The iced variety is brewed with hot water, then chilled, whereas cold brew calls for a, well…cold brewing process.

Not all cold brew coffee is created equally, either. What are the different types of cold brew coffee? Keep reading to explore the multiple brewing techniques and forms of cold brew coffee.

The different types of cold brew  

The different sub-varieties of cold brew coffee include:

● Traditional cold brew

● Nitro cold brew

● Japanese-style flash brew

There are also a few newer methods arising as cold brew technology evolves. We'll get to those shortly.

Traditional cold brew

So, how do you make cold brew coffee at home? The traditional way to make cold brew coffee involves combining coarsely ground coffee with water (room-temperature or cold) and letting it steep for at least four hours and up to 24 hours. Then the grounds are strained out, leaving a smooth, particle-free brew.,

You can also make cold brew concentrate this way, using a higher coffee-to-water ratio. Concentrate is meant to be diluted with water before serving. It'll generally have a stronger coffee flavor and more caffeine than ready-to-drink cold brew.

Nitro cold brew

Like the traditional method, nitro cold brew coffee is also made by first combining ground coffee with cold or room-temperature water and letting it soak for up to 24 hours. Then, after straining the coffee grounds with a coffee filter, the brew goes into a special keg, where it's infused with nitrogen gas.

Similar to beer, the cold brew coffee is dispensed through a tap, and thanks to the nitrogen, it comes out with a velvety, frothy texture. Many people find this type of cold brew is less acidic than normal coffee.

Flash brew (Japanese-style cold brew)

Sometimes called ice brew or flash-cooled coffee, flash brew is a Japanese-style way to make cold coffee. You brew hot concentrated coffee using a pour-over system with ice in the carafe beneath the dripper.

The ice counts as some of your water, melting as the hot coffee drips over it and simultaneously cooling down the brewed coffee.

So, flash brew isn't technically cold brew, as it's made with hot coffee that's instantly chilled. But you get a similar result, with a bright acidity and complex flavor notes, and you don't have to wait hours or overnight before enjoying this cold coffee drink.

Newer innovations in cold brew

Additional ways to make cold brew include:

● Kyoto-style slow-drip cold brew — Cold water drips slowly over ground coffee, creating a complex yet smooth flavor profile.

● Barrel-aged cold brew — Ground coffee and water are steeped in a wooden barrel (previously containing whiskey) to extract the flavors of the wood and bourbon.

● Espresso-style cold brew — Cold water is pushed through finely ground coffee and spun with a centrifuge to quickly create a frothy cold coffee drink similar to espresso shots and nitro cold brew.

Factors that affect cold brew flavor across styles

Beyond the brewing method, multiple factors affect the taste, concentration, and caffeine content of cold brew coffee.

Coffee bean selection

Arabica and Robusta coffee beans can be used to make cold brew coffee. Arabica tends to be smoother and slightly sweeter, while Robusta often has a bolder taste.

Brewing time and temperature

How long you let your cold brew soak will affect the strength—longer steeping typically results in a more powerful, concentrated coffee.

Also, using room-temperature water may leave you with a more intense flavor than steeping the mixture with cold water and keeping it in a refrigerator during the cold brew extraction process.

Choosing the right cold brew for you

If you're making cold brew coffee at home, consider your preferences for flavor, texture, and concentration, as well as the time commitment.

For instance, those who prefer a frothy, rich texture and smooth flavor and don't mind the hours-long steep time may like a nitro brewing system. However, if you need something quicker, flash-brewing coffee over ice might be a better option. There are also convenient espresso machines with cold brew capabilities.

Set yourself up for success with the right tools, from a grinder to a coffee maker with cold brew extraction technology.

Sources: 

1. Barista Magazine. Move Over Cold Brew: Iced Coffee Wants its Spotlight Back. https://www.baristamagazine.com/move-over-cold-brew-iced-coffee-wants-its-spotlight-back/

2. Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). Cold vs. Iced: Using Sensory Analysis to Test the Claim that Cold Brew is Sweeter and Less Acidic. https://sca.coffee/sca-news/25/issue-19/cold-vs-iced-using-sensory-analysis-to-test-the-claim-that-cold-brew-is-sweeter-and-less-acidic

3. Scientific Reports. The Effect of Time, Roasting Temperature, and Grind Size on Caffeine and Chlorogenic Acid Concentrations in Cold Brew Coffee. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5740146/

4. The Arbutus Review. Can Cold Brew Coffee Be Convenient? A Pilot Study For Caffeine Content in Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323191961_Can_Cold_Brew_Coffee_Be_Convenient_A_Pilot_Study_For_Caffeine_Content_in_Cold_Brew_Coffee_Concentrate_Using_High_Performance_Liquid_Chromatography

5. Foods. Cold Brew Coffee-Pilot Studies on Definition, Extraction, Consumer Preference, Chemical Characterization and Microbiological Hazards. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8071471/

6. Barista Magazine. Make Nitro Cold Brew, One Cup at a Time. https://www.baristamagazine.com/make-nitro-cold-brew-one-cup-time/

7. Perfect Daily Grind. What is flash brew coffee?. https://perfectdailygrind.com/2022/03/what-is-flash-brew-coffee/

8. Perfect Daily Grind. How does ageing cold brew coffee affect its flavour?. https://perfectdailygrind.com/2022/07/how-does-ageing-cold-brew-affect-flavour/

9. Perfect Daily Grind. How is cold brew technology evolving?. https://perfectdailygrind.com/2023/07/cold-brew-technology/

10. Journal of Culinary Science & Technology. Brewing Temperature and Particle Size Affect Extraction Kinetics of Cold Brew Coffee in Terms of Its Physicochemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Properties. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15428052.2020.1848683

11. Fresh Cup. The Prototype of All Desire: How Processing Can Increase—and Improve—Sweetness in Robusta. https://freshcup.com/the-prototype-of-all-desire-how-processing-can-increase-and-improve-sweetness-in-robusta/