The weather is awesome, the sun is hot and summer is definitely here. Time for our CoffeeGeek to explain to you and all his friends the difference between Cold Brew and Flash Brew. And why he thinks Cold Brew is particularly suited to be the next iced tea.

Yes, we know: nothing beats the first cup of coffee in the morning. But when the temperature rises on a steamy summer night a hot cup of coffee might not be your drink of choice. On days like this, you may need to source an alternative source for your caffeine boost. This is the niche cold coffee is filling. But are all cold coffees created equally?

So what’s it going to be? A Cold Brew or a Flash Brew? Don’t know the difference? That’s okay, I will let you in on a secret: hardcore coffee geeks (aka hipsters) probably can’t tell the difference, either. So here’s your weekly lesson in coffee geekdom.

Cold Brew vs. Flash Brew

Cold Brew is coffee made from grounds soaked overnight in cold water. This long and slow extraction process removes all the bitterness and acidity from the coffee. The result is a sweet, soft and velvety drink! Cold Brew done right is truly refreshing coffee, and you can mix it with water, milk or even spirits. Because let’s be honest, the fact that you can make cocktails with Cold Brew is definitely part of its appeal.

Flash Brew (aka Ice Brew) is something different entirely. Flash brew is hot coffee brewed directly onto ice using cone filters (a pour over). The ice immediately cools down the coffee while you wait. Essentially, the taste is identical to a nice and balanced hot cup of coffee. The advantage of Flash Brew is that you can easily make it at home.

And the winner is…

All the buzz right now is about Cold Brew, and rightly so. Cold Brew is evolving to radically and offers such a unique taste that it can easily be the next iced tea. It is refreshing in that coffee kick way, but it also quenches your thirst. It’s perfect for a day at the beach, or an afternoon on a warm restaurant terrace.

What Cold Brew won’t give you is coffee’s acidity and beautiful bitter flavor. Which is why some coffee lovers haven’t taken on to Cold Brew quite as enthusiastically as the rest of us. It’s okay. Now you know: ease into Cold Brew by experimenting first with your own Flash Brew. You can’t go wrong – and if you do, just pour and pour again.

Awesome image of dinosaur ‘borrowed’ from quickmeme.com