What Is Nitro Cold Brew? – A Secret Perfect Cold Coffee!

A question that coffee fans ask a lot is What is Nitro cold brew coffee?

The “cold brew” part tells, and the coffee gives it away that it is a cold brew coffee and the nitro is in reference to the infusion of nitrogen. Putting it together, a nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee.

It is a pretty tasty, creamy smooth coffee beverage.

Keep reading for more details about the rather curious and brilliant coffee beverage and get all your questions about Nitro cold brew answered.

What Is Nitro Cold Brew?

Nitro cold brew coffee is a cold coffee made with cold brew coffee that has been brewed with cold water and then infused with nitrogen gas.

The best cold brew brewing method is brewing with ice-cold water and keeping your brew in your fridge as it extracts and brews giving the greatest freshness, crisper flavors and extracting all the low temperature compounds better.

It’s a coffee that has a cascading effect that is very similar to a stout beer like a Guinness, giving a frothy, creamy and smooth texture. a Nitro coffee is rich and smooth with a head of foam on top and a heavy mouthfeel.

Even though it starts off a regular cold brew coffee and the whole base coffee is a cold brew coffee, it tastes, texture and just about everything else is very different.

That is exactly what nitro cold brew coffee is: regular cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas!

Read: How to make nitro cold brew at home

What Is Nitro Cold Brew Vs Cold Brew

A question that I am often asked is what is the difference between regular cold brew coffee and nitro cold brew coffee. Essentially there are three differences:

• The infusion of nitrogen.
• How the drink is served.
• The taste, texture and mouthfeel.

Regular cold brew is made with coarse coffee grounds and steeped for 16 to 24+ hrs and filtered and then served over ice. It’s a balanced, smooth and well-balanced low acidity coffee drink.

Nitro cold brew is the same cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen and is not served over ice as ice spoils the texture. It’s rich, creamy, sweet and has a heavier mouthfeel.

Nitro Cold Brew Vs Cold Brew Caffeine

There is no winner and no loser here as both a nitro cold brew and a cold brew coffee have the same caffeine content. The infusion of nitrogen into the cold brew does not enhance or increase the amount of caffeine in the beverage, but it does, according to studies, make the caffeine 30% quicker in uptake.

30% quicker uptake means that you will enjoy a faster effect of the caffeine.

The actual amount of caffeine will vary from coffee shop to coffee shop due to the different coffee beans used, and how long the coffee was steeped for.

Notably at Starbuck there is more caffeine in their nitro cold brew coffee than their regular cold brew coffee, which is indicative of a different coffee being used.

Read: How much caffeine in nitro cold brew coffee?

Is Nitro Cold Brew Carbonated?

No, nitro cold brew coffee is not carbonated. Carbonated infers the use of carbon, namely carbon dioxide.

Nitrogen is a very different gas made from a different element and has a very, very different effect. Carbonated drinks, like coca-cola, have an audible fizz to them.

Nitrogen bubbles are smaller and create a velvety and a very smooth dense feel compared to the light airy feel of carbonated beverages.

Is Nitro Cold Brew Stronger?

While nitro cold brew coffee is not more caffeinated or stronger than regular cold brew coffee. It is stronger than regular coffee because cold brew is stronger than regular coffee, having more caffeine on average for drinks of the same size.

As far as flavor is concerned, it’s not stronger. It’s a lot smoother. Cold brew coffee is well-balanced, smooth and low acidity as I mentioned earlier the infusion of nitrogen makes it creamy like a stout beer and little lighter with a fuller mouthfeel.

It’s great, in fact perfect and best enjoyed as a black coffee with no dairy added.

Read: Nitro cold brew at home

Is Nitro Cold Brew Bad For You?

In my opinion, nitro coffee is not bad for you. You should have no concern regarding nitrogen. 78% of the air that you breathe is nitrogen, and it has been added to drinks for centuries.

It’s only bad if you drink too much and that will be due to excessive caffeine consumption not nitrogen.

The fact that you can enjoy it as it is without milk or sugar makes it a low calorie low sugar (sugar-free) drink and this is healthier than many other coffee drinks.

Is Nitro Cold Brew Sweet?

Yes, without the addition of sugar or simple syrups or milk, nitro cold brew is sweet enough as it is.

I strongly advise against the addition of sugar and milk and any flavored or unflavored simple syrup as they spoil the natural flavor and texture.

To clarify, yes, nitro cold brew is sweet.

Nitro Cold Brew Calories

Nitro cold brew coffee is a low calorie beverage and as I mentioned is a healthier gourmet coffee drink than many others. It has only 10 calories per serving on average.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Is Nitro Cold Brew

What Is So Special About Nitro Cold Brew?

Nitro cold brew is so special due to the odorless and colorless nitrogen bubbles which give the drink a rich sweet and creamy taste and feel. It’s a smooth and tasty coffee to enjoy.

Is Nitro Cold Brew Stronger Than Regular Coffee?

Yes, nitro coffee has more caffeine than regular coffee, and thus it is stronger in terms of the caffeine content. In terms of taste, nitrogen-infused coffee has a much lighter and smoother taste than regular coffee.

What Is Difference Between Cold Brew And Nitro Cold Brew?

 Regular cold brew coffee is brewed with cold water and coffee grounds and then filtered and then poured over ice. Nitro cold brew coffee is cold brew coffee that has been infused with nitrogen. It has gone through the same cold brew process; the only difference is the nitrogen infusion prior to being served.

Is Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Healthy?

 In my opinion yes. Nitro cold brew coffee is healthy because it has fewer calories, sugar and fat. It’s a coffee that has a better nutritional profile than many coffee drinks and is completely suitable for coffee lovers with milk sensitivities.

Do You Add Milk To Nitro Cold Brew?

While some people may recommend that you add milk to nitro coffee to add texture to the drink. In my opinion and experience I advise against it as it is already sweet, creamy and has a great texture without the addition of milk.

What Are The Benefits Of Nitrogen In Coffee?

The benefit of nitrogen in coffee is the bubbles give the cold brew coffee a rich, smooth silky texture and mouthfeel. The addition of nitrogen in cold coffee helps to make it taste a little sweeter and enhances the coffee flavor.

Is Nitro Cold Brew Really Caffeinated?

Yes, at Starbucks nitro cold brew coffee is caffeinated and has a great smooth flavor. It’s smoother and notably sweeter than regular cold brew coffee. Don’t let the flavor mislead you into thinking that it is not caffeinated.

The caffeine content for the drink served at Starbucks is as follows.

• Tall 12 Oz (360 ml): 215 mg.
• Grande 16 Oz (480): 280 mg.

The fact that there is more caffeine in a Starbucks nitro cold brew than their regular cold brew is an indication that the coffee base is different from their regular cold brew.

Does Nitro Cold Brew Hit You Faster?

Yes, there are some science studies that indicate that the nitrogen gas in the drink causes your body to process the caffeine faster than regular coffee, meaning you get the caffeine hit quicker.

Final Thoughts – What Is Nitro Cold Brew?

If you have read this far, thank you kindly, it is appreciated, you will know what is nitro cold brew is and perhaps ready to try it or make it yourself.

Starting with a can of Starbucks or another brand as a way of dipping your toes and trying it out. You can also try it out at your local Starbucks; the bigger outlets will have it. Finally, you can take steps to making it at home and enjoying it as you like it with your favorite beans.

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location