As the days get longer and warmer, it's more important than ever to know the difference between the most commonly ordered iced drinks. Are Iced coffee and Cold brew the same? Should I get an Iced Latte or an Iced Americano? And which of these drinks best fits your vibe?
Iced Coffee/Cold Brew (and is there a difference?)
You've probably heard 'iced coffee' and 'cold brew' used interchangeably but the truth is this: all cold brew is iced coffee but not all iced coffee is cold brew. Iced coffee is brewed hot, just like typical filter coffee, and then served over ice. Cold brew, however, is brewed with cold or room temperature water saturating the grounds for between 12-24 hours. The vast differences in these two brewing methods can lead to stark contrasts between flavor profiles, even within the same beans. Because of a more 'flash', faster brew with the hot water, iced coffee tends to retain the more acidic, robust profile while cold brew, with its extended brewing time, illicits a richer, smoother taste. (Fun Fact: all of our iced coffee at Dose is a cold brew).
The Vibe For: Rushed mornings, busy schedules, pre-workout.
Iced Americano
What about when you're just looking for a small pick-me-up? Nothing crazy, just something classic and simple? That's where an iced americano comes in. An espresso-based beverage that simply consists of a double shot in iced water, the iced americano offers a much lower caffeine content that iced coffee or cold brew and also avoids defaulting to any added milk or alternative milk that would be found in an iced latte. It can also easily be made decaf, making for the perfect, all day drinker.
The Vibe For: Sleepy Sundays, long afternoon walks, (and when it's decaf) the wind down.
Iced Latte
The most common drink ordered in the warmer months and probably the one you're most familiar with, the iced latte is a bit of a choose your own adventure. Whole milk, oat milk, or coconut milk? Vanilla, lavender honey, moka, caramel, or honey and cinnamon syrup? Decaf, 1/2 caf or house espresso? The possibilities are endless, the vibes immaculate. The definition of a treat drink and the ideal drink to match the changing of the seasons.
The Vibe For: A group hang, walks in the park, window shopping.
The Barcelona (our baby)
We couldn't talk about iced drinks without talking about one of our biggest menu staples. The Barcelona is super chilled cold brew, packed with ice and topped with house-made soft, salted whipped cream. Though many would argue Barcelona Season never ends, we can all agree that it is in full swing anytime the heat ramps back up. Like all the best things, the Barcelona only gets better with time, as everything melts and mixes together to form the perfect sunny day companion.
The Vibe For:Â all time!