Cold Brew Versus Iced Coffee The Science Behind the Price Gap

Key points

• Iced coffee relies on rapid heat extraction while cold brew uses a 12 to 24 hour cold steeping process.
• Cold brew requires a higher volume of coffee grounds per ounce, contributing to its higher retail price tag.
• The low-heat brewing process of cold brew extracts fewer bitter acids, making it smoother and gentler on the stomach.
• Caffeine levels depend heavily on dilution ratios rather than brewing temperature alone.

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Sources and methodology

Reported from the public datasets below.

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Consumer Price Index, food away from home
• Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) - Food services and drinking places series
• U.S. Census Bureau - Monthly Retail Trade, food services

All sources Foodie Pundit reports from

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