Want to Make Nitro Coffee Yourself? Here’s Everything You’ll Need
Nitro coffee is becoming one of the most popular new coffee-based drinks on the market! It is an alternative take on the traditional cold brew that takes texture and taste to the next level.
Nitro coffee may sound like a space-age invention if you have never had one before, but it is actually not that complicated to get your head around. In fact, nitro coffee is just plain old regular cold brew coffee with liquid nitrogen gas added to it!
Whilst this may not sound like a big difference, nitro coffee is actually much creamier, richer, and smoother than regular cold brew coffee.
You may have seen nitro coffee in your local coffee shop, in supermarkets, or even in big chains like Dunkin and Starbucks. But, many coffee lovers enjoy making their favorite coffee drinks from the comfort of their own homes.
So, can you really make your own version of nitro coffee without having to take a trip to your local coffee house? Well, let’s find out!
What is Nitro Coffee?
Nitro coffee may sound like some futuristic invention that is just a new fad entering the coffee world. But, nitrogen-infused coffee has actually been around for over a decade!
The idea is that nitro coffee offers a different texture, taste, and overall drinking experience compared to regular cold brew coffee.
Nitrogen-infused drinks may not sound familiar, as the most popular gas to be added to drinks is carbon dioxide. However, carbonated drinks like sodas, beers, and sparkling wines are a lot fizzier than ‘nitrogenated’ drinks.
If you’re still scratching your head, wondering what a ‘nitro’ drink actually is, think of the age-old drink… Guinness.
Stouts like Guinness have a very creamy, rich, and smooth texture to them compared to regular beers. This is because carbon dioxide bubbles dissolve a lot more quickly in the liquid than nitrogen ones, leaving nitro drinks with a much smoother and less fizzy consistency.
This is no bad thing, as who wants a fizzy cup of coffee?
How it Tastes
If you’ve never had nitro coffee before, and you are a fan of cold brew coffee or iced coffee, then it is well worth a try.
Nitro coffee is generally stronger, more earthy, and has a deeper flavor than iced coffee or even regular cold brew coffee.
Cold brew coffee is already pretty strong because there is a higher ratio of coffee to water than a regular cup of coffee.
Nitro coffee is a little stronger than regular cold brew because there is a lower ratio of water to coffee concentrate thanks to the nitrogen that’s pumped into the ‘nitro’ coffee.
Nitro coffee has a richer, deeper flavor than regular cold brew, main thanks to its smoother and thicker mouthfeel. This gives it a creaminess that makes even black nitro coffee taste like it’s got cream or full-fat milk in it!
Sounds appealing right?
Well, let’s find out how to make the perfect nitro coffee from the comfort of your own home!
Equipment Needed to Make Nitro Coffee
Whilst it may sound daunting to infuse your cold brew coffee with nitrogen, the process is actually a little easier than you might imagine.
First off you need to get the right equipment together, so to make a nitro coffee you’ll need:
- Extra Coarse Ground Cold Brew Coffee – 1 Cup/200g/7 oz
- A Glass Jar (for the cold brew coffee to steep in) – Approx 30 oz capacity
- Cold, Filtered Water – 3 Cups/600g/21 oz
- Serving Glass
- V60/Coffee Filter
- Sieve
- Nitrogen Cold Brew Press/Whipper – 1 Ltr Capacity (more details below)
- Nitrogen Charge Cartridge
Nitro Coffee Method
It is definitely attainable to make nitro coffee from the comfort of your own home with a few simple ingredients. The main piece of equipment used to brew nitro cold brew coffee is the nitrogen whipper of a keg-style press.
This is by far the most expensive element of this process, so it is worth shopping around on Amazon to find the best deals.
Anyway, here is your step-by-step guide to brewing the perfect glass of nitro cold brew coffee today!
Step 1: Pick Your Beans
The first step to making the perfect nitro coffee from home is to pick the correct beans for the job.
Whilst any good quality coffee beans would make a high-standard cold brew, I’d recommend going for a specially roasted “Cold Brew” bean. These are specifically blended to steep well during the long extraction period associated with cold brew coffee.
Don’t forget, we are brewing coffee using cold rather than hot water here. This extraction method brings out the dark, earthy notes of the beans rather than hot water which tends to extract more vibrant, nutty flavors.
Therefore, you want to use a bean that will complement this process.
If you are looking for cold brew coffee beans, check these out on Amazon.
Step 2: Grind
Next, let’s talk about grind size.
The main differences between which size of coffee grind you’ll need comes down to whether you’ll be forcing pressurized water through the grounds or submerging the coffee in water and letting them steep to brew.
For pressurized coffee extraction; think espresso, moka pot, percolator, Aeropress, etc, you’ll want a very fine grind.
Whereas for submersion coffee extraction; think the french press, cold brew, drip brew, etc, you’ll want a coarser grind.
For cold brew coffee, you’ll want to use the coarsest grind your grinder will allow. This ensures that the maximum coffee flavor is extracted overnight.
Again, since we are using cold rather than hot water to dissolve those coffee flavors into the water, we need to ensure the grind is as robust as possible for the best results.
Add approx 1 cup/7oz/200g of these coarse coffee grounds to your glass jar and try not to spill any!
Step 3: Steep in Cold Water
The next step is to add your cold, filtered water to your glass container. Add around 3 cups, 21oz, 600g of cold, filtered water to the glass and shake well to ensure all of the coarsely ground coffee makes contact with the water.
Step 4: Leave Overnight
To get the best results and the maximum coffee extraction, you’ll want to leave your cold brew coffee in the fridge for at least 12 hours, but preferably overnight.
Step 5: Filter Your Cold Brew Concentrate
Once your cold brew coffee has been fully extracted, you’ll need to filter it to ensure you get the perfect, strong coffee concentrate without any leftover sediment or grit.
Because you will have used coarsely ground coffee, the first filter can be done using a sieve. Simply strain your cold brew coffee through a sieve into a bowl to catch the largest grounds.
Then, once you have this liquid, pass it through a V60 and standard filter paper to ensure the coffee concentrate is completely free from any sediment.
Step 6: Prepare the Nitrogen
Once you have your pure coffee concentrate ready, the next job is to prepare your nitrogen dispensing device.
These come in a few different shapes and sizes, but the main two options are either a keg style or a whipper style.
Kegs tend to be a little more expensive but also offer more reliable results for nitro coffee extraction. Whereas whippers tend to be a little bit cheaper but can be a bit more hit-and-miss when it comes to the final product.
Check out which option suits you best on Amazon here.
To prepare your nitrogen keg or whipper, simply install your Pressurised Nitrogen Cartridge into your machine and you’re ready to go!
Step 7: Infuse Your Coffee
Once your nitrogen dispense is charged and primed, you can now add your cold brew coffee concentrate to the machine.
Simply pour in the coffee until it is a few cm from the top, screw on the lid tightly and you are ready to go!
For the best results, shake your keg or whipper a few times.
Step 8: Serve
Now you’re ready to serve!
Simply release the valve on your nitro coffee machine or device and it will slowly pour into your serving glass!
Let the coffee settle for a few seconds and watch the foamy, frothy, smooth coffee cascade down the glass.
This is the most satisfying part of the nitro coffee-making process, other than the drinking of course!
Best Nitro Coffee Makers
If you are looking to make nitro coffee from home and want to explore the best nitrogen extraction devices, here are a few options for youtube to consider:
Hatfields London NitroPress Nitro Cold Brew Maker And Dispenser, Nitrogen Infuser, Cold Brew Kit 1L
Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker – Home Brew Coffee Keg, Nitrogen Coffee Machine Dispenser System – NutriChef NCNTROCB10
VINCI Nitro Cold Brew Maker Stainless Steel Home Brew Nitrogen Infusion Coffee Keg System
Presto 02939 Cold Brew Nitro Coffee Dispenser
GrowlerWerks uKeg Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 50 oz, Black Chrome
The Original Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Summary
Overall, nitro coffee is a hot new trend in the coffee space and it is clear to see why!
This rich, creamy, alternative take on a cold brew coffee offers an exquisite taste and texture that takes cold coffee to another level.
Whilst you may have only seen nitro coffee at your local coffee house, it is actually possible to brew it from the comfort of your own home. With a few pieces of equipment, you can easily whip up your very own cold brew nitro coffee in no time at all!
Whilst the initial outlay for the nitrogen dispenser may be a little on the high side compared to many other coffee brewing methods, if you are hooked on intro coffee it is well worth the investment!
Related Questions
Is Nitro Coffee Good for You?
Yes. Since nitro coffee is brewed using nitrogen which adds a rich, velvety texture to the drink, there is often no need to add any milk, cream, or sweetener to it. Therefore, it is often a lower-calorie drink as it can be enjoyed on its own!
Is Nitro Coffee Different from Cold Brew?
Nitro coffee is made from cold brewed coffee but is then infused with nitrogen to give it its signature creamy texture and intense flavor.
Where cold brew coffee is earthy, dark, and a great thirst-quenching drink on a hot day, nitro coffee is even more intense, rich, and creamy. It is often drunk much more slowly as the thickness and richness of the nitro coffee are best savored in the mouth for longer.
