Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee at a Glance

I used to call anything cold in a glass "iced coffee" until a barista laughed at me. Iced coffee is hot-brewed and poured over ice; cold brew is steeped in cold water for hours. Same cold drink, totally different path.

Pick by mood

Iced coffee is brighter and quick; cold brew is smoother and low-acid, made ahead. Both follow the same ratio math.

The short version

I'm not inventing anything here. Iced coffee and cold brew just use heat differently, and that's brewing 101. Try both on a hot day and you'll see which one your fridge prefers.