4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF ICED COFFEE DRINKS EXPLAINED

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLD BREW AND ICED COFFEE?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but there’s a clear difference between them! They’re not prepared in the same way.

Iced coffee refers to hot coffee served over ice to cool it, whereas cold brew coffee has a different brewing process.

So, what is cold brew coffee?

Simply put, it’s coffee that’s been steeped cold. 

Iced coffee VS cold brew

• Cold brew coffee’s caffeine content is much higher than regular iced coffee, due to the difference in coffee/water ratio. 
• The time needed to prepare your beverage also differs depending on the method you choose. It takes between 12 and 18 hours for a cold brew and less than an hour for an iced coffee. 
• Lastly, there’s the difference in price, as cold brew is generally more expensive than a simple iced coffee, because of the time required to brew it. 

What’s the difference between a classic café frappé and a Greek frappé? 

We’ve all heard of frappé drinks, but we might not know about their history and how they’re prepared. 

Frappé coffee is actually from Greece. The beverage is very popular there, especially in summer. Little by little, many chains adopted the recipe, to such an extent that the ‘original Greek recipe’ is now less famous than its varieties. 

But is there a real difference between frappé coffee and Greek frappé? Yes, because the original Greek recipe uses instant coffee, whereas in the rest of the world, frappés are made from any type of coffee. Regardless, the method remains the same: the coffee is shaken with ice cubes. 

What’s the difference between a frappé and a granita?

Frappés are often confused with granitas, despite being two very different drinks. 

While frappés are shaken with ice cubes, granitas are prepared by pouring an espresso over crushed ice to cool it down.

The methods used and the end result differs significantly. In any case, both taste great so it’s up to you!

TYPES OF ICED COFFEE 

As we’ve seen, there are many different types of iced coffees. Here are the most well-known iced coffee recipes so that you can easily make them at home.

Iced Latte

What’s in it: single espresso, 120 ml milk and a dozen ice cubes

This drink is essentially a chilled latte, offering the perfect balance of flavours.

The recipe for an iced latte is very simple: just fill a tall glass with ice, and pour over the milk followed by your still-warm espresso shot. Wait a few minutes for your drink to cool, and then all you have to do is enjoy!

Frappé

What’s in it: 2 shots of espresso, 4 tsp. of sugar syrup and 10 ice cubes

Frappés are sometimes seen as non-alcoholic coffee-based cocktails. 

Its name comes from the original recipe which called for a shaker. Indeed, the term ‘frappé’ comes from French and describes a chilled drink that is shaken with ice to produce a delicate foam. This is called a ‘shakerato’ in Italian.

Iced espresso

What’s in it: 2 shots of espresso and a dozen ice cubes

Iced espresso is one of the easiest cold coffee drinks to make.

To make it at home, simply pour an espresso over ice cubes. Careful, as contact between the hot coffee and the ice will cause a thermal shock, which will increase the bitterness of your drink.

Cold brew

What’s in it: 60 g ground coffee, 1000 ml cold water and a few ice cubes

Discovered in the 17th century, cold brew coffee is thought to have originated in Japan, one of the biggest tea-loving countries! They had the idea to infuse coffee in water to defuse the oils and flavours. 

To make cold brew coffee, you need to use a slow extraction process. In other words, coffee grounds are steeped in a large quantity of water for between 12 and 18 hours and kept in a chilled place. Once infused, all that’s left to do is enjoy your coffee in a tall glass with ice cubes.

HOW TO SWEETEN YOUR ICED COFFEE

There are many ways to sweeten your cold brew or iced coffee.

The first and easiest is to add milk to your beverage, whether regular, sweetened condensed or evaporated. Your cold brew then becomes a cold brew latte and your frappé a frappé latte. 

Of course, you can make it vegan by substituting cow’s milk with a plant-based milk such as almond, coconut, soy, and even oat milk, depending on your tastes.

For those with a sweet tooth, you can make it even more decadent by adding sugar syrup or flavoured syrup (caramel, vanilla, chocolate: there’s something for everyone).

A simple syrup can add a sweet note and blend perfectly with your cold coffee drink, unlike powdered sugar, which only melts completely with the heat. 

And, for those who want to create that Instagram look, don’t forget to add whipped cream on top of your iced coffee drink. 

You can also make your own coffee-based ice cubes if you feel that regular ice cubes will water it down too much. Finally, remember to use good quality coffee with a rich and dense flavour that is easily distinguishable.

Now you can enjoy a variety of cold coffee drinks, each more delicious than the last! All that’s left is for you to find out which will be your new summer staple. Feel free to discover other types of coffee drinks and their recipes at MaxiCoffee.