There is hardly any region on this planet where coffee is not liked or craved in some form or the other. It is one of the most consumed beverages globally and is available in as many forms as two, if not more, million people can crank out reasons why coffee is potable. In part, this is attributed to the fact that coffee takes different shapes and thus, tastes, depending on the preparation method and additional ingredients that are used. Even though hot coffee remains the favorite and most pronounced way to enjoy this drink, especially as a morning drink, its cold counterparts like iced coffee and iced lattes have gained special prominence during the warm summer months.
To chill out on hot summer days like these, ice coffee and iced lottoms are arguably two of the best waysoftaking coffeelike liquid. Even so, they are not the same in every aspect and thus will have different tastes, textures and even their caffeine contents vary with that of the drinkers preference. Let’s dive deeper into the distinctions and help you determine which one of the two should you order the next time you are in a café.
Origins and Popularity
Ice coffee in one form or the other has been around for years. While in Japan, iced coffee came into fashion in 1920s, in Italy cold coffee, common people call it Caffè Freddo it is usually served during summer months. Iced lattes on the other hand are rather a newer craze that has evolved in the past two three decades along with the boom in the specialty coffee outlets.
In the United States, this drink gained immense popularity towards the late 1990s when the coffee chains introduced stylized cold coffee drinks. Next came in the order of preparation was the iced latte; a perfect blend of iced coffee and milk for those who prefer sweetness in the boring coffee.
How Is an Iced Coffee Made?
When it comes to iced coffee, there is no systematic way to prepare it, and the approach varies from café to café or individual to individual. Most commonly, it starts things with a brewed hot coffee or espresso shot. Most of the time, one or two shots of espresso will be incorporated with steaming clothes or hot water and will then be refrigerated or cooled down with the aid of ice cubes.
The cooling procedure also enables you to sweeten it using any sugar, will be supplementing other sweeteners for example condensed milk, and add flavored syrups for example vanilla and even chocolate. And finally, the cocktail is served over ice with cream or milk foam covering it, and sometimes even those kitchen skins are made from whipped cream. Some cafes may offer additional variations or toppings such as cocoa powder as well.
What makes iced coffee attractive is the lack of conventional methods in its preparation. Any coffee drink can actually be made iced, whether it just comprises of coffee and ice or has the additional sweet elements including Milk and syrups.
How Is an Iced Latte Made?
An iced latte can be described as the cold counterpart of a hot latte and consists of espresso and milk in similar proportions. As in a hot latte, this drink has a shot of espresso as a base. In the latter, the base and more strength than dilution is steamed or foamed milk, typically at a 1:2 ratio of 1 part espresso to 2 parts milk.
After this procedure, the mixtures are sweetened and cooled but first prepared either by adding sugar syrup or refrigerated or adding ice cubes. Then, in order to make the iced lattes more delicious, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or cocoa powder may be added on top of the glass. And lattes should always be prepared with milk, hence creating a different taste from iced coffee alternatives.
Variations Around the World
It is above all common iced coffee and iced latte but their preparations differ so much as the area or country changes. The following are some of the interesting variations that I’d like to share.
Vietnamese style Tiramisu Coffee: This version has strong coffee and sweetened condensed milk poured over ice and thus has a unique blend of rich sweetness and bitter but interesting flavors.
Japanese Iced Coffee: A style of brewing coffee, where hot coffee is brewed over ice and incorporated into the drink, resulting in a refreshingly less bitter coffee.
Affogato: A medium that combines an espresso shot with vanilla ice cream – an Italian dessert.
Iced Lattes in Italy: More commonly served as ‘Caffè Freddo’ – an iced variation of espresso mixed with milk with sugar often added.
What Are the Differences Between Iced Coffee and Iced Latte?
The differences between iced coffee and iced latte are shown in the table below:
| Factors | Iced Coffee | Iced Latte |
| Recipe | No fixed recipe | Must follow a set recipe |
| Milk | Optional | Must contain milk |
| Caffeine | More caffeine | Less caffeine |
| Sugar | Less sugar | More sugar |
| Taste | More bitter, less sweet | Sweeter, creamier |
| Calories | Fewer calories | More calories |
Iced Coffee vs. Iced Latte: What Are the Main Differences?
There are several things in common between iced coffee and iced lattes in that they are both served cold and have sweeteners, but the differences between the two are beyond only the taste. Let us define what differs about the two in detail.
Recipe
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Ingredients
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Caffeine Content
Iced coffees tend to be more caffeinated as they usually have more than a shot or two of espresso and the proportion of other ingredients including milk which will help tone down the strength of the coffee is less. In contrast, an iced latte contains about more milk than espresso making it weak in caffeine content and usually, it is made with only one shot of espresso. For people looking for caffeine, perhaps iced coffee is more preferred but for busy individuals, an iced latte is a better option.
Taste
Iced lattes are sweeter and creamier than iced coffees even without the additional sugar or syrup due to the amount of milk in them. Iced coffees, per-say, will always have a strong coffee taste that is rather bitter than sweet. Anyway, if someone would rather have one or the other, sugar or milk can always be eliminated to tailor the drink to the individual’s taste.
Calorie Content
Iced lattes usually, contain more calories compared to iced coffee day because of the milk and sweeteners like syrups being present most of the times. In case you watch your calorie intake, iced coffee would be a good option especially if you will not put sugar and just a little milk in it.
Health Benefits and Drawbacks
The concerns related to health such as the above drinks consumption has also some advantages and disadvantages:
Iced Coffee: There are low calories on the drink especially when taken free of sugar and other additives. This is beneficial to those on weight loss. Moreover, in the case of Iced Coffee the caffeine content is relatively higher, which as a result, means greater energy boost.
Iced Latte: It has milk & sugar which adds calories but also provides Calcium. It is a better beverage to those who prefer sweet drinks apart from it been healthier.
These type of beverages can as well be made more nutritious against the individual needs and sugars and milk alternatives like oat and almond milk can be added.
Customization
One of the best things about iced coffee or iced latte is that in terms of the ingredients themselves or its proportions, there’s much to invent:
For Iced Coffee: Adding flavor syrups or sweetened condensed milk is ok for Iced Lattes and low calorie sugar is ok.
For Iced Lattes: Almond and soy milk can be used for those who do not take dairy milk. Flavors such as Vanilla, or caramel, or hazelnut drizzles take the latte to another level.
Environmental Consideration
It should be pointed out that some iced lattes with milk do more harm to the environment than iced coffee with little or no milk. Here, instead of sticking to these alternatives, one can use oat or almond milk. Also, instead of buying single-use disposable plastic cups and straws, the customers will use reusable cups, which will also reduce plastic waste.
Tips and tricks on how to make Iced Coffee and Lattes at home
For Making Iced Coffee: Espresso machine should not be considered a must have appliance to prepare the beverage; one could look for smooth concentrated coffee base with a French press or rather a cold brew. Cold brewing beer is less stressful than iced coffee since it can be stored for a number of days and is less acidic where iced coffee is concerned.
For Making Iced Lattes: However, for those who do not possess a milk frother, use a mason jar and shake the milk so hard that it froths up or simply blend the milk for the froth to be more than what you can get in a mason jar.
Both iced coffee and iced lattes are relatively simple to understand in flavor due to the fact that each iced coffee and iced latte brings up to the user a different experience in taste and feel when taken, therefore the final decision lies on what the user prefers more, to take or not to take any of these two drinks. These drinks cater for all, there’s a filling coffee for those craving a coffee boost as well as sweet and filling coffee for fans of desserts.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, iced coffee usually contains more espresso shots and hence more caffeine than iced latte which means that iced latte is weaker than iced coffee.
Yes, an iced latte contains more milk and sugar than an iced coffee so it tastes sweeter than iced coffee.
Yes, you can easily make iced coffee or iced latte at home. You only need a coffee press, coffee maker, Moka pot, or an espresso machine to make the espresso shots. Then you can add more hot water and chill it with ice cubes or in the refrigerator to make iced coffee or you can add steamed or foamed milk, and sugar, and chill it to make an iced latte.
Whole milk is the best option for making an iced latte because it has the perfect amount of fat, protein, sugar, and water to complement the bitterness of the coffee. You can also use other plant-based milk such as soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk but it will not provide the best result
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