Iced Drip vs Cold Brew: Which Tastes Better?

I thought that ice drip coffee was exclusively a summer favorite, but surprisingly! Even on this cold day, FrontStreet Coffee's ice drip remains in high demand and short supply.

So when the ice drip sells out, customers visiting the shop ask if there's cold brew coffee available. Cold brew coffee is another black coffee made using low-temperature extraction, apart from ice drip, but there are slight differences between them. Today, FrontStreet Coffee will share what differences exist between them~

Same Principle, Different Preparation Methods

"Ice drip coffee" refers to coffee obtained by using ice water to drip-filter coffee grounds for an extended period at room temperature; while "cold brew coffee" is made by directly mixing room temperature water with coffee grounds for steeping, then refrigerating to obtain the coffee. Both use low-temperature extraction to obtain coffee, with the difference being that one uses drip-filtering while the other uses steeping.

Although their inventors cannot be traced, according to research by professionals in the foreign coffee community, this low-temperature extraction method was originally invented by the Dutch during maritime trade journeys!

In the 17th century, a cargo ship full of coffee beans departed from Batavia, Indonesia (then a colony), with these beans to be taken by the Dutch worldwide for trade. However, during sea voyages, hot water wasn't always available for making coffee. So, the Dutch on board brainstormed to satisfy their cravings and came up with using cold water instead of hot water to steep coffee grounds for extended periods, thereby obtaining high-concentration coffee.

Initially just trying it out of curiosity, unexpectedly, the coffee made this way possessed such rich, full-bodied flavors, and even lacked the bitterness typically found in hot-brewed coffee. Excellent, people immediately became fascinated with this low-temperature extraction coffee.

Then, this preparation method traveled with Dutch merchants' trade routes to Edo-era Japan, where the Japanese also quickly became captivated by this unique coffee. Thus, through years of continuous use, improvement, and refinement by the Japanese, this cold-water steeped coffee gradually evolved into the drip-filtered ice drip coffee, also known locally as "Kyoto coffee"!

Which One Tastes Better?

When using the same coffee beans, their distinctly different preparation methods don't affect the inherent flavors produced by the beans themselves, only changing the main characteristics presented in the final cup! The perception of what tastes better varies from person to person, just like mineral water - you prefer Nongfu, I prefer Yibao, each with their own preferences~

For example, FrontStreet Coffee used lightly roasted Ethiopia Santa Weni, extracting different coffees in the same proportions (cold brew, ice drip). The cold brew coffee's flavor profile is closer to the coffee bean's original taste, with full tropical fruit juice and slight red wine fermentation notes. Then, because there aren't many variables affecting extraction, plus the fact that water and coffee beans steep together throughout the process, its texture is relatively richer and more mellow!

Meanwhile, coffee obtained through ice drip extraction has a very clean texture because the ice water and coffee grounds don't maintain constant contact. Bright, round pineapple juice, highly sweet guava, and more intense red wine fermentation notes obtained through overnight fermentation.

Although there are differences between the two, they're actually not too significant. If you're not using the same beans for careful tasting, distinguishing between cold brew and ice drip remains somewhat difficult~ Finally, as FrontStreet Coffee's tradition, here are links to preparation processes for interested friends to enjoy~ "Ice drip preparation method," "Cold brew coffee preparation method."

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473