Cold Brew Vs Iced Coffee: Which Is Stronger?

Both iced coffee and cold brew are served over ice and can contain milk or flavored cream. However, they differ significantly, especially when it comes to their caffeine content.

A 16-ounce cold brew cup has a bit over 200 milligrams of caffeine, while 16 ounces of iced coffee has about 165 milligrams. For reference, an espresso shot has 150 milligrams.

Iced coffee follows the traditional coffee-making process, utilizing various brewing methods and coffee bean types. Once brewed, it is promptly poured over ice or refrigerated.

Since preparing an iced coffee takes less than 10 minutes, the shorter contact time between water and ground coffee results in a less caffeinated infusion than a cold brew.

Cold brew, in contrast, is steeped like tea and can often take over a day to make as its preparation involves placing coarsely ground coffee beans in cold water for 12 to 24 hours.

Since the water in a cold brew takes a prolonged period to extract the flavors from the coffee grounds, the beverage absorbs and contains more caffeine than an iced coffee.