Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

What is nitro cold brew? What makes it so unique and irresistible

Coffee with a texture of a beer

Nitro cold brew
DG FotoStock / Shutterstock

Unless you’ve had the pleasure of sipping it, describing how delicious nitro cold brew is nearly impossible. Nitro cold brew is one of my favorite cold coffees — there’s no other cold coffee like it. Even cold brew coffee tastes nothing like nitro cold brew, despite sharing a similar name. Nitro cold brew is velvety and smooth, creating a creamy texture without using any cream at all. What is nitro cold brew, and what makes it so unique? The answer is in the tiny nitrogen gas bubbles infused into this specialty coffee drink.

What is nitro cold brew?

Nitro cold brew
Gchapel / Shutterstock

Heather Perry, CEO of Klatch Coffee, said there are two essential things to know about nitro cold brew. First, “It’s cold brew coffee — coffee grounds are steeped with cold water for an extended period. Notably, no hot water is used at all.” (It’s different from iced coffee, for example, which is brewed with hot water and then chilled.) Second, the coffee is infused with nitrogen gas, creating tiny bubbles.”

Recommended Videos

“The resulting coffee is smooth, more concentrated, and less acidic than other brewing methods. It’s typically served from a tap, creating a foamy head, like some beers, and can have sweet, creamy characteristics, without adding sugar.”

While you’ll typically find nitro cold brew in a coffee shop, enjoying this drink isn’t limited to professional baristas. Perry shared that aspiring home baristas can invest in equipment to make nitro cold brew at home. She also added that nitro cold brew can stay fresh in the fridge for an extended period and is perfect for enjoying throughout the summer.

Cold brew vs. nitro cold brew

Nitro cold brew
Gchapel / Shutterstock

Whether you’re making nitro cold brew or regular cold brew, the process begins the same. The cold brew is first infused with nitrogen to make nitro cold brew, creating microbubbles and a creamy texture. Nitro cold brew has a “creamy” texture that reduces the bitterness and adds a hint of sweetness compared to traditional cold brew.

You can also clearly tell the difference between nitro cold brew and cold brew visually, as the nitrogen bubbles rise to the top of a nitro cold brew, making it look almost like a beer. The other difference is that traditional cold brew is served over ice, whereas nitro is never served over ice.

Brian Abernathy, founder and master roaster at Grumpy Goat Coffee, makes both cold brew and nitro cold brew weekly. When asked about the difference between these two cold coffees, he described another essential difference: mouthfeel. The nitrogen bubbles within nitro cold Brew create a lighter, bubbly mouthfeel, which leads to a more refreshing cold brew coffee (and I agree). Additionally, the infusion of nitrogen “can help preserve coffee flavor by displacing oxygen, which can cause oxidation and lead to a stale taste,” Abernathy said.

Is nitro cold brew stronger than cold brew?

Cold brew in a glass mug
Kate Amos / Pexels

The strength of any coffee always requires two answers, as I view strength as two separate components: caffeine content and taste.

Caffeine content

In terms of caffeine content, cold brew and nitro cold brew tend to be similar. Both drinks have a sizable amount of caffeine. Depending on where you order your nitro cold brew, it may contain slightly more caffeine than regular cold brew.

For example, a 16-ounce Starbucks nitro cold brew contains 280 mg of caffeine, whereas a 16-ounce regular cold brew contains only 205 mg. Either way, both drinks are highly caffeinated compared to a regular shot of espresso or cup of coffee (so sip slowly and be mindful of how many other coffees you drink throughout the day).

Taste

Some coffee drinkers find that the nitrogen bubbles added to nitro cold brew make it more intense, giving it a stronger flavor. However, I find traditional cold brew far harsher and would describe nitro cold brew as having a gentler flavor. How you perceive the state of nitro cold brew might also vary depending on whether you add sugar or cream to it or enjoy it black. The smooth, velvety texture of nitro cold brew seems softer to me. Once you try it, it’s hard to find anything else that comes close to the texture.

Another thing that makes nitro cold brew unique is that it’s often enjoyed black. While you may see the occasional sweetened version like Starbucks’ variation topped with vanilla sweet foam, most coffee shops serve just a plain nitro cold brew. That’s not to say you can’t add a touch of coffee creamer or a few sugars to enhance the flavor. Yet, the infusion of nitrogen bubbles into this unique coffee gives it a subtle, enjoyable creaminess and sweetness. Even coffee drinkers who don’t typically enjoy drinking their coffee black find drinking nitro cold brew black an entirely different experience.

Emily Caldwell
Emily is a freelance journalist with a focus on food, travel, health, and fitness content. She loves to travel to new…
Iced coffee vs. iced latte: What to know before your next order
Chilled and caffeinated, here's what sets these drinks apart
iced latte

If you add enough cream to your iced coffee, it's almost impossible to tell the difference between an iced coffee and vs. iced latte from a visual standpoint. Although similar, an iced coffee and a latte are different drinks. As a coffee enthusiast, it's almost a pet peeve when people mix these beverages, yet I can understand why.

Often, the misunderstanding concerns the appearance of these drinks, though what makes each drink unique is how it's made. Below, let's break down the key differences between iced coffee and iced latte so you know exactly what to order and don't fall into this common coffee order misunderstanding.

Read more
Starting tomorrow: Strato Frappuccino brings cold foam and bold new textures
A reimagined version of the classic Starbucks Frappuccino
Starbucks Strato

Starting tomorrow, Starbucks lovers can try a new, reimagined version of the classic Frappuccino. The Starbucks Strato Frappuccino blended beverage features a new layered twist inspired by the Italian word Strato, which means layer. The new drink debuts tomorrow, July 8th, in three sweet flavors, each combining creamy cold foam with familiar flavors. These new drinks are for those looking for a more refined version of the classic Frappuccino, with a fresh take on familiar flavors. The new flavors include:

Brown Sugar Strato Frappuccino Blended Beverage: A blend of Frappuccino® Roast coffee, milk, and ice, layered with brown sugar-flavored cream cold foam. A blend of cinnamon is an elegant finishing touch.

Read more
This new gadget makes smooth cold brew in just 15 minutes—no fridge required
Dash's Brew2Go is the cold brew maker everyone needs
Dash Brew2Go

If you ask me, cold brew coffee is the drink of every summer. Making cold brew at home is now even easier with the launch of Dash's new Brew2Go Portable Cold Brew System -- a compact, countertop gadget that delivers smooth, delicious cold brew in under 15 minutes. Unlike other methods of cold brew that require overnight refrigeration, this gadget streamlines the process, delivering bold cold brew in a flash. As coffee drinkers seek new ways to brew cafe favorites at home, products like the new Dash Brew2Go are quickly becoming fan-favorites for cold coffee lovers who want to save money, time, and effort (or who fail to plan to make overnight cold brew recipes).

With no more waiting overnight or long coffee shop lines, the new Dash Brew2Go could quickly become the go-to for making cold brew coffee at home. This innovative device allows coffee drinkers to brew up to 1.5 cups of cold brew coffee right from their countertop. Designed with convenience in mind, Brew2Go features one-touch brewing, a reusable filter, and a built-in travel cup with lid and silicone straw—perfect for your desk, beach bag, or morning commute.

Read more