Coffee Science: Iced Americano, cold brew or iced coffee — what’s the difference?
From espresso shots to 20-hour steeps, how Starbucks cold coffee drinks get their distinct flavor.
An iced Americano, cold brew and iced coffee are three unique, refreshing drinks, but at a glance, they can look nearly identical in the cup. So what’s the difference?
In this installment of the Coffee Science series, Starbucks coffee master and educator Lincoln Beçhard explains.
“The difference is really in how they’re made,” he said.
But they’re built in completely different ways — and that changes how they taste.
One ingredient, three methods
All three start with coffee. What changes is how it’s brewed — and that’s what shapes the flavor, body and overall experience.
- Iced Americano: hot espresso, water and ice
- Iced coffee: hot-brewed coffee poured over ice
- Cold brew: coffee steeped slowly in cold water
That difference in heat, time and extraction creates three distinct outcomes.
What is an iced Americano?
Iced Americano is hot espresso poured over ice and cold water. It’s “sweet, a little roasty and a little tangy from the espresso,” said Bechard.
Because it’s espresso-based, the flavor is layered and precise — refreshing, but still full of espresso character.
What is iced coffee?
Iced coffee is coffee brewed hot, double strength and then poured over ice. “It’s bright, it’s citrusy and really refreshing,” he said.
Brewing hot pulls forward brighter, more vibrant notes, while double-strength brewing helps maintain balance as the ice melts. The result is a lighter-bodied cup that feels clean, familiar and easy to drink.
What is cold brew?
Cold brew skips heat entirely — and that changes everything. It’s coffee steeped in cold water for about 12 to 20 hours, said Bechard.
“It’s smooth, it’s chocolatey … It’s my favorite,” he added.
Instead of heat, cold brew relies on time — creating a slower, gentler extraction.
That process brings out:
- A smoother, more mellow taste
- Natural sweetness
- Chocolatey, rounded flavors
Why do they taste so different?
The brewing method — not just the bean — determines what ends up in your cup.
- Iced Americano: heat and pressure extract espresso quickly, creating bold, layered flavor with a subtle tang
- Iced coffee: hot brewing highlights brightness and citrus notes, resulting in a lighter, more refreshing profile
- Cold brew: cold water and time produce a smoother, more mellow cup with chocolatey depth
Same coffee. Three completely different expressions.
So which one should you order?
It comes down to what you’re in the mood for:
- Bold and structured: iced Americano
- Bright and refreshing: iced coffee
- Smooth and mellow: cold brew
Each is shaped by how it’s made, and that process is what turns one ingredient into three distinct coffee experiences.
