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Nitro Cold Brew at Home – How to Make it like a Barista
Nitro Cold Brew at Home – How to Make it like a Barista
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Have you tried making nitro cold brew at home but can’t get the same flavors, texture and aromas that the professionals do?
This is an easy to follow method you can follow step by step to make a nitro cold brew at home. These are 13 basic steps along with the equipment you need
How to Make Nitro Cold Brew in 13 Easy to Follow Steps
- Step 1: The first step is to make a cold brew concentrate. You can make a slow concentrate by steeping your coffee in a jug overnight. But the quickest method is to use your cream whipping device as it can cut the concentrated time down to one hour.
- Step 2: Use your mixing spoon to scoop 9oz of coffee into a cream whipper. You can also use a coffee scale to be more precise. You may think that this is a lot of coffee but remember it’s a concentrated formula so it will be diluted with water.
- Step 3: Next, measure 3 ½ cups of water in your jug and pour it into your cream whipper. Use your spoon to give it a quick stir until your coffee and water are combined & then seal the whipper with its lid.
- Step 4: You’ll need to charge the whipper with two nitrous oxide chargers. These chargers are small and can fit into the nitro component on your whipper lid. Simply unscrew the charger holder and insert the first cartridge. Screw the charger holder back onto the whipper until you hear the gas release inside the container. Repeat the process with the second nitro cartridge.
- Step 5: Once you’ve charged the canister with the nitro give the whipper a gentle shake to distribute the gas. Shake the whipper for about 30 seconds and let it settle for five minutes.
- Step 6: Next you’ll need to discharge the gas from the whipper. To do this, hold a glass over the whipper nozzle so the coffee doesn’t spray all over you and the counter. Then gently squeeze the whipper trigger to release the gas.
- Step 7: Now you’ll need to recharge the whipper with two more nitro cartridges using step 4 in this guide. Give it another shake to distribute the gas.
- Step 8: Leave the whipper with the coffee and water inside to sit for one hour so it can start brewing the concentrate.
- Step 9: After the hour is up, discharge the gas again by placing a cup over the whipper nozzle and squeezing the application’s trigger.
- Step 10: Place a coffee filter inside your water pitcher. Now decant your coffee concentrate into the filter. The consistency will be thick and very dark. The filter will capture all the coffee granulates and it will let the concentrate pour into your pitcher.
- Step 11: You have a full jug of coffee concentrate that you’ll need to mix with equal parts of cold water. Stir the mixture and then pour it back into a clean cream whipper & seal the canister with its lid.
- Step 12: Use the last nitro cartridge to charge the whipper for the final time. Shake the cream whipper for 30 seconds. Discharge the gas again and don’t forget to cover the nozzle with a cup so as not to spray coffee everywhere.
- Step 13: Open your cream whipper and pour your nitro coffee brew into a tall glass with four blocks of ice. The creamy foam will rise to the top as you’re pouring the content into your glass. You can now enjoy your freshly made glass of rich and creamy nitro cold brew coffee.
The Tools You’ll Need for a Nitro Cold Brew
These are the tools you need to prepare a nitro cold brew at home. You need the correct tools. Baristas use a high-pressure nitro infused tap system to make cold brew. But since you don’t have a tap system at home all you need is an infuser like the NitroPress (you can buy it on Amazon by clicking on this affiliate link) or a whipped cream dispenser and nitrogen cartridges.
Nitrogen Cold Brew Coffee Makers
There are other nitrogen cold brew coffee makers you can purchase. Here are four or our favourites you can buy on Amazon.
Last update on 2023-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Cream Whipper
Since you probably don’t have a high-pressure tap like the ones used by baristas you’ll need a cream whipping dispenser. This device is what will help you create that silky smooth crema on top of your cold brew.
Last update on 2023-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Measuring Jug
Your measuring jug will help you to provide the exact quantities of water and coffee grounds needed for your brew. It’s important that you use the correct ratios so you can experience the best texture and tasting cold brew coffee.
5 Nitrous Oxide Chargers
The 5 small nitrous oxide chargers are what you’ll use with your cream whipping dispenser to create the rich texture of your cold brew.
Last update on 2023-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Mixing Spoon
Your mixing spoon will help you incorporate the water with your coffee grounds so all the flavonoids, notes and aromas are extracted from each granulate.
Water Pitcher
The water pitcher is the container you’ll use to steep your coffee grounds in. It’s better to use a pitcher as it helps you pour the content into your glass without spilling.
Filter Paper
Filter paper is used to capture all the coffee grounds as you pour the coffee concentrate into your glass.
Ingredients for Cold Brew Coffee
Cold Water: Because this is a cold brew you’ll need water that’s at room temperature. You’ll need 3 ½ cups of water.
Coarse Ground Coffee: You can’t use whole beans for this method as the water won’t be able to get inside the beans to extract the flavor. Grind your beans to medium coarseness or purchase pre-ground coffee for this process. You’ll need 9oz of coffee for your brew.
What is Cold Brew Coffee and How is the Nitro Cold Brew Coffee different?
Cold brew coffee is a popular coffee brew done taking a certain amount of grounds and steep them in cold water for up to 10 to 24 hours to make a concentrated solution. It’s then mixed with cold water and poured over ice as a cooler version of hot coffee but with sweeter notes. 
Hot water draws out the flavors, nutrients, caffeine and aromas. But using cold water is a gentler process that exacts acidity resulting in a sweeter and smoother flavor profile. Differently from hot coffees such as lattes or cappuccinos, you’ll produce a rich and creamy cold brew coffee that’s the perfect beverage in the summertime.
What’s the Difference Between Standard and Nitrogen Cold Brew?
The main difference between standard cold brew and nitrogen is the texture. Both types of cold brew are sweet and aromatic. But standard cold brew coffee has little crema while nitrogen cold brew provides a silky texture with a rich topping similar to the foam that Guinness beer has.
Nitrogen is pushed into the coffee to create small bubbles that result in a thicker foam coating on the top of your cold brew when you pour it into a glass.
Does Nitro Cold Brew Have a Higher Caffeine Content?
Hot water extracts more caffeine from coffee beans than cold water. But cold brew can have higher caffeine content depending on the type of beans you use and the time you steep them for. The time you steep your coffee beans will determine how much flavor, nutrients and caffeine is extracted so it is essential to get this process correct.
As mentioned before you can steep coffee beans for 10 to 24 hours. You’ll need to find a coffee steeping time frame that produces the best flavors and textures you enjoy.
Is Nitrogen Unhealthy?
Nitrogen is an inert gas that doesn’t have a negative reaction to other gases. This means it’s a non-toxic gas that is safe to use in beverages. Most draught beers are infused with nitrogen to produce a thicker head so there are no health risks when making cold brew with nitrogen.
Can you taste the Nitrogen in your Coffee?
Coffee connoisseurs are particular about the taste of their coffee. They wouldn’t infuse their favorite beverage with anything that will compromise the coffee’s flavor. Fortunately, nitrogen is a colorless, oderless and tasteless gas.
The nitrogen is used to create tiny bubbles in your cold brew that provides a foamy head. Nitrogen bubbles don’t dissolve slower than carbon dioxide bubbles so the cold brew will have a thick and heavy texture with no chemical undertones.
What is the Purpose of Using Nitrogen in Coffee
Nitrogen can transform dark, bitter coffee into a thick, sweet beverage with a delicate finish. Its purpose is to make standard cold brew coffee into a silky smooth texture with a complete flavor profile that’s not harsh on your palate.
The Advantages of Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
Flavor Profile: Brewing your coffee in hot water for long periods of time will result in a bitter aftertaste. Cold brewing extracts the flavor from the coffee beans that gives you a subtle sweet taste because it leaves all bitterness. Hot brews produce hints of flavor from beans. But cold brew offers you optimal flavor profiles so you can taste all the notes of your preferred coffee bean.
Level of Acidity: At high temperatures, the bitterness of coffee is set off by the high acidity levels in the beans. Brewing nitro coffee at low temperatures produces less acidity which creates milder coffee. Coffees with low acidity levels are beneficial to people who suffer with stomach problems as it won’t irritate the stomach, cause cramps or lead to indigestion issues.
Cold Brew Lasts: Hot coffee tastes amazing when it’s the correct temperature. But as soon as hot coffee turns cold it simply doesn’t have the same enjoyable flavor, unless you serve it as iced coffee. With cold brew, you can drink from the same batch for a couple of days as you can store a bottle of it in your fridge to keep it fresher for longer.
Economical: Most people will throw hot brews away as soon as they go cold. The same fate awaits the coffee bean if they’re not used before the expiration date which is a waste of coffee and money. You’ll have to buy more coffee beans which can become expensive over time. Even though you’ll be using more coffee grounds making cold brew, you’ll use up all of your supply before it expires. The coffee brew is cold so you’ll be able to enjoy every cup until it’s finished. This means you’ll spend less money on coffee beans because you can make larger batches of cold brew that will last longer than other kinds of coffee.
Eco-Friendly: Using boilers, kettles and drip coffee makers uses up electricity & these applications will increase your carbon footprint. There is no need for any electrical appliances when making cold brew coffee which makes this method extremely eco-friendly.
Easy to Make: You may think making quality cold coffee is difficult but it’s very easy to make it, particularly nitro coffee. So if you’d like to know how to make nitro coffees like a professional barista follow the method above.
Final Thoughts
When experimenting with nitro cold brew, it will only be as good as the type of tools you use. Always opt for high-quality cream whippers that have strong components so it doesn’t hinder your attempt at the cold brewing process. It’s also advised that you get your nitrogen cartridges from a reputable supplier for health and safety purposes. Gauge the amount of time you want to steep your brew for. Do you prefer the taste of 24-hour coffee concentrate or is the one hour cream whipper method more suitable? It all depends on your preference.
Now that you have a fool-proof method on how to make your own nitro cold brew coffee you can make as many batches as you like for yourself and your loved ones to enjoy.
The advantage of a cold brew is that you can keep it in the fridge for a few days without the beverage losing its foamy consistency. So are you ready to make your own nitro cold brew like a professional barista? Follow our method to make your own rich cold brew coffees.
