Ever wondered why nitro cold brew looks like a stout, tastes naturally sweet, and kicks harder than your average iced coffee?
This cold coffee trend didn't just survive; it exploded. From hip cafés to Starbucks to your local grocery aisle, nitro cold brew is everywhere.
I've brewed it, tested it, and even built my own DIY nitro setup to see what really makes this drink different, from taste and caffeine to how it's made!
Quick Answer: What does nitro mean in coffee?
Nitro in coffee means the coffee is infused with nitrogen gas, usually after it's brewed as cold brew. Nitrogen creates tiny bubbles that give the drink a creamy mouthfeel and a foamy head, similar to stout beer.
Many people find that nitro coffee tastes smoother and slightly sweeter than regular iced coffee, even without adding sugar.
Key points of Nitro cold brew:
- Made from: Cold brew + nitrogen infusion
- Tastes like: Creamy, smooth coffee with a foamy top
- Caffeine level: Varies by recipe and serving size, but it can be high (especially when it's served without ice)
- Looks like: A Guinness-style beer with a foamy top
- Best for: Anyone wanting smooth, bold coffee without bitterness
Ready to make your own creamy, draft-style coffee at home?
Let's get into it!
What does nitro mean in coffee?
Nitro cold brew is cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas, which gives it a creamy mouthfeel and that signature foamy draft-style top.
Nitrogen changes the texture and aroma, not the caffeine.
So nitro can feel strong, but the caffeine ultimately depends on how concentrated the cold brew is and how big the serving is.
Nitrogen-infused coffee offers a smoother texture than sodas and other carbonated beverages because nitrogen bubbles are smaller than those of carbon dioxide. Coffee houses sometimes serve nitro coffee on tap.
Additionally, canned nitro cold brew can be found at grocery stores, and you can also brew your own nitro coffee at home.
People often compare the appearance of nitro coffee to that of a Guinness beer due to the similarities in their appearance.
In truth, nitro cold brew was most inspired by bartenders' practice of infusing dark beers such as stouts, ales, and lagers with nitrogen gas rather than carbon dioxide.
Modern nitro coffee is typically traced back to early café experiments in the early 2010s, and it gained popularity quickly once larger specialty brands began serving nitro cold brew more widely.
Why is pure nitrogen used in nitro coffee?
Most nitro coffee uses nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide because CO2 dissolves into the drink, forming carbonic acid, which can make the coffee taste sharper.
Nitrogen gives a smoother texture and that creamy, cascading head, which many people experience as sweeter.
They tried using the 75/25 nitrogen and carbon dioxide mix used to make tap microbrews and Guinness, but this mixture resulted in a bitter coffee.
The problem with using carbon dioxide is that it leaves a bitter taste as it dissolves in the water. Flat sparkling water tastes acidic because of this.
After much experimentation, developers discovered that pure nitrogen would dissolve slowly, giving the perception of a creamier drink.
Therefore, if you try to make nitro at home with carbon dioxide chargers, the results will be bitter.
What is the difference between iced coffee, cold brew, and nitro coffee?
What makes nitro cold brew different from other iced coffee drinks?
Here's a quick overview to see the difference between these three coffees:
| Coffee Type | Brew Method | Served With Ice? | Nitrogen Infused? | Flavor Profile | Acidity | Caffeine Content |
| Iced Coffee | Brewed hot, then cooled | Yes | No | Brighter, sometimes more bitter flavor compared to cold brew | Higher | Moderate |
| Cold Brew | Steeped in cold water for 12-24 hours | Yes | No | Smoother, mellower flavor with chocolatey notes | Lower | High |
| Nitro Cold Brew | Cold brew infused with nitrogen | No | Yes | Creamy, naturally sweet flavor with a velvety texture | Lower | High |
Let's go more in-depth now!
To start: Iced coffee and cold brew.
Iced coffee is hot coffee cooled down, typically with the addition of ice cubes, whereas cold brew coffee is never heated.
Nitro coffee is nitrogen-infused cold-brewed coffee. Iced coffee and cold brew coffee might need sweeteners, but nitro cold brew is naturally sweeter.
Iced coffee is a fast and easy way to make a refreshing drink. First, you brew coffee and pour ice over it.
If you plan to make a large batch to refrigerate, add more coffee grounds during the brewing process.
So why not use iced coffee and infuse it with nitrogen to make nitro coffee?
The bigger difference is the base coffee.
Cold brew and hot-brewed iced coffee extract different compounds, so they don't taste the same.
That's why most nitro starts as cold brew: it's a smoother foundation for the nitrogen texture.
In lab testing, cold brew and hot coffee can exhibit similar pH levels, but hot coffee may have a higher titratable acidity (a different measurement of sharpness).
So, cold brew often tastes less biting, even if the science depends on how you measure acidity.
Summary: While all three beverages are served cold, their flavor profiles differ significantly due to their brewing methods and any additional processes, such as nitrogen infusion.
Iced coffee offers a brighter and more acidic taste, while cold brew provides a smoother and less acidic experience, with notes of chocolate. Nitro cold brew delivers a creamy, naturally sweet flavor with a velvety texture.
Nitro cold brew caffeine content compared to regular coffee
Nitro cold brew can be high in caffeine, but it's not automatically higher than hot coffee.
It depends on the strength of the cold brew, how it's diluted (or not), and the serving size.
Several factors, including the temperature used during brewing, the duration of brewing time, and the type of beans used to make the drink, can all contribute to determining the caffeine content.
It is difficult to make a direct comparison between the two because the quantity of coffee and its preparation method affect the caffeine content.
Based on information from Medical News Today, these are typical caffeine levels in coffee beverages:
| Coffee type | Portion size | Amount of caffeine |
| Hot brewed | 8-oz (226 ml) | 95 mg (0.003 oz) |
| Decaf (Yes, it has some caffeine) | 8-oz (226 ml) | 2 mg |
| Cold brew | 12-oz (340 ml) | 153 mg to 238 mg (0.005 to 0.008 oz) |
| Instant | 8-oz (226 ml) | 63 mg (0.002 oz) |
| Espresso | 1-oz (28 ml) | 63 mg (0.002 oz) |
It's challenging to compare nitro coffee directly because the caffeine content depends on the brew method, portion size, and type of bean.
A direct comparison between the coffees in the following chart is based on Starbucks' standard 12-oz cups.
These are caffeine levels for 12 oz (340 ml) of several Starbucks coffees:
| Drink | Caffeine Level |
| Cold brew | 150 mg (0.005 oz) |
| Reserve nitro | 280 mg (0.009 oz) |
| Regular nitro | 215 mg (0.007 oz) |
| Brewed pike place blend | 235 mg (0.008 oz) |
| Brewed blonde roast | 270 mg (0.009 oz) |
Note: Caffeine numbers vary by drink size, recipe, and brand. Treat comparisons as directional, and always check the brand's published nutrition for the exact drink you order.
Even within one brand, caffeine levels vary greatly, depending on how the drink is produced and the roast level of the coffee.
So, nitro brew generally has more caffeine, but it's possible to find hot brewed coffee with similar caffeine levels to its nitro counterparts.
Again, it's all about the roast and brewing process!
How is nitro cold brew made?
Nitro cold brew is made using a two-step process:
- Create a cold brew
- Add nitrogen gas
The good news is that making nitro coffee at home is not as complicated as it seems. If you can make cold brew, you can make nitro after purchasing a few pieces of equipment.
Coffee shops make their nitro by first preparing a cold brew and then pouring it into a metal keg.
The nitrogen is infused with a specialized infuser that injects it into the cold brew.
The keg is then connected to a tap system, and the nitro coffee, with its signature texture and foam, can be poured into a glass.
It sounds simple, but the faucet, gas tanks, keg connectors, tubes, and hoses must be installed and maintained.
Additionally, the baristas require training to operate the equipment effectively.
Adding nitro coffee to a menu can easily cost a coffee shop $1,500 to $2,000, which is why they have to charge a premium for the drink.
Many fans have begun making nitro cold coffee at home to save money.
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How to make cold nitro cold brew at home (Step-by-step guide)
Wondering how to make nitro cold brew at home without a keg?
The easiest way to start at home is by using a whipped cream dispenser with nitrogen chargers, allowing you to achieve a true nitro-style texture without the need for a full keg setup.
Here's a six-step process that will get you drinking homemade nitro in no time:
- Grind the coffee beans to a medium-coarse consistency. If you purchase your coffee from a coffee shop, inform the barista that the beans are intended for making a cold brew.
- Combine ⅓ cups (78.86 ml) of ground coffee with 1½ cups (354.88 ml) of cold or room-temperature water in an airtight container. If the container is not airtight, the coffee will oxidize, creating an unpleasant flavor.
- Allow the mixture to steep. The water and coffee should be stored at room temperature for 12 hours or refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
- Strain the coffee using a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth, a nut milk bag, or a paper coffee filter. You can mix your cold-brew coffee concentrate with water (a 1:1 ratio is typical, but feel free to experiment). You may keep your cold brew in the jar for up to ten days.
- Mix 1 cup (236.59 ml) of cold water with 1 cup (236.59 ml) of concentrated cold brew in a whipped cream dispenser and seal it.
- Charge the cold brew with a nitrogen cartridge. Shake the drink roughly 10 times and let it sit until the container feels cold to the touch.
- Pour into a glass slowly, and enjoy! If you go too quickly, the nitro cold brew may resemble the photo below for a moment. Wait for a bit and pour in more cold brew to fill the glass:
Tip: This step-by-step guide will help you learn more about the best way to make cold brew coffee at home.
What are the best coffee beans for making nitro coffee?
The best coffee beans for nitro coffee are a lighter roast.
Cold-brewing coffee can alter the flavor profile, and you may find that the flavor you love gets lost in the process.
Although medium and dark roasts are usually recommended, how you grind the beans is essential. Incorrectly grinding the beans can ruin your favorite coffee.
In general, nitro and cold brew coffee reduce the acidity level of the coffee, so some people use a lighter roast to achieve this, as lighter roasts tend to be more acidic than darker roasts.
Dark roast coffee has rich flavor notes, such as chocolate, earthy, nutty, or even a hint of syrup.
These notes will overpower the light floral notes of lighter roasts or single-origin varieties.
Another reason people prefer dark roasts for nitro coffee is that they are less expensive.
Single-origin varieties are more expensive, adding to the already high cost of nitro coffee.
Just keep in mind that if you opt for a lighter roast, you'll need to plan for a longer extraction time to achieve the desired flavor.
Still, the best place to start experimenting is your favorite coffee.
If you start with a coffee that you know, you can better identify the changes in flavor.
Tip: If you're still searching for excellent coffee beans for cold brew, you can find my recommendations here.
What is the best grind size for nitro cold brew?
So, how fine should you grind your coffee beans for cold brew?
The best grind is a coarse grind for several reasons. For one thing, the coarse grind will start pouring the quickest.
However, a fine grind will be excessively dense, causing the water to flow too slowly.
As a result, water tends to collect above the bed of fine coffee grinds, leading to patches of unbrewed coffee.
Furthermore, fine grinds can sometimes have a harsh, bitter flavor due to over-extraction.
The water can easily flow through the beans and extract more of the flavors with a coarse grind:
I've made a cold brew with a fine grind size to test it out. If you're interested in learning about the results (it may surprise you!), you can check out the article here.
Does nitro cold brew contain alcohol?
Although numerous factors contribute to this misperception, nitro cold brew does not have alcohol.
Some people believe it includes alcohol because it is processed with nitrogen, the same component used in producing certain beers such as Guinness.
Nitro coffee has a similar mouthfeel to stouts, such as Guinness, and some beers feature coffee notes in their flavor profile.
Another thing beer and nitrogen-infused coffee have in common is that both can be poured straight from a tap. But there is no alcohol in the nitro coffee.
Can you heat nitro cold brew coffee?
You can heat nitro coffee. The process starts with making a cold brew, then adding the nitrogen and storing it. When the coffee is heated, the nitrogen will reduce more quickly than when it is cold.
Hot nitro is a rare and hard-to-find boutique coffee, and only a select few coffee shops serve it.
Besides people's reaction that it sounds like hot soda pop, the biggest hurdle is that hot nitro requires even more specialized machines that heat the coffee while maintaining the nitrogen level.
At least one company, NitroBrew, sells a kit for making hot or cold nitro drinks at home.
The kit includes a kettle, nitrogen charger, and air compressor. However, prepare yourself for sticker shock, as these kits are specialized and don't benefit from mass production price reductions.
If you're interested in learning about the flavor profile of cold brew coffee, learn how to heat cold brew without ruining the flavor
Why is nitro cold brew less acidic?
Nitro enthusiasts claim there is less acid in nitro, but what could cause the acidity to be lower?
Is there a simple explanation, or do you need a chemistry background to understand terms like “deprotonated acid,” “radical scavenging capacity,” and “CQA isomer concentrations?”
Not really.
Nitro has less acid because hot brew methods extract more acids from the beans.
However, these deprotonated acids also remove more acid from the beans, which becomes part of the coffee you drink.
Since cold brew extracts less acid from the beans, it is less acidic.
FAQs about nitro cold brew coffees
Before I close this article, let's quickly address a few key questions people have when making a nitro cold brew at home.
Who knows, maybe this will answer one of the questions you had as well!
Why does nitro cold brew taste sweeter?
Nitrogen creates tiny bubbles and a creamy texture that can make the coffee taste sweeter to many people, even when nothing is added.
Is nitro cold brew stronger than espresso?
It depends on what you mean by strong. Espresso is more concentrated per ounce, but a full serving of nitro cold brew can add up to a lot of caffeine because it's easy to drink quickly and is often brewed strong.
Is nitro cold brew less acidic?
Many people find that nitro cold brew tastes smoother and less sharp, but the acidity depends on how it is measured.
Studies have found that cold brew and hot coffee can have similar pH levels, while hot coffee may exhibit higher titratable acidity.
Final thoughts
Nitro cold brew isn't just a trendy coffee; it's a smooth, high-caffeine option that's easy to make at home and enjoyable throughout the year.
From its naturally creamy texture to its energy boost, it's a favorite among coffee drinkers who want a bold cup without bitterness.
I've tested nitro brews side by side with cold brew and iced coffee, using different beans, roast levels, and steep times; this drink truly delivers when brewed correctly.
Now that you know what it is, how it tastes, and how to make it, will you try making your own?
Let me know in the comments if you've tasted the difference!
Cold brew recipes to try
Ready to try different kinds of cold brew? Check out my other recipes below:
