Understanding the Different Types of Iced Coffee
Contents:
1. Category 1: Cold Brew Coffee
2. Category 2: Hot brew coffee with ice
3. Factors Affecting Extraction Rate
Iced drip coffee, iced steeped coffee, iced pour over coffee, iced Americano—there are so many types of iced coffee. This summer, when the heat is soaring and the need for iced coffee is high, let your lifestyle follow the temperature. Understand all the different types of iced coffee at once.
The four common types of iced coffee are iced drip coffee, iced steeped coffee, iced pour over coffee, and iced Americano. They can be further divided into two categories: cold brew coffee and hot brew coffee served over ice.
Category 1: Cold Brew Coffee
The extraction process involves using cold water below 10℃. It includes iced drip coffee and iced steeped coffee.
a. Iced drip coffee
Using a container filled with ice cubes, slowly drip the ice water onto the coffee grounds in a filter. After several hours (approximately 3-5 hours) of brewing, you'll obtain a sweet and refreshing iced drip coffee. Iced drip coffee is typically made with a lower coffee-to-water ratio, where the ratio refers to the weight of the ice. The recommended ratio is 1:8, resulting in a rich and sweet taste. A ratio of 1:15 is also possible, but it may have a less intense flavor. Compared to hot pour-over coffee, cold brew coffee is sweeter, with lower acidity and a fuller body. Among the four types of iced coffee mentioned in this article, it has the sweetest taste.
│Further reading: Sweet, Mellow and Super Easy Cold Brew Coffee DIY
b. Iced steeped coffee
Place coffee grounds in a room-temperature water bottle and refrigerate it for a long period (approximately 8-12 hours) to allow for extraction and obtain iced coffee. The recommended coffee-to-water ratio is 1:15, which means using 20 grams of coffee grounds in 300 grams of water in the water bottle or using 10 grams of coffee grounds in 150 grams of water in a portable bottle. This ratio is equivalent to the commonly used ratio for pour-over coffee. Compared to iced drip coffee, iced steeped coffee has a similar low acidity and mellowness, slightly cloudy sweetness. Among the four types of iced coffee mentioned in this article, it is the most convenient and easy to make. Just refrigerate it overnight, and you'll have iced coffee the next day.
│Further reading: Cold Brew Coffee Ratio – Use Drip or Immersion Bag to Make Iced Coffee
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Category 2: Hot brew coffee with ice
The extraction process involves using hot water at around 85-95℃ and then adding ice to create iced coffee. Since the ice is added later, it is recommended to extract a slightly stronger coffee using hot water. It includes pour-over iced coffee (iced coffee) and espresso + ice water (iced Americano).
c. Iced Pour-Over Coffee (Iced Drip)
For iced pour-over coffee, use a pour-over device with ice in the lower vessel. The ice should weigh approximately half of the desired coffee weight. For example, if you want 300 grams of iced coffee, use 150 grams of ice and pour 150 grams of hot water over the coffee grounds. The recommended coffee-to-water ratio is approximately 1:6, meaning using 30 grams of coffee grounds with 180 grams of hot water. The brewing time is the same as regular pour-over coffee, around 2 minutes and 30 seconds, but with only half the amount of water. It is essential to pour the water slowly or intermittently during the pour-over process. You can also adjust the grinder setting to a finer grind to increase the extraction strength. Compared to cold brew coffee, iced pour-over coffee has a brighter acidity, stronger sweet and sour notes, and excellent complexity. Among the four types of iced coffee mentioned in this article, it is the quickest to make and doesn't require hours of preparation. Just prepare the ice and enjoy a structured iced coffee whenever you want.
│Further reading: Tips for Pour-over Iced Coffee
d. Espresso + Ice Water (Iced Americano)
If you have an espresso machine, you can make an iced Americano by extracting espresso shots and adding ice and cold water. The recommended coffee-to-water ratio is approximately 1:2 (referring to the ratio of coffee grounds to extracted coffee liquid). For example, use 18 grams of coffee grounds to extract 36 grams of espresso. The coffee grounds should be ground to a relatively fine consistency. Compared to cold brew coffee, iced Americano has a lighter body. Among the four types of iced coffee mentioned in this article, it requires the most equipment and cost.
│Further reading: Zero Equipment: Gas Stove to Cook Espresso Coffee + Iced Latte
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Factors Affecting Extraction Rate
Among the four key factors affecting coffee extraction (water temperature, grind size, brewing time, roast level), let's compare them to regular hot pour-over coffee:
The first category, cold brew coffee, uses lower water temperature (around 4-10 degrees Celsius) and longer brewing time (around 3-8 hours).
The second category, hot brew with ice, uses a finer grind size and lower coffee-to-water ratio (increasing the concentration).
│Further reading: 4 Key Factors Affecting Coffee Extraction Rate
Iced coffee in the hot summer is so enticing! It is recommended to use beans with rich fruity flavors, tropical fruit notes, or fermented wine aromas. The flavor of the extracted coffee will be different from hot pour-over coffee, offering a unique and full-bodied sweetness. It often has a pronounced fruity sensation that even surpasses fruit juice. Give it a try and see which type of iced coffee you're most excited to make!
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