starbucks cold brew
FOOD NEWS
Starbucks Iced Coffee Vs Cold Brew: What’s The Flavor Difference?
BY WENDY LEIGH
The flavor difference between Starbucks' Iced Coffee and Cold Brew starts with the brewing method. Iced coffee comes from hot-brewed coffee that's cooled down and diluted.
You can make iced coffee bolder and more intense by using a higher water-to-coffee ratio or choosing dark roasted beans, but it is typically medium-bodied.
Cold brew coffee lets time and cool temperature do the brewing, sans the heat. The essence of the beans gets extracted very slowly, resulting in a more full-bodied drink.
Starbucks describes its cold brew process as cold-steeping coarse-ground coffee beans in cool water, filtered for a pure taste, and letting it sit for at least 12 and up to 24 hours.
Cold brew is smoother and has lower acidity, notes of chocolate, and extra-natural sweetness — but if Starbucks is out of its Cold Brew, an Iced Coffee works in a pinch.