Both are known for their smooth and refreshing taste, but they are made using different brewing methods and have distinct flavor profiles. Nitro coffee is a type of cold coffee that is infused with nitrogen gas, giving it a creamy, smooth, and almost sweet flavor.
Cold brew, on the other hand, is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time, resulting in a smooth and less acidic taste. In this blog post, we will compare nitro coffee vs cold brew to help you understand the differences between these two popular coffee beverages, and which one might be the best fit for you.
Whether you prefer the creamy, smooth taste of nitro coffee or the bold and less acidic flavor of cold brew, this guide will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Why Add Nitrogen to Cold Brew Coffee?
While “Nitro” may sound like a trendy brand name, it’s actually an accurate description of what this coffee is. This is a type of cold-brew coffee that has had nitrogen added to it. This might sound strange, or even dangerous, but there’s actually a long and storied tradition of putting gas into beverages. As an example, gas is added to drinks like soda and beer.
Combining coffee with nitrogen changes the drink in a number of ways. It’s very different from your standard cup of coffee. Some people are very drawn to the unique flavor and composition of this coffee. Once they give it a try, they don’t want to go back to their old coffee!
But that only scratches the surface on what there is know about Nitro Cold Brew including some really surprising facts about how it was started and why it so popular, so let’s keep reading
How Does Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Taste?
If you’re brand new to nitro coffee, you might not know what to expect when you take your first drink. While this coffee doesn’t have the same bitter taste that a cup of cold black coffee would have, it doesn’t exactly taste sugary either. It has a more nutty sweetness to it. Some people have compared the flavor to coffee sweetened with something like flavored almond milk.
The texture may look a little like a latte, but when you drink it, you may find that it feels a bit more like a frothy mug of beer. A lot of people have said that the texture makes a nitro brew more refreshing than ordinary coffee.
Does Nitro Cold Brew Smell Different?
Since this coffee is made with nitrogen, some people have concerns about the odor that it might have. A lot of people love drinking coffee because of the way it smells, and those people don’t want to sip on a cup of coffee with a strange scent. If you’re worried about this, you’ll be pleased to know that nitrogen is odorless. It won’t change the way your coffee smells at all.
With that stated, you should know that some people do notice differences between the smell of cold brew coffee and the scent of hot coffee. If you’re not used to drinking your coffee cold, you might be a little surprised the first time you catch a whiff of your coffee.
Drinking Nitro Cold Brew
Drinking this coffee is definitely better for you than sipping on a sugary drink that’s loaded with calories. However, this type of coffee offers some other potent perks as well. Certain brews offer more caffeine than you’d get from other types of coffee.
If you’re trying to cut back on your caffeine consumption, however, you don’t have to rule out this coffee. There are varieties that contain less caffeine, and you can even drink nitro coffee that doesn’t contain any caffeine at all!
What Are The Health Benefits of Nitro Cold Brew Coffee ?
The biggest thing that makes this type of coffee healthier than your standard cup of joe is the lack of sugar. While coffee can ( and maybe should) be drunk without any additives, it’s very common for people to add in things like sugar and cream before they start to drink.
Adding nitrogen to coffee can make it sweeter without adding any sugar. It can also give coffee a very appealing foamy texture that feels similar to the frothy milk you might find in a latte. People that don’t normally drink coffee black can enjoy a cup of nitro coffee.
However, a lack of sugar isn’t the only upside that this type of coffee offers. It’s also less acidic than normal coffee is, which means it’s the ideal choice for people that struggle with acid reflux.
People that love coffee but have had to give it up are able to get back to their old habits with nitro coffee. It tastes great, and it isn’t hard on your gut; that’s very appealing to a lot of people.
Nitro Cold Brew Popularity
There are quite a few things that have people talking about this type of coffee. Aside from its unique taste, it’s considered to be a healthier way to drink your coffee. It’s definitely something that appeals to people that want to lead a cleaner lifestyle.
It’s also getting a lot of attention because it’s growing in popularity. More and more coffee shops are choosing to add this type of beverage to their menu. You can even order nitro coffee from major coffee chains.
What Does Nitro Coffee Look Like?
This definitely doesn’t look like the standard cup of coffee. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of people that assume that this coffee is beer the first time they see it. Because of the color and the way it froths and the top, it definitely resembles a dark lager. Because of its unusual appearance, there are some coffee shops that choose to serve it in a glass mug.
Thankfully, there’s nothing alcoholic about this beverage! When you drink it, the only substance that you’ll be imbibing is caffeine. It may look like a glass of beer, but it doesn’t taste like beer at all. This is a beverage that you can enjoy at any time of the day. It’s great for a pick me up on the way to work, and some people love to drink it after a tough workout at the gym.
How Is It Served?
Nitro coffee doesn’t come from your standard coffee machine, nor is it made with a French Press! Instead, it’s usually served the same way beer is; from a keg or from a tap.
If you’re used to drinking regular coffee, watching a barista prepare a cup of nitro coffee for you might be a bit of an adjustment. However, you’ll get used to it before you know it. If you love this coffee as much as other people do, you may wonder how you went without it for so long.
Can You Make Nitro Coffee At Home?
If you usually make your coffee at home, you might be interested in brewing a cup of this coffee in your own kitchen. Unfortunately, most people simply don’t have the tools to make their own version of this coffee. You need a way to add gas to your coffee if you want to brew yourself a mug.
While this may not be an option right now, it’s definitely possible that you’ll have this choice in the future. As the demand for this coffee grows, it’s possible that brand new coffee machines could wind up hitting the market. In the meantime, you’ll have to head to the right coffee shops or retailers in order to get your nitro coffee fix.
Where To Get It
As mentioned above, a large number of coffee shops offer some sort of nitro coffee brew. That said, you have even more options if you’re interested in trying this type of coffee out. You can now buy bottled versions of this coffee from a number of retailers.
There are a number of brands that offer nitro coffee on the go. If you don’t have a favorite coffee shop in your area, and you’d really like to give this coffee a try, you should check out some of this brands of Nitro Coffee on Amazon or others to see if any of them have a brew that’s appealing to you.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have a better understanding of nitro cold brew coffee and what it offers, you should be able to see why it’s so popular. If you haven’t had the opportunity to sample this coffee, you should head to your favorite local coffee shop and see if it’s on their menu. You could wind up getting caught up in the nitro coffee craze.
