Now that summer has (unofficially) begun, it’s time to ask your office coffee service about adding some cold options to the regular mix of coffee products. But before you put in the request, do your employees prefer cold brew or iced coffee?
Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: What’s the Difference?
The short answer is that cold brew is made without any heat at all, while iced coffee is made the same way as regular hot coffee, except that it’s cooled and then poured over ice.
But that’s just the difference in how they’re made. What makes them different from each other is the taste, which is determined by the temperature of the water while brewing the coffee.
How Temperature Affects Coffee Flavor
A regular cup of hot coffee is typically brewed between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, more acid and solubles are extracted, which gives coffee its light and floral notes. So when making iced coffee (that is, pouring regular coffee over ice), it tastes similar to hot coffee, but it’s cold.
With cold brew coffee, the acidity levels are much lower because the water isn’t hot enough to extract the same amount as a hot cup. This decrease, however, means that more grounds are needed to make the coffee taste just as good.
Two Ways Cold Brew Coffee Is Made
There are two ways cold brew coffee is made: immersion and slow drip.
- Immersion: This process involves steeping ground beans for 12-24 hours, and is better for home brewing as it is a simpler process.
- Slow drip: Although faster, 3-5 hours, this process is more expensive due to the equipment needed. Ice water is dripped onto ground beans then collected in a carafe underneath.
Compared to cold brew, iced coffee is a lot easier to make. The good news is that both cold brew and iced coffee should be available through your local office coffee service, so you can have it delivered right to your office. You just need to do a quick survey to determine which kind is more popular among your employees.