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Cold Brew vs. Hot Brew Coffee: 3 Essential Differences

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Nov 10, 2021 • 1 min read

Cold brew is a type of coffee with less acidity than traditional hot brew coffee. Learn more about the differences between cold brew vs. hot brew.

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What Is Cold Brew?

Cold brew is a type of cold coffee made by steeping ground coffee beans in room-temperature water or cold water for twenty-four hours. You can make your own cold brew coffee and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Cold brew is distinct from iced coffee, which is made by pouring freshly brewed hot coffee over ice.

What Is Hot Brew?

Hot brew coffee is made by applying hot water to ground coffee beans. There are several different brewing methods for hot coffee, which include using a French press, a drip machine, and a pour-over coffee maker. Hot-brewing coffee is a quick and easy way to make coffee drinks.

Cold Brew vs. Hot Brew: 3 Essential Differences

There are a few key differences between cold brew and hot brew coffee.

  • Acidity: Cold brew has a lower acidity level than hot brew. For coffee drinkers who get heartburn from regular coffee, cold-brewed dark-roast coffee may be a better option.
  • Brewing time: Hot brews are made in minutes, while the cold brew process can take up to twenty-four hours.
  • Flavor: Without hot water to extract all of the acidity from coffee beans, cold brew coffee tastes slightly smoother and less bitter than traditional hot brew coffee.

Is Cold Brew Stronger Than Regular Coffee?

Cold brew can have a higher amount of caffeine than regular coffee, but it depends on the coffee-to-water ratio. Similar to how hot coffee varieties like espresso and drip coffee have different coffee-to-water ratios, the caffeine content in cold brew can vary widely between batches. Generally, cold brew recipes have a higher coffee-to-water ratio than regular coffee, although there are certain cold brews with less caffeine.

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