When Did Starbucks Introduce Nitro Cold Brew In Stores?

It’s a head scratcher of a question, when did Starbucks introduce nitro cold brew in stores?

It is a relatively new drink, one of the newest having only been invented in 2013 and by a rival to Starbucks. Still, it didn’t take them too long to dominate the market and bring nitro cold brew to the masses.

If you are in a rush, the quick answer is, it was introduced in July 2015 to their outlets.

Keep reading for details about the nutritional value, caffeine content and more.

When Did Starbucks Introduce Nitro Cold Brew In Stores?

Starbucks first introduced Nitro cold brew coffee at their Reserve roastery in Seattle in July 2015. Less than a year later Nitro Cold Brew coffee is available in 500 of their outlets across the United States.

Ready to drink Nitro cold brew, canned nitro cold brew coffee is not new and neither is nitro coffee nor nitro cold brew as it was created in 2013 by Nate Armbrust who was working at and for Stumptown coffee roasters at the time.

Starbucks is the first to take it nationwide and globally.

The coffee beverage is available in stores in the following drink options:

• Nitro Cold Brew Coffee.
• Nitro Cold Brew With Sweet Cream.
• Reserve Nitro Cold Brew.
• Salted Cream Nitro.
• Dark Mocha Nitro With Milk.
• Cold Foam Cascara Nitro.
• Cold Foam Dark Cocoa Nitro.
• Nitro Freddo.
• Torched Vanilla Nitro.
• Nitro Latte.

The ready-to-drink canned nitro cold brew coffee, which is available in stores and grocery stores all over America and the world in the following flavors:

• Black (Black coffee).
• Dark Caramel.
• Vanilla sweet cream.

The canned ready-to-drink nitro cold brew has a white plastic widget that is charged with nitrogen.

When you shake the can well for a minute prior to opening the widget, charges the drink with nitrogen and infusing the Starbucks cold brew with the colorless gas in the same way that cans of Guinness work.

Read: What is a nitro cold brew?

When Did Starbucks Introduce Nitro Cold Brew In China

Starbucks nitro cold brew, an excellent and tasty cold coffee made with their cold brew coffee and infused with nitrogen, was first introduced to China on the 10th of November 2016, which was shortly after a successful launch of Starbucks cold brew in the Asian nation.

According to a Starbucks barista friend in China, both the cold brew and nitro cold brew are popular among the hip and trendy young crowd in the East Asian nation.

Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Nutrition Facts

For the health conscious there should be no concern about the consumption of the nitrogen that is infused in the drink. Nitrogen is a gas that makes up 78% of the air around us and that we breathe in.

Also,

Nitrogen has been infused in drinks for centuries, at the very earliest since 1759 and the infusion in Guinness.

The table below will give you the essential nutritional information for Starbucks nitro cold brew coffee.

Read: How much caffeine in Starbucks nitro cold brew?

Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Calories

Nitro cold brew from Starbucks has a minimal and insignificant amount of calories. Both a Tall 12 ounce (360 ml) and Grande 16 ounce (480 ml) have only 5 calories, no sugar and no fat, making it one of Starbucks healthier coffee choices.

Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Caffeine Content

Starbucks ready to drink cans have 110 mg to 155 mg of caffeine depending on which one, as follows:

• Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew: 110 mg.
• Black (Black Coffee) Nitro cold brew: 155 mg.
• Dark caramel nitro cold brew: 155 mg.

In house at Starbucks participating outlets, the beverage is only available in two drink sizes, Tall and Grande, which contain the following amount of caffeine:

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

Frequently Asked Questions About When Did Starbucks Introduce Nitro Cold Brew In Stores

Does Starbucks Sell Nitro Cold Brew In Store?

Yes, Starbucks sell their nitro cold brew coffee in their stores on tap at select locations. The select locations are usually their larger outlets in the bigger cities.

Why Can t You Get A Venti Nitro Cold Brew?

Unfortunately ordering too large of Starbucks nitro cold brew coffee will defeat the purpose of the drinks. Too large or small a serving spoils the texture and creaminess and loses the cascading effect of the nitro coffee.

Starbucks nitro is only available in two drinks sizes, Tall 12 Oz (360 ml) and Grande 16 Oz (480 ml) for good reason.

Who Invented Nitro Cold Brew?

Nitro cold brew was invented by Nate Armbrust, a Portland based food scientist while employed at Stumptown coffee roasters.

Why Does Starbucks Only Sell Nitro Cold Brew In Grande?

This is incorrect: Starbucks nitro cold brew coffee is available in two drink sizes, Tall 12 Oz (360 ml) and Grande 16 Oz (480 ml) drink sizes. These are the only drink sizes as a short 8 Oz (240 ml) becomes too creamy and too sweet to be enjoyed and doesn’t cascade in the same way that it is supposed to.

Too large a size like a Venti 20 Oz (600 ml) is too watery and liquid lacking the creamy texture with the expected balanced sweetness.

Read: Nitro cold brew at home

When Did Starbucks Start Selling Coffee In Grocery Stores?

Starbucks started to sell their canned coffee drinks and whole coffee beans and ground coffee beans in grocery stores in 1998. They used Kraft Foods and Pepsico as distribution partners.

What Is The White Thing At The Bottom Of A Starbucks Nitro Can?

The white plastic thing at the bottom of Starbucks Nitro cold brew coffee can is the widget that contains the nitrogen that charges the coffee with nitrogen when you open the drink.

Is Nitro Cold Brew Just Black Coffee?

No, nitro cold brew coffee is cold brew coffee that is infused with nitrogen. It is black cold brew coffee to be more precise.

Are You Supposed To Shake Nitro Cold Brew?

Yes, give you nitro cold brew coffee can a good hard and strong shake. The instruction on the side of the can tells you to shake hard and pour fast.

Final Thoughts – When Did Starbucks Introduce Nitro Cold Brew In Stores?

The answer to that question, when did Starbucks introduce nitro cold brew in stores, Is July 2015 and by July 2016, 500 outlets in America had the ability to serve the drink freshly pulled from a nitro keg in their stores nationwide.

Join our cool coffee community and tell us your experiences with nitro cold brew? Do you love it or loath it? Find us on Facebook/Meta!

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