Cold Brew vs Iced Filter vs Chilled Batch Brew: 3 Ways to Make Cold Coffee
Prefer your cold coffee refreshing and light, or rich and full? Try three brewing methods to find your favourite.
What’s the Difference?
| Method | How it’s made | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cold brew | Steep coffee in cold water in the fridge, then filter | Preparing ahead without a brewer |
| Iced filter | Brew hot filter coffee directly onto ice, counting the ice as part of the total water | Making a cold coffee straight away |
| Chilled batch brew | Brew hot coffee using a batch brewer, then refrigerate | Preparing several servings |
Compare clarity, brightness, sweetness and body. Your beans and recipe influence the result, so let taste guide your choice.
1. Cold Brew: Compare Two Ratios
These refrigerated immersion recipes are starting points to test:
| Measure | Batch A | Batch B |
|---|---|---|
| Coarsely ground coffee | 50 g | 50 g |
| Water | 500 g | 600 g |
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 1:10 | 1:12 |
| Refrigerated steep | 20 hours | 20 hours |
Combine in clean, food-safe jars, wet all the grounds, cover and refrigerate. Filter after steeping.
Try 1:10 for a fuller starting point or 1:12 for a lighter option.
2. Iced Filter: Brew Directly onto Ice
Place ice in your serving vessel and brew hot filter coffee over it.
Count both the brewing water and ice in your total water amount. Simply adding ice to a normal recipe introduces extra dilution. Record the amounts so you can repeat the cup you enjoy.
3. Chilled Batch Brew: Brew Now, Enjoy Later
Make hot coffee with your batch brewer, transfer it to a clean, heat-safe container, cool promptly and refrigerate.
Taste it chilled before adding ice. Adjust the next brew if melting ice makes your drink too light.
Choose Your Coffee
Start with tasting notes you already enjoy, then compare methods using the same beans.
Explore Nothing Beats Coffee and find a coffee for your next cold brew, iced filter or chilled batch.