How Do You Make Nitro Coffee At Home? – Step By Step Instructions

Last updated on October 26th, 2023 at 18:17

One coffee drink that is very new to the coffee world is Nitro coffee, and at Latte Love Brew we get asked from time to time how do you make Nitro coffee?

This article aims to answer all your questions about nitro cold brew coffee and gives you step-by-step instruction on how to make this unique and brilliant coffee at home.

Keep reading as we dial in on the topic of making nitro coffee!

How Do You Make Nitro Coffee – What Is Nitro Coffee?

Nitro coffee is a cold-brewed coffee that is served very cold and charged and infused with nitrogen gas bubbles to create a smooth texture. It is a type of coffee that only started in the early 2010s and has grown in popularity and can be ordered at the most exclusive of specialty coffee houses.

The taste is richer and smoother than a regular cold brew coffee, and when poured in a large glass the turbulence resembles that of a stout beer like a Guinness and has a thick creamy head of foam.

Read: How to sweeten nitro cold brew

What Is In Nitro Coffee?

In a few words – nitrogen gas bubbles.

Nitrogen infused coffee is made from a well-brewed cold brew coffee and then uses a nitrogen dispenser to infuse the nitrogen gas bubbles in to the coffee. It creates tiny bubbles that give your cold brew coffee a thick, creamy texture.

How Do You Make Nitro Coffee At Home?

The very first step in making a nitro cold brew coffee at home is to start by making a cold brew concentrate and making a top quality cold brew coffee.

Once you have completed the cold brewing process, you will need to create and set up your home nitro kit using nitrogen cartridges and a whipped cream dispenser.

Step 1: Grind Your Coffee Beans

Grind your coffee beans to a medium-coarse grind size. You can use your own burr coffee grinder or buy your coffee pre-ground from your local supermarket or coffee shop.

I insist that you get into the habit of buying freshly roasted whole beans and grinding them yourself as your coffee will be much fresher.

At Latte Love Brew we encourage you to go a step further and join the home roasting revolution and roast your own coffee beans for the ultimate experience in freshness.

Read: Nitro cold brew at home

Step 2: Prepare The Brew

Put your coffee grounds in ice-cold water – bottled water is best. Use a coffee to water ratio of 1:4 – 1 part coffee and 4 parts water. A fine example for making an ample amount is 200 grams (6.75 Oz) of coffee and 800 grams of water (800 ml – 27 ounces).

Put the coffee and water mix into an airtight glass container. It is important that your container is glass and airtight. Coffee is acidic and will draw out the plastic taste and chemicals into your brew.

If it is not airtight, it will oxidize and taste a little off.

Step 3: Let It Brew

Let your coffee and water mix and steep for 12 to 24 hours in your fridge. It is cold brew after all. I have found that you get much better results when you brew your cold brew in your fridge.

Check it after 12 hours and again every 3 to 4 hours for flavor and taste to see how your brew is coming also. Remember – it is a concentrate that you are brewing, you can dilute it with water or enjoy it as it is. Keep this in mind when you are taste testing your brew.

Step 4: Strain It

When your cold brew coffee is ready, it is important to strain out your coffee grounds. If you skip this step, your coffee will continue to brew and eventually become over brewed and bitter.

A fine mesh sieve or cheese cloth is perfect for filtering out the coffee grounds. When it is fully strained, you will have a cold brew coffee concentrate that you can drink straight or with an equal amount of water in a 1:1 coffee to water ratio. Store your concentrate in a glass airtight container and keep it in your fridge.

It should stay fresh for 7 to 10 days.

Step 5: Dilute Your Concentrate

Dilute your cold brew coffee concentrate with an equal amount of water. Since it is a concentrate, it is best that you dilute it. Although for avid lovers of a strong cold brew it can be enjoyed as it is – it is strong, too strong for most people.

For 1 cup of coffee, use 1/2 a cup of concentrate and 1/2 a cup of cold water to dilute it.

Step 6: Nitrogen Infusion

Infuse your cold brew coffee with nitrogen gas bubbles. Simply pour your cold-brewed coffee into a clean and chilled whipped cream dispenser and then seal it. Charge it with a NO2 (nitrous oxide) cartridge and shake it for about 35 seconds.

Leave it for 30 seconds or so until the canister is cold to touch. Holding your coffee glass, or a pint glass at an angle, dispense your coffee from the spout and into your glass.

Viola, you will see your nitro cold brew coffee pouring and settling in a very similar way to that of a pint of Guinness.

How Do You Drink Nitro Cold Brew Coffee?

Nitro cold brew is supposed to be drank the way it is served to you by your barista – black with no sugar or milk added.

The nitrogen bubbles change the texture and give a creamy texture and taste and give it a slightly sweet taste. It is best enjoyed as it is and sipped slowly.

Try it “virgin” if you don’t enjoy it that way, you can later add milk and sugar.

Nitro Cold Brew Vs Cold Brew

The main difference between a cold brew coffee and a nitro cold brew coffee is the texture. Both are subtle, sweet and full of flavor. A nitro cold brew has a rich body, is super smooth and has a foamy creamy head similar to a draft beer.

The two drinks are very distinct. Nitro cold brew tastes a touch sweeter than an ordinary cold brew coffee. The nitrogen gas bubbles change the flavor and texture; both are low in acidity and less aromatic than black coffee or an espresso.

Is Nitro Cold Brew Stronger Than Cold Brew?

The addition of nitrogen gas bubbles to your cold brew coffee does not increase the volume of the drink – an 8 ounce cold brew will be the same as an 8 ounce nitro cold brew. The amount of caffeine content does not alter due to the addition of nitrogen to your cold brew coffee.

Is Nitrogen-Infused Coffee Bad For You?

Nitrogen gas has been used in drinks for centuries. It is used in some popular beers. Nitrogen gas causes no harm to your body and is safe to drink. It is simply just an alternative to carbon dioxide and produces a different effect when infused with a liquid.

Carbon dioxide produces a larger bubble – like what you see in regular soda drinks like coca-cola. Nitrogen is smaller and reacts in a different way when it is forced into a liquid. It adds a slightly sweet taste to your drink.

Why Is Nitro Cold Brew Coffee So Popular?

Nitro cold brew is popular for a number of reasons. It is quick and easy to make, it can be made in batches – since most of the components are pre-made and all that is required is the infusion of the nitrogen.

Another reason for its popularity is the sweet creamy taste and – at times it feels like you are drinking a pint of Guinness.

The beautiful cascading effect of the velvet texture is eye catching, attention grabbing and mesmerizing – this alone is a great reason for ordering a nitro cold brew coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions About How Do You Make Nitro Coffee

Can I Make Nitro Coffee At Home?

Yes, but only if you have the right equipment, namely a nitro coffee dispenser. Once you have your cold brew coffee made, the process is very easy. Pour your coffee slowly into the nitro coffee dispenser flask, and close it properly. Charge it with the nitrogen and then shake it a few times. Then is a nice clear coffee glass pour your coffee and watch the silky smooth luxurious nitro coffee.

How Is Nitro Brew Coffee Made?

This rather luxurious coffee is made by infusing the based cold brew coffee with nitrogen, which gives it a creamy, rich head that looks very similar to a draft beer like a Guinness. The nitrogen bubbles are smaller than the carbon dioxide bubbles and when they are infused into your coffee it gives it a very rich silky texture.

Is Nitro Coffee Healthy?

Nitro coffee is a healthy alternative to your regular coffee due to being lower in calories and does not need the use of sugar to sweeten it up. In that aspect, you can consider it as a healthy coffee.

What Does Adding Nitrogen To Coffee Do?

Adding nitrogen bubbles to coffee, particularly cold brew coffee, gives it a smoother texture, like a rich velvet mouthfeel. The flavor is also enhanced and enriched. The flavor improvement is due to the flavor compounds not decomposing as quickly as they normally would when reacting with oxygen due to the addition of nitrogen.

What Makes Nitro Coffee Different?

Nitro coffee has a thicker creamy texture which is notably thicker than regular coffee. The small nitrogen bubbles alter the texture and make it more silky, smoother and richer. 

How Is A Nitro Coffee Made?

Nitro cold brew starts its life off as a regular cold brew coffee as it is the base of the coffee beverage. It becomes a nitro coffee when nitrogen bubbles are infused, which gives it a very luxurious mouthfeel very much like a stout draft beer like a Guinness. 

What Are The Ingredients Of Nitro Coffee?

The ingredients of a Nitro coffee are a cold brew coffee, which is brewed with dark roasted coffee beans. The only other ingredient other than the water used to brew the coffee is nitrogen gas, which is infused into the cold brew coffee. 

Why Can’t You Put Ice In Nitro Coffee?

If you add ice to nitro cold brew, the ice cubes ruin the nitrogen, the silky creamy effect of the coffee. It spoils the signature texture.

Final Thoughts – How Do You Make Nitro Coffee?

If you have read this far you know it is no longer a question of how do you make nitro coffee – as you know just how easy it is, and you can get started right away by making your cold brew base and if you don’t have the required equipment, a nitro coffee dispenser or a whipped cream dispenser you have time to go out and get one while you wait for your cold brew coffee to brew. 

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