Nitro cold brew is a cold brew that has been infused with nitrogen. The addition of nitrogen to cold brew makes it frothy, creamy, smooth, and thick like Guinness stout.
I spent the past couple of days doing research and making my own nitro-brewed coffee at home.
Most nitro coffee articles online lack clear instructions. In this article, I have detailed all that you need to know to make and enjoy nitro coffee at home or at work.
Keep reading if you want to learn:
Table of Contents
Who invented nitro cold brew?
Nitro coffee has been making waves for the past couple of years. The exact inventor is still in dispute today. Men’s Journal gave credit to Mike McKim, Austin, Texas, the owner of Cuvee coffee.
After my investigation, Portland food scientist Nate Ambrose invented it.
At Stumptown Coffee Roasters in 2013, he experimented with carbon dioxide to froth cold brew, but it tasted terrible.
Ambrose then experimented with nitrogen gas. The coffee tasted creamy and delicious.
Nitro coffee has taken the world by storm ever since. Now it’s said to be the best-offered beverage in Starbucks and other coffee shops out there.
What is nitrogen?
Nitrogen is a gas that is odorless, tasteless, and doesn’t react with anything else. It makes up about 78% of the air around us.
Nitrogen is a necessary nutrient for the survival of life on Earth.
Is nitrogen natural?
Yes, nitrogen is natural and organic. Nitrogen is a key component in every living organism.
Is nitrogen-infused coffee healthy to drink?
Nitrogen gas has been around for many years in most of our favorite beers and cocktails out there. A good example is the stout beer that many of us love. Since 1959, Guinness has used nitrogen in its beers.
So, yes, nitrogen-infused coffee is healthy to consume.
What does nitrogen do to the coffee?
- Nitrogen made our cold brew creamier and tastier. We noticed a more flavorful, mouthwatering, and sweet coffee texture with less acidity.
- Nitrogen gas makes coffee remain fresh without changing the taste. It forms smaller bubbles and gives them a cascading effect.
Nitrogen Coffee—healthier than regular coffee?
According to the research we’ve done, nitro coffee appeals to a lot of sports enthusiasts.
If you enjoy coffee every day like I do, I recommend nitro coffee. You don’t need milk or sugar as with regular coffee, so it has fewer calories.
How to Make Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
Nitro cold brew can be quite expensive in coffee shops. They range in price from $4 to $5. Instead of paying such an expensive amount for my coffee, I went ahead and did some research and came up with two major ways of making nitro.
The WHIPPED CREAM STYLE and the KEG STYLE
Using the steps below, I made mine in the whipped cream style, and the result was amazing. Since then, it has remained the best way for me to drink coffee.
To make your own Nitro cold brew coffee at home, follow these steps: The Whipped Cream Style
Nitro cold brew (whipped cream dispenser style)
Here are the things you need:
- 9 ounces of coarse coffee beans of choice
- 1 Mason Jar or French Press
- 1 cheesecloth or paper coffee filter
- 3 ½ Cups of cold filtered water
- 2 Nitrogen (N2) cartridges
Instruction:
Step 1: Making your cold brew
- Pour the filtered cups of water into the mason jar.
- Next goes the coarse Coffee beans
- Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours to brew.
After 12 to 24 hours, take out the coffee from the fridge.
- Strain and drain the coffee using a paper coffee filter or cheesecloth.
- Dilute the coffee concentrate with extra water for desired flavor or caffeine levels.
For best results, we recommend you allow the coffee to stay up to 24 hours in the fridge.
Step 2: Nitrogen Infusion
- Pour the cold brew into the whipped canister dispenser and close
- Load the nitrogen (N2) cartridge.
- Discharge the gas.
- Shake the dispenser for 30 seconds and allow it to sit for 3–5 minutes.
- Touch the dispenser to feel the cold.
- Turn the dispenser upside down and press the nozzle to get a creamy and cascading effect on your cold brew.
Pro Tip:
- Filtering the concentrate will create a 1:1 cold brew concentrate.
- The whipped canister dispenser should only contain up to 60–75% of its capacity of cold brew coffee. This will enable the Nitro gas room to discharge.
Nitro cold brew (keg style)
Here are the things you need:
- A Keg
- A Kegerator (Fridge for kegs)
- Nitrogen gas tank
- A gas control flow regulator
- Stout faucet
Instruction:
Step 1: Filling your cold brew
- Fill the keg with 60-75 percent cold brew.
- Close the lid and secure it with a pin.
- Connect your gas line ball lock to the keg’s inlet hose.
Step 2: Pressurizing gas
- Open the main valve of the gas tank.
- Next, turn on the regulator valve and align the pipe with the gas line.
- Adjust the pressure by turning the regulator screw from 30 to 40 psi.
- Next, pull up the release valve to release air from the keg.
- Shake the keg. Put it in the kegerator for 8–12 hours (this process enables the nitrogen to dissolve into the coffee).
- Finally, connect the liquid line from the faucet to the keg.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy your nice, cascading, creamy, and smooth coffee.
How long can Nitro cold brew last?
When refrigerated, cold brew in a keg has a shelf life of 10 months. It will last even longer with the nitrogen infusion.
Nitro coffee in the fridge can stay for 7–10 days in a whipped cream dispenser or mini-keg without losing flavor. Our nitro coffee tasted great even after 8 days in the fridge.
Is Nitrous oxide the same as nitrogen?
Many people confuse nitrous oxide with nitrogen. Even though they both have nitrogen and can be used to make nitro coffee, they are not the same thing.
We experimented with both in our nitro coffee, and these are our findings.
N20 (nitrous oxide) made our coffee have larger bubbles. The flavor became somewhat sweeter, and the texture became coarser. This is because N20 is used in whipped cream chargers to prevent the cream from going bad.
Nitrogen (N2) created smaller bubbles. Because it’s an inert gas, it was smoother, creamier, and tasteless without having any effect on the flavor.
We recommend a pure nitrogen (N2) charger so that you can enjoy your nitro coffee.
The difference between regular coffee and nitro cold brew
You may wonder if nitro cold brew has the same kick as ordinary coffee. The answer is yes and more. Nitro cold brew is made from a cold brew that has steeped for 12–24 hours at a higher concentration.
You might rethink the way you make your coffee after reading our findings
| Nitro Coffee | Regular coffee |
| Less acidic and less bitter | More acidic and more bitter |
| Served unsweetened | Sugar and cream are needed for a great taste. |
| contains 30% more caffeine | Caffeine content is lower |
| Served cold or with ice | served hot and fresh |
| Slow-brewed for 12 to 24 hours | When sweetened, there are more calories. |
| Infused with nitrogen gas | |
| Unsweetened calories are less | |
| More preservative |
It’s safe to say that for us, Nitro coffee is now the best way we like to drink our coffee.
Is Nitro coffee stronger than espresso?
Cold brew is generally considered stronger than espresso. The addition of nitrogen to cold brew increases the strength of the coffee.
We found that our nitro was stronger than espresso after 24 hours of cold brewing.
Is nitro coffee an energy drink?
Nitro cold brew can be a healthy alternative to an energy drink. I see it as a source of hydration before a workout.
Another misconception that many have is that nitro coffee is alcohol. Nitro coffee and some beers both have nitrogen added to them, but nitro coffee does not have any alcohol in it. It is not a stout beer because it appears to be one from the outside.
SEE ALSO:
The bottom line
Nitro brew coffee is another way to enjoy your morning cup of joe. Forgo the sugar and cream additions, and you will have a great coffee that looks and tastes great.
The infusion of nitrogen into cold brew takes your coffee to the next level. For the best nitro coffee quality, choose a rich coffee bean and brew your cold brew for 24 hours before adding your nitrogen.
We have covered everything you need to know about nitro coffee. Let us know if you have tried it and if you have; comment below on how you enjoyed it.
