Cold brew and cold drip are two different methods of brewing coffee with cold water, but they produce different flavorful results.
Cold brew coffee is prepared by steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. This long and slow extraction process results in a coffee that tends to be very smooth and sweet. Cold brew tends to bring out the natural fruit and chocolate flavors in the coffee and is typically less acidic and less bitter than hot coffee brews.
Cold drip, on the other hand, is prepared by pouring cold water very slowly, drop by drop, over a coffee filter. This process usually takes 3 to 5 hours. Cold drip coffee often has a more complex, nuanced flavor than cold brew. Because the water flows slowly and continuously through the ground coffee, it can extract a wider range of flavors. Cold drip coffee is often clearer and more vibrant in flavor and can have more subtle acidity and fruitiness.
In short, although both cold brew and cold drip coffee are made with cold water, the differences in how they are made result in different flavor profiles. Cold brew typically delivers a smoother, sweeter coffee, while cold drip produces a more complex, vibrant flavor.
