How about a freshly tapped, cold... coffee? Really cold tapped coffee , also called Nitro Coffee. It's basically a variation of cold brew, which has been established among coffee lovers for several years. We'll tell you what Nitro Coffee is and how to make it in the following sections.
What is Nitro Coffee?
Nitro coffee is based on a cold brew. However, this is tapped, i.e. mixed with nitrogen. This changes the mouthfeel and taste of the cold brew. It becomes foamy, creamy and soft. Its appearance is also reminiscent of dark beer with foam, especially Guinness, which is why it is often served in a beer glass.
To make this coffee specialty, the extracted cold brew is placed in a pressure-resistant container and mixed with nitrogen. The drink is then served from a tap, similar to a beer tap. This gives the same visual result as a beer. The name Nitro Coffee comes from the English word Nitrogene , which means nitrogen.
Where does Nitro Coffee come from?
It is impossible to say for sure, but this coffee certainly originated in the USA. Probably in the 2010s somewhere in Portland, Oregon. Coffee roasters there ran cold brew through a beer tap - and thus Nitro Cold Brew was created. Since then, the cold brewed coffee variant has spread worldwide, and the market for cold brew will continue to grow in the future. Cold brew, and therefore Nitro Coffee, is particularly popular in summer, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying the cold coffee delicacy in winter too.
Difference to iced coffee?
So what is the difference between Nitro Coffee and Iced Coffee? Basically everything! Iced coffee is based on hot brewed coffee, Nitro is based on cold brew. This means that the tastes are different, and the caffeine content is different. Cold brew has a lot more caffeine than iced coffee because of the longer extraction time. Compared to hot brewed coffee , Nitro Cold Brew contains less acid and less bitter substances and at the same time has a fruity aroma.
Which coffee to make?
Nitro Coffee tastes best when it is made from fruity, chocolatey or nutty cold brew . Our light roasts from Rwanda, Ethiopia or Kenya are ideal for this. This always creates a different cup profile for the cold brew and therefore also for the Nitro Cold Brew coffee. Of course , you can use any coffee that you like best to make cold brew as a base for the foamed cold coffee. In addition to our light roasts, the medium roasts are very suitable for cold extraction. Here you can choose your preferred flavor yourself: milk chocolate with notes of apricot - Guatemala Santa Isabel. Or something more floral with tasty notes of stone fruit - Ethiopia Guji. And there are many more in our shop.
Make it yourself - The recipe
Well, doing it yourself is a tricky thing. You need a bottle of nitrogen and a dispensing system. Not everyone has one of these at home and it's not entirely safe. But there are methods and ways to do it. For this you need a professional cream dispenser.
- Fill the spray cream bottle with cold brew and load it with two nitrogen capsules
- Shake the spray bottle and spray the coffee like cream into a tall glass
- The head of foam will probably not be as high as with nitro machines. However, the mouthfeel, appearance and taste can keep up with coffee made by a professional.
So you could easily enjoy a Nitro Coffee in your favorite café or rent the equipment from 25GRAMS. They not only specialize in cold brew, but also have plenty of Nitro equipment for large and small events.
25GRAMS Nitro with Set
With the Nitro Coffee systems from 25GRAMS you can choose between professional use and home use . Slim Jim can make one liter of coffee and is suitable for home use. Big Berta, on the other hand, makes three liters of the coffee specialty and is of course suitable for commercial purposes. Here at 25GRAMS you can also get the right Nitro capsules, i.e. nitrogen, and of course the best cold brew.
Trip to Cold Brew
Since cold brew is the basis of Nitro Coffee, we'll take a little excursion into the production of cold brew. Because you can easily brew it at home.
The recipe:
- 100 – 150 g coffee per litre of water
- Put the ground coffee in a suitable container and pour cold water over it
- Stir well and cover with cling film and place in the fridge for 12 hours
- After extraction , pour everything through a hand filter with filter paper
From here you can do whatever you want with the cold brew. Enjoy it neat, in mixed drinks, on ice cream or even with Nitro Cold Brew. Home-brewed cold brew should be stored in a cool place and used up within a few days.
Nitro Coffee – Mixed Cocktails
Anyone who makes a Nitro Coffee - with the set from 25GRAMS or otherwise - can of course also make mixed drinks from the pure foamed cold brew . For example, the foamed coffee goes just as well as normal coffee or cold brew in cocktails with gin. Or you can simply sink a scoop of vanilla ice cream into a glass of Nitro Coffee , that would be something like a Nitro Affogato!
If you like fruity drinks, you should know that passion fruit and grapefruit juices go very well with cold brew - and therefore also with nitro. Basically, you can make anything with nitro coffee that you would normally make with coffee... espresso martini, ginger brew with ginger beer or simply on ice and so on . You are also welcome to develop your own recipes.
Conclusion
Yes, it's pretty cold outside and snowing. But the weather is always perfect for a nitro coffee. Especially since you can also refine it with liquor, ice, a dash of fruit juice or other things. For a decent nitro you "only" need a tap, nitrogen capsules and cold brew. But the good thing is, you can get all of that from 25 GRAMS or get it elsewhere... it's entirely up to you and your risk tolerance. And it's not as dangerous as it sounds at first, because nitrogen per se is not poisonous, the only danger comes from the pressure bottles if they are not handled correctly. It sounds dangerous - but "nitro coffee" is just a new cold brew variant whose foam is created by nitrogen. This makes it more durable and creamier and gives the taste a special note.
