coffee extraction methods, but the difference is that one is steeped while the other is drip-filtered. Sometimes, the term "cold brew coffee" is used generically to refer to low-temperature extracted coffee. However, in most cases, cold brew coffee specifically refers to cold-steeped coffee made with cold water, and the term "cold brew coffee" is purely an elegant translation of the English "Cold brew."

Ice drip coffee, on the other hand, extracts coffee substances drop by drop using ice water. To compare these two extraction methods, cold brew coffee is like a French press, while ice drip coffee is like pour-over coffee.

Which tastes better: cold brew or ice drip?

First, FrontStreet Coffee wants to clarify one point: what determines the flavor of coffee is the coffee beans themselves. Cold brew and ice drip are merely extraction methods for coffee beans, and the extraction method only affects which characteristics and style of the coffee bean are highlighted. For example, some people prefer pour-over coffee, while others say pour-over coffee tastes better than French press coffee. This is simply a matter of personal preference matching the style characteristics of a coffee extraction method.

When FrontStreet Coffee uses the same coffee beans—FrontStreet Coffee's Mozart—following the shop's standard parameters to prepare one pot of cold brew and one pot of ice drip, we found that both indeed exhibit their unique characteristics: FrontStreet Coffee's Mozart cold brew presents flavors closer to the coffee beans' original profile, with aromas of raisin, osmanthus, and sweet orange, showing rich and full layers; while the ice drip coffee performs cleaner, brighter, and more refreshing, with distinct fruit wine fermentation notes, fully expressing the characteristic flavors of this preparation method.

(The flavor comparison between these two methods is based on the different focuses exhibited when using the same coffee beans with these two preparation methods. If not carefully savored, you might not notice any differences.)

Why do you need to make a reservation for ice drip coffee?

Some friends visiting FrontStreet Coffee notice the sign on the blackboard that says "Ice drip coffee requires reservation two days in advance." This is because ice drip coffee takes a long time to prepare—the dripping process requires 6-8 hours, and after dripping is complete, it needs to rest for 12 hours before consumption. Therefore, if friends want to drink ice drip coffee made with specific coffee beans, they need to make a reservation in advance.

Of course, with the current hot weather, FrontStreet Coffee prepares ice drip coffee daily, though the selection of beans depends on FrontStreet Coffee's daily arrangement.

Finally, FrontStreet Coffee shares our ice drip and cold brew preparation parameters

So you can also prepare them in your air-conditioned room during the hot summer days.

Ice Drip Coffee Parameters

(Note: ice drip and cold brew parameters are not unique. Just like pour-over coffee, there are many different parameters that can achieve delicious results. Here we are sharing the parameters used by FrontStreet Coffee)

Coffee amount: 60 grams (depending on container size)

Grind size: 85% pass-through rate through #20 sieve (fine sugar)

Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:10

Temperature: Ice-water mixture at room temperature extraction

Drip rate: 7 drops per 10 seconds

Extraction time: 6-8 hours

Serving method: Seal and refrigerate for 12 hours after extraction. When serving, add 50g of ice cubes per 200ml of liquid

Cold Brew Coffee Parameters

Coffee amount: 30 grams (depending on container size)

Grind size: 80% pass-through rate through #20 sieve

Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:12

Temperature: 7°C refrigerated extraction

Extraction time: 12 hours

Serving method: Filter with paper after extraction, then refrigerate for 4 hours before serving

Generally, for flavor experience and health safety considerations, regardless of whether it's ice drip or cold brew, as long as it's a low-temperature extraction method, FrontStreet Coffee recommends consuming it within 5 days (counting from the preparation date).

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473