My barista in Denver said cold brew is just lazy iced coffee

Honestly, I was getting my usual cold brew at this spot on Larimer Street and the new guy called it a 'shortcut for people who can't dial in a proper pour-over for icing'. He argued that a Japanese iced coffee method, where you brew hot directly over ice, gives way more clarity and acidity. Tbh, it kinda stuck with me because I've always just defaulted to cold brew for my summer fix. What's the real move for a crisp, cold cup?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_murray881mo ago

Your barista actually said that to your face? That's a wild level of coffee snobbery. Cold brew is a totally different drink, not a lazy version of anything. I'd just keep drinking what you like.

tessawebb1mo ago

Yeah but Kevin, I get where that barista was coming from. Making a proper iced coffee is a skill, it's brewed hot right over ice to lock in flavor. Cold brew just sits in a tub for a day. The results are totally different, one is bright and the other is just mellow. Calling it a lazy version might be harsh, but the effort in the method isn't the same. What's your favorite way to make iced coffee at home?