In recent years, cold coffee has become almost as common as the original hot “cup of joe.”  Part of this is due to the popularity of new techniques in coffee brewing, such as cold brew and nitro brewing.

In fact, there are so many new variations on cold coffee, the terminology has become somewhat confusing.   Let us take a minute to sort it out.  Whatever method is selected, you can never go wrong with starting with a base of good coffee sourced from a fair trade organic coffee company.(Demystifying Cold Coffee)

Iced Coffee

This is the traditional cold coffee.  It is essentially coffee brewed in the normal way and then poured over ice to bring down the temperature.

Cold Brew

The main difference here is the brewing process.  Cold Brew is brewed over a long period of time at room temperature.  Often made with a french press, cold brew is said to have a different flavor.  Spices are sometimes added to add yet more flavor notes to mix with the coffee.  Although it takes much longer to brew, cold brew will keep for up to two weeks when refrigerated.

Nitro Cold Brew

Nitro Cold Brew is more frequently found in upscale coffee shops.  Making nitro cold brew coffees starts with the same process as cold brew coffee but then takes it a step further.  The cold brew coffee is infused with nitrogen so that a foamy layer forms at the top of the cup.  This two-step process is said to result in a smoother coffee experience.

Iced Americano

An Iced Americano is similar to an iced coffee.  The difference here is that it is made with espresso, rather than a standard brew.