You have probably heard of or tried nitro cold brew coffee. But have you thought about making it at home?
Nitro cold brew has recently become quite popular in the world of coffee and for good reason. It’s an interesting way to make coffee and it makes a really good cup of joe.
We’re excited to walk you through exactly how to make nitro cold brew coffee all from the comfort of your home. You’ll be able to save yourself the time and money it takes to get a nitro cold brew from your local coffee shop. Plus, it’s pretty cool to be able to make one of these delicious drinks right in your kitchen.
What is Nitro Cold Brew?
Nitro cold brew is cold brew coffee that is infused with nitrogen. The pressurized nitrogen creates a delicious, smooth, velvety, rich, sweet, and creamy taste. After the cold brew is infused with nitrogen and poured into a glass, there is a dense foam on the top of the cup that slowly fades down to the bottom of the glass that creates a pretty gradient, and is quite fun to watch.
Making nitro cold brew may sound like a difficult feat, however, with the right tools and some practice, it can easily be done from the comfort of your home.
If you like cold brew coffee, chances are you’ll love nitro cold brew. It’s essentially a step up from cold brew coffee.
Basically, to make it, you need to first brew a batch of cold brew coffee, and then infuse it with a nitro infuser. We’ll get into the details further in this article, just keep on reading!
What You Need
- Pitcher or Large Container
- Coarsely Ground Coffee/ Cold Brew Coffee Grounds
- Nitro- Infuser
- Nitro Chargers
- Glass Cup
Step 1. Grind Beans
If you are using whole beans, you will want to start by first grinding your beans. Make sure they are coarsely ground like how you would grind them for a French press. If you are buying pre-ground beans make sure they are coarsely ground. You can also find coffee grounds that are made for cold brew online. Click here to see our list and reviews of the best coffee for cold brew!
Step 2. Combine Water and Coffee
Next, you want to combine the water and your coffee grounds in a 4:1 ratio of water to coffee grounds. We recommend using filtered water if you can which will result in better-tasting coffee. Pour the water into the pitcher or container along with your coffee grounds and put the lid on. Gently shake it a bit so that the coffee is submerged in the water.
Step 3. Steep
Store the container in a fridge for about 12-24 hours. This will allow it to steep and turn into cold brew coffee. Storing it in a fridge also helps it be ready to be served cold without having to use ice.
Step 4. Strain
Once the coffee is done steeping for several hours, the next step is to filter out the coffee grounds from the coffee.
To strain the grounds out take a coffee filter or double up a paper filter and hold it over the spout of the container that your coffee is in. Proceed to pour the coffee into the flask of your nitrogen infuser. The coffee filter will catch the coffee grounds and prevent them from getting into your drink.
Now you have cold brew coffee!
Step 5. Infuse With Nitrogen
There are two types of nitrogen infusers. You can use either a keg style or a whipper style. Your cold brew you just filtered should be in the flask at this point. Next, close the lid and insert the nitrogen charger into the infuser.
Step 6. Shake
Shake the nitrogen infuser, either a whipper or a keg, shake it for about 30 seconds, then let it sit for about 4 minutes, and grab an empty glass.
Step 7. Pour
Next you will pour your nitro cold brew into a glass. The infuser will do all the work of infusing the nitro with your cold brew.
Step 8. Enjoy!
Then you’re done! Sit back, relax, and enjoy your creamy and delicious cup of nitro cold brew coffee!
Difference Between Keg and Whipper Infusers
The two main types of nitro infusers you can purchase are a keg and a whipper. Let’s go over what each one is and their benefits so you know which one would work best for you.
Keg
The keg infuser usually only takes one nitro charger to power the entire keg and it allows you to make a bigger batch of nitro cold brew. You can leave your coffee in the keg for a few days while you drink it. It also typically has a spout that is sort of like a beer tap for pouring your nitro cold brew. The keg can be stored and dispensed in a fridge, however, they do typically drip a lot. So, you may want to use a keg that comes with a rubber stopper or purchase one to prevent it from dripping too much.
Whipper
The whipper style of nitro infusers also uses one nitro charger and typically you can get one or two cups of nitro cold brew coffee out of one canister. It does not have a dripping issue like the kegs do due to the nozel pointing up in between uses unlike the keg.
Tips For Success
Don’t Add Ice
The nitro cold brew should already be cold. We recommend not adding ice to this drink, it’ll water it down, disrupt the foam on the top, and overall tastes better without ice!
Don’t Add Milk
We also recommend skipping adding milk, sugar, or creamer to your nitro cold brew. Brewing cold brew removes the bitterness and the nitrogen makes the cold brew taste sweet on its own. If you are someone who really likes sweet coffee, we recommend at least trying your nitro cold brew straight out of the canister before adding anything to it.
Practice
Practice makes perfect! If you don’t get it perfect on your first try just keep practicing! You wouldn’t think this, but new brew methods typically take some practice to master since there are a handful of steps you need to remember to do. Once you become more familiar with brewing with this process, it’ll be become a lot easier and you’ll be able to easily make the perfect cup of nitro cold brew coffee.
Pour It Straight Down
Don’t hold your cup at an angle like you would if you were pouring beer. Especially if you are using a keg-style nitro infuser. When you pour it at an angle, like a beer, you are getting rid of the micro-bubbles in the drink, which you want to keep! So, make sure you are pouring it directly down into the cup.
Wrapping Up
Nitro cold brew coffee is a relatively new brew method and lives up to the hype. Cold brew coffee charged with nitrogen makes for a creamy, velvety, and delicious cup of cold brew. It can sound a bit intimidating to make at home, however, it’s really not as hard as it you might think! We hope you enjoyed our guide on how to make nitro cold brew coffee at home and are on your way to make your own! Good luck!
