cold brew
/koʊld bruː/
Very CommonCoffee brewed by steeping grounds in cold water for 12 to 24 hours instead of using heat.
People who care about coffee often point out that cold brew and iced coffee are different things. Iced coffee is hot-brewed coffee poured over ice. Cold brew is a different process entirely.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | this cold brew has me actually functioning before 9am | The coffee is strong enough to make the person alert in the morning. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | started making cold brew at home and i will never pay $7 at starbucks again | The person found making it themselves is much cheaper. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 03 | iced coffee and cold brew are not the same thing please i'm begging | Correcting a common misconception that the two drinks are interchangeable. | |
| 04 | grocery store cold brew has gotten so good. trader joe's one is legit | Bottled cold brew available at the supermarket now rivals what you get at a cafe. | instagram, 2024 |
Use it when
- Ordering or describing cold-brewed coffee.
- Talking about a coffee drink that is smooth and low-acid.
- Referring to bottled cold brew from stores or coffee shops.
Do not use it when
- You mean hot coffee poured over ice.Use “iced coffee” instead.
- You mean a cold espresso drink like an iced latte.Use “iced latte” instead.
Variations and related forms
Cold brew vs iced coffee
cold brew
Cold brew is steeped in cold water for hours. Smoother and less acidic.
VS
iced-coffee
Iced coffee is hot-brewed coffee chilled and poured over ice. Sharper flavor, faster to make.
Origin and context
Cold brewing coffee has existed for centuries in various forms, but the modern commercial trend began in specialty coffee shops in the early 2010s. Large chains and grocery brands followed around 2015 to 2018.
- First seen
- early-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/cold-brewUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0