Let's sort something out straight away - cold brew and iced coffee are not the same thing. Not even close.
Iced coffee is exactly what it sounds like: hot-brewed coffee that's poured over ice. Cold brew is steeped or slow-dripped with cold or room temperature water for an extended period, often overnight - and the result is smoother, bolder, and more complex than anything a drip brewer can produce in four minutes.
If you've been drinking iced coffee all summer and calling it cold brew, this post is for you.
So what exactly is cold brew?
Cold brew is coarsely-ground coffee steeped or slow-dripped with cold or room temperature water for an extended period of time - usually overnight. No heat, no shortcuts, just time doing the work.
A few key things make it different from other methods:
- Cold brew has more caffeine than most people expect - including more than a standard cup of hot coffee or a shot of espresso. The extended steep time and higher coffee-to-water ratio more than make up for the slower cold-water extraction.
- The coffee-to-water ratio is higher. Cold brew uses roughly twice as much coffee as a standard drip brew. The concentration is part of what makes cold brew so smooth and full-bodied.
- The steep time does the heavy lifting. Since extraction happens much slower with cold water compared to hot, the cold brew process requires hours - not minutes - to fully-develop. However, that slow extraction gives cold brew its signature bold smoothness.
- Cold brew is naturally lower in acidity than hot-brewed coffee. Because water extracts fewer of the acidic compounds found in coffee, the result is significantly gentler on your stomach - making it a great option for anyone who experiences heartburn or GI sensitivity from the morning cup. That low acidity is also what gives cold brew its signature smoothness and natural sweetness. At Lake Born, we prefer ready-to-drink cold brew over concentrates - we want to experience the coffee exactly the way it's intended, without having to manage dilution ratios or guess at the right balance. That's why Lake Born Cold Brew is ready-to-drink - no watering down, no added anything, and literally ready to go on your pace.
The right bean makes all the difference.
The best beans for cold brew tend to have natural sweetness and low acidity - qualities that cold extraction amplifies rather than masks. Here's how to think about it by taste profile:
If you're looking for rich, chocolatey, and smooth - reach for a naturally-processed dark roast. Natural processing means the coffee cherry dries whole around the bean, concentrating sweetness and body. Our Overboard Brazilian Single-Origin Dark Roast is exactly this - bold, smooth, and almost dessert-like when cold-brewed.
If you want bright, fruity, and floral - a washed light roast from a high-altitude origin is your move. The clean extraction of cold brew lets the delicate notes come through without any bitterness. South Winds, our Yirgacheffe Single-Origin Light Roast, delivers peach, jasmine, and honey flavor notes in a cold brew that drinks more like a tea than a coffee.
If you want something crowd-pleasing and versatile, a medium roast hits the sweet spot. Our Dockside Medium Roast Blend from Colombia and Brazil cold-brews into a smooth, caramel-forward cup that works for everyone.
The next time a barista asks if cold brew is okay, when you order an iced coffee -
Now you know exactly why they're asking. They're not the same drink.
If you're already a cold brew drinker, you already know the deal. Come find us at one our farmers market locations this weekend, shop online at lakeborncoffee.com, or head straight to our Instagram shop @lakeborn.co - the cold brew is ready when you are.
Want early access to the Lake Born Outpost, first look at new roasts, and a weekly market update? - Drop your email here and get 10% off your first online order.
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