Iced Latte VS Iced Coffee: Ultimate Comparison
Iced Latte VS Iced Coffee are both popular beverages and you could easily confuse one for the other.
However, if you dissect the components that make up the Iced Latte and Iced Coffee there are in fact many differences.
The main difference between the Iced Latte and Iced Coffee is the coffee base used to prepare both beverages. The Iced Latte requires an espresso base while the Iced Coffee uses thick brewed coffee.
With that in mind, let us look at the 5 distinctive differences when comparing Iced Latte VS Iced Coffee. At the end of this post, I will also share one of my favorite Iced Coffee recipes!
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At a glance: Iced Latte VS Iced Coffee (Ultimate Comparison)
What Is Iced Latte?
Iced latte is a cold coffee beverage that comprises an espresso base, cold milk, and ice. Certain coffee shops will also top the drink with a layer of foam from steamed milk to add that extra layer of mouthfeel.
Being a staple at almost every coffee shop, some of them also offer different variations of the Iced Latte. More often than not, it will be the addition of sweet sauces or syrups like chocolate, strawberry, and caramel. But if you are watching your waistline, the sugar-free options for coffee we have today is pretty extensive!
And of course, you definitely know the annual hype around Starbucks’s Pumpkin Spice Latte when Halloween is around the corner.
Barista Tip! Since Iced Latte has an ice component to it, it will dilute the drink over time. So it is better to use a double shot espresso as a base.
What Is Iced Coffee?
Iced coffee is simply a chilled version or a stronger-than-usual brewed coffee served with ice. Basic and simple with no fluff, just good coffee.
However, many often confuse Iced Coffee with Cold Brew Coffee but in reality, they are two very different coffee beverages. But that is a topic for another day.
As with any other iced coffee beverage, the ice component will dilute the beverage over time. So to make great tasting Iced Coffee, I’d recommend you brew a stronger batch of coffee. This will ensure that the melting ice will not water down the taste of the coffee!
With the Iced Coffee, you can also spice it up with a splash of milk and sugar syrup. It will look like an Iced Latte but the flavor profile will be completely different. More on that below!
You Might Be Interested In: Can You Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee?
Iced Coffee VS Iced Coffee: 5 Main Differences
Now that we have sorted out the definition of both the Iced Latte and Iced Coffee, let us now look at their main differences.
1. Coffee Base
The preparation of the Iced Latte and Iced Coffee differs right at the very core, the coffee base.
With an Iced Latte, you need to prepare the espresso coffee base with an espresso machine. No arguments here.
As we all know, the espresso’s flavor is intense and everyone would enjoy it. However, the addition of milk, later on, will mellow down the intensity of the espresso and creates a nice little balance of flavor.
On the other hand, to make an Iced Coffee you will need to prepare the coffee base which is a thick brewed coffee. To do so, you will need a coffee brewing gear such as a batch brewer or a French Press.
In summary:
Iced Latte: Double Shot Espresso (60 ml) with 120 ml of fresh cold milk and topped with ice.
Iced Coffee: 95% Thick Brewed Coffee with a splash of milk (optional) and topped with ice.
To help you further understand, I’ve laid out the preparation steps of both the Iced Latte and Iced Coffee for your reference.
How To Prepare Iced Latte
1. Measure up 18 grams of coffee and grind them to a fine size for espresso brewing.
2. Extract your espresso with an espresso machine and aim to yield 36 grams of espresso within 30 seconds.
3. While extracting your espresso, froth up some milk to produce a silky layer of foam.
4. With a tall glass, fill it with ice and 120 ml of cold milk.
5. Pour your espresso over the cold milk.
6. Scoop some of the silk foam and layer it on top of the drink.
7. Add condiments of your preference (sugar, syrups, sweet sauces) – Optional!
8. Serve and enjoy.
Author’s Note: Adjust the volume of milk and syrups according to your liking! There is no one-size-fits-all recipe. Also, you may want to choose a coffee bean with nutty and chocolaty flavor notes as they pair really well with milk!
How To Prepare Iced Coffee
1. Grind your coffee beans to a coarse size.
2. Brew your coffee. Here, you can opt to use a batch brewer or a French Press. Both are great!
3. Let the coffee cool down a little.
4. With a tall glass, top it with ice and fill it up with brewed coffee.
5. Add condiments of your preference (sugar, syrups) – Optional!
6. Serve and enjoy.
Author’s Note: I’d recommend you use Medium or Medium-Dark roast coffee beans with chocolaty or nutty flavor profiles. Highly acidic coffee beans with fruity flavor profiles might not be appreciated by everyone.
2. Coffee Strength
While you may think that the Iced Latte is stronger than an Iced Coffee since the espresso base is intense and strong, you are in fact mistaken. Iced Coffee is comparatively stronger than the Iced Latte.
On its own, the espresso is no doubt very strong and intense. However, an Iced Latte has more milk to the coffee ratio in comparison to an Iced Coffee where you add only a splash of milk. Therefore, the taste of coffee is much more prevalent in Iced Coffee.
That said, the strength of coffee between the Iced Latte and Iced Coffee is subjective as you can manipulate it by changing the ratio of coffee to milk.
If you want a strong taste of coffee in your drink, use less milk. On top of that you have the option to use darker roast levels of coffee beans which have a more intense and bold flavor profile.
Both of these ways will certainly make sure the strength and flavor of the coffee will be unmistakable.
Personally, I would prefer to make my Latte much like a Cortado. The flavor of coffee still shines through even with the addition of ice.
3. Taste And Flavor
Since both the Iced Latte and Iced Coffee are completely different drinks, it is no surprise that their taste and flavor profile also differs.
Here, we will compare the bare basic versions of both iced coffee drinks.
First off, we have the Iced Latte which has an espresso base with cold milk. With the addition of milk, it mellows down the flavor and intensity of the coffee. That said, you can still taste the natural flavor notes of the coffee beans here.
For the Iced Coffee, a splash of milk will also help smoothen the coffee drink. Flavor-wise, the chilled brewed coffee is strong and bold but not as intense as the espresso.
Furthermore, our human tongue tends to taste things better if they are cooler instead of piping hot French Press coffee.
However, similar to coffee strength, the taste and flavor all depend on the volume of milk and the type of coffee beans you use. Feel free to tweak these factors to suit your taste buds!
4. Calorie Content
Fun fact! Coffee in nature has zero calories. By this I mean, all versions of espressos and black coffees with no extra ingredients like milk and sugar.
With this in mind, the calories all come from the ingredients we use to craft some of these coffee beverages. So it is safe to say that the Iced Latte has higher calorie content than the Iced Coffee since it contains a higher volume of milk.
Let us associate some numbers to the calorie content of both a regular Iced Latte and an Iced Coffee.
| Coffee Drink | Milk Volume | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Iced Latte | 120 ml | 75 |
| Iced Coffee | 30 ml | 19 |
Source: Healthline (Whole Milk has 150 calories per 8 oz / 240 ml)
Fortunately, whole milk is not the only option you have for your favorite coffee drinks. There are many other milk alternatives that have a lower overall calorie content! Let us explore some of these options below.
| Milk Alternatives | Calories |
|---|---|
| Cow’s Milk (1%) | 110 calories |
| Cow’s Milk (Skim) | 80 calories |
| Unsweetened Almond Milk | 40 calories |
| Soy Milk | 80 calories |
Lastly, you know and I know that sometimes milk is not all we add to our Iced Latte and Iced Coffee. We all do need a little sweet treat sometimes. Since moderation is key when it comes to consumption, here’s a little table about the calorie content of the common toppings you will add.
| Common Sweeteners | Calories |
|---|---|
| White Sugar | 387 calories per 100 grams |
| Vanilla Syrup | 385 calories per 100 grams |
| Chocolate Sauce | 279 calories per 100 grams |
| Whipped Cream | 340 calories per 100 grams |
Judging from the table above, I’d highly recommend you to just stick with milk as the only extra thing to add to your coffee.
5. Caffeine Content
If you compare Iced Latte VS Iced Coffee in terms of caffeine content, Iced Coffee definitely has more caffeine.
Let us put some numbers on for your reference and understanding.
| Coffee Base | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|
| Espresso (Single Shot) | 64 mg |
| Espresso (Double Shot) | 128 mg |
| French Press | 134 mg |
| Moka Pot |
As you can see, an Iced Latte with a double shot espresso has 128 mg of caffeine while an Iced Coffee made with French Press coffee has 134 mg of caffeine.
Hence the verdict here is that Iced Coffee has a higher caffeine content.
But I could guess the question looming in your head now. Isn’t the espresso supposed to have higher caffeine content since you extract it under high pressure?
We can explain this by further understanding how caffeine extraction works.
Caffeine is only the final bit of coffee component that the water extracts during coffee brewing. In the context of espresso, the formation of the golden crema layer on top of the espresso. This happens at the end of the espresso extraction time period.
On the other hand, French Press brewing uses the percolation concept. In other words, you steep the coffee grounds in hot water over a period of time. With such a long contact time, the hot water will be able to extract most of the coffee flavor compounds and including caffeine.
Supplementary Read: Does Adding Milk To Coffee Reduces Caffeine?
Which Drink Is Better For You, Iced Latte Or Iced Coffee?
If you are torn between Iced Latte and Iced Coffee, I certainly understand! Sometimes you may crave a milky and creamy drink, and some days all you want is a clean iced black coffee.
If you have enough space in your tummy, why not both?
On a more serious note, Iced Coffee is better in comparison to the Iced Latte. This is mainly because of its lower overall calorie content and it tastes great as well!
That said, the choice is yours and I am going to give you some reasons to choose each of these coffees respectively.
Reasons To Choose Iced Latte
- You prefer a weaker and milder coffee drink.
- A milkier and creamier coffee drink is what you are looking for.
- Do not mind the extra calories from the milk.
- Prefers the taste of espresso coffee over brewed coffee.
Reasons To Choose Iced Coffee
- You prefer a stronger coffee flavor in your drink.
- A caffeine kick is what you need.
- Want to enjoy coffee with fewer calories.
- The flavor of coffee is what you look for in your coffee drink.
Caffeine Dojo’s Favorite Iced Coffee Recipe
If you have made it this far, here’s a little treat for you. This Iced Coffee recipe is milky, and sweet and will definitely be a summer crowd favorite!
I would say it is a fusion of Iced Coffee and an Iced Latte. Enjoy!
What You Need
How To Make Caffeine Dojo’s Iced Coffee
1. Brew a strong coffee using a French Press preferably with Dark Roast or Medium Dark Roast coffee beans.
2. Allow the coffee to cool down.
3. Add one teaspoon of condensed milk and one tablespoon of evaporated milk to the coffee. You can tweak this depending on how sweet and milky you want it to be.
4. Stir well to fold in the condensed milk and evaporated milk.
5. Add ice and it is ready to be served.
This type of coffee is actually very popular in the South East Asia region. In fact, almost every country in this region has its own rendition of this coffee beverage.
i) Thailand: Thai Iced Coffee as you can find all over Thailand street food scene is made with Thai Coffee Powder, evaporated milk and condensed milk. The perfect trio for a sweet, creamy coffee drink.
ii) Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s specialty “Yuan Yang” which loosely translates to Yin & Yang is a mixture of coffee and tea. This perfect marriage of beverage is then sweetened with evaporated milk and condensed milk.
iii) Singapore and Malaysia: In this part of the world, locals call them “Kopi Ping” which is a thick brewed coffee which is made with dark roast coffee. The locals then balance of the strength of the coffee with evaporated milk and condensed milk.
iv) Vietnam: You certainly will recognize a Vietnamese coffee. It is made in the iconic Phin filter and you definitely have to use authentic Vietnamese coffee grounds. The coffee is dripped over condensed milk and poured over a cup of ice for a perfect sweet treat.
FAQ On Iced Latte VS Iced Coffee
Which Is Better Iced Coffee Or Latte?
Iced Coffee is better than Latte in terms of overall calorie content. That said, order iced coffee if you want more caffeine and a stronger tasting cup of cold coffee. If you prefer a milkier and creamier coffee drink, the Latte might be the better option for you.
Is A Latte The Healthiest Coffee?
The Latte is considered healthy if it is just plain espresso with milk. However, most people tend to load their latte with sugar syrups and flavored sauces. If you do so, lattes aren’t the healthiest option. These sugar syrups and flavored sauces are loaded with sugar content and calories which will bound to increase your waistline.
Is An Iced Latte Sweeter Than An Iced Coffee?
Iced Latte is generally sweeter than an Iced Coffee as there is more milk content in an Iced Latte. However, the overall sweetness of the drink depends on the additional sweeteners you add into the coffee. Common additions to these drinks are like flavored syrups, sweet sauces and whipped cream. These will increase the overall sweetness of the coffee beverage.
Closing Notes
That summarizes the comparison between Iced Latte VS Iced Coffee. Both are excellent on a hot summer day and you certainly cannot go wrong if you choose one over the other.
So, which is your favorite? Do you have a personal way of preparing either of these beverages? Do leave a comment down below and share it with my fellow audience!
Personally, I am an Iced Coffee person. Plain, simple coffee is always the best way to enjoy coffee!
If you find this piece of article informational and have taught you a thing or two when comparing Iced Latte VS Iced Coffee, please share it with your fellow friends. baristas and home brewers!
Happy brewing!
