If you love cold brew coffee, chances are, you’ll love Nitro cold brew coffee. A quick twist on the standard cold brew takes it to the next level by infusing nitrogen through it.
A result? A creamy, cascading effect.
Nitro cold brew is a thick, creamy coffee, naturally sweeter than regular brew. And a great thing about this type of coffee is that you can make it at home.
Nitro cold brew coffee makers can save you a lot of money over the years; instead of daily trips to the coffee shops, you can make this creamy stout-like coffee at home for a fraction of the cost.
Discover the 5 best nitro cold brew coffee makers for home use. While all of the brewers below will do the job well, there are some critical differences that can make one more suitable for you. There’s also a buyer’s guide to help you make the best decision.
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[su_box title=”At A Glance: TOP PICKS FOR NITRO COLD BREW COFFEE MAKER” box_color=”#FF7777″ title_color=”#fcf5f6″ radius=”2″]
- BEST OVERALL: Nitro Tapp Set with Cartridges
- BEST ALL-IN-ONE NITRO SYSTEM: GrowlerWerks uKeg Nitro Coffee Maker
- BEST PORTABLE: NitroPress Cold Brew Maker And Dispenser
- BEST BUDGET PICK: Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Maker
- BEST FOR COMMERCIAL USE: Nitro Coffee Cold Brew Coffee Keg Kit
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Contents
What is Nitro Cold Brew?
Nitro or Nitrogen coffee is cold brew coffee that has been charged with nitrogen.
Nitrogen coffee has a velvety, thick, and smooth texture. In fact, drinking nitro coffee is like drinking a stout beer; it resembles a Guinness beer, without the alcohol.
Nitro coffee is popular for a few reasons:
- It’s naturally sweeter than the regular brew
- Lower in acidity
- It’s thicker, smoother, bolder, and less bitter than regular coffee
Best nitro cold brew coffee maker
NitroTapp Set w/ Cartridges – Best Overall
Here’s the thing: you can’t ask for a better nitro machine for home use than the Nitro Tapp. This is a compact and durable nitro brewing keg, specially designed to spoil your tastebuds with a creamy and flavorful coffee. But that’s not the only reason I love it.
NitroTapp Keg System comes with 10 cartridges to help you get started with Nitro coffee at home. What’s more, the additional cartridges are much more affordable than those of other kegs on the list (looking at you GrowlerWerks!). Instead of burning a hole in your wallet, NitroTapp tries hard to make Nitro coffee affordable.
I’ll admit, the positive reviews made me a bit skeptical at first. But their 30-day money-back guarantee is a sweet spot that allows you to test out the gear. If you hate it, return it. Instead of wasting your money, you’re actually saving it in the long run. You can brew and pour your own (better than) Starbucks quality Nitro coffee at home.
What’s included? Keg & tap set, 10 N2 nitrogen cartridges, instructions, cleaning, preparation & storage kit
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] PROS
- Portable and compact (fits into the refrigerator)
- Built of stainless steel
- Keg size 64oz.
- Easy to clean
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free shipping
- Affordable refill cartridges [/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] CONS
- Not double-wall insulated[/su_column][/su_row]
GrowlerWerks uKeg Nitro Coffee Maker – Best All-In-One Brewer
uKeg may be a bit pricey but it’s a unique Nitro brewer for one important reason. This keg doesn’t only make a perfectly creamy Nitrogen charged coffee. It’s also a coffee brewer. That means you can brew coffee right in the keg. Yep, it’s a one-pot wonder.
Less mess and less washing up.
Apart from that, uKeg from GowlerWerk tries to keep the nitro fresh as long as possible. With double-wall insulation, it keeps the brew cold all day long. What’s more, the convenient dight tube allows you to see how many cups you have left.
The downside? This nitro cold brew coffee maker only works with branded gas chargers.
What’s included? uKeg coffee maker, coffee filter bags, coffee funnel, serving mat, and uKeg tool.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] PROS
- Double-wall vacuum insulation
- Automatic regulator cap
- Al-in-one system
- Double filtration system to prevent clogs
- Portable and compact
- Built of stainless steel
- Keg size 50oz.
- Easy to clean [/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] CONS
- Nitro gas charges not included[/su_column][/su_row]
NitroPress Cold Brew Maker And Dispenser – Best Portable
NitroPress Dispenser wants you to indulge in a frothy, smooth, and velvety nitro coffee on the go. With its 3 pounds of weight, you can bring it on your camping trips, or road trips, and use it at home or at your office.
This handheld nitro dispenser makes creamy drinks with minimal fuss. Pour the perfect cascading brew, superior to any that comes out of a whipped cream maker. Use it in tasty coffee recipes and cocktails.
What’s included? Keg, 10 N2 cartridges, durable nitro coffee dispenser, nitrogen regulator, food-grade hose, manual
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] PROS
- Travel-friendly and compact
- Stainless steel
- Dishwasher safe
- Double-wall vacuum insulation
- Automatic regulator cap
- Al-in-one system
- Double filtration system to prevent clogs
- Keg size 16oz.
- Easy to clean and use
- 1-year warranty[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] CONS
- Intructions could be more detailed[/su_column][/su_row]
Nitro Coffee Cold Brew Coffee Keg Kit – Best For Commercial Use
Want to please a crowd? Check out this Nitro dispenser with a big 5-gallon tank. It’s perfect for an office break room or even your own house. Entertain your coworkers or your guests!
The kit comes with a sturdy rubber bottom keg that’ll easily last for years. If 5 gallons is too much, choose from a 2.5 or 3-gallon keg instead. Nitro Coffee Keg is made of durable material, including a regulator and accessories.
To be honest, this commercial nitro cold brew coffee maker kit is expensive. But it’s huge, and it allows you to make sweet, frothy nitro that’ll please as many people as you’d like.
What’s included? A keg, 40 cu ft nitrogen tank, stainless tap tower with a stout tap, lines, and connections
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] PROS
- Travel-friendly and compact
- Stainless steel
- Dishwasher safe
- Double-wall vacuum insulation
- Automatic regulator cap
- All-in-one system
- Double filtration system to prevent clogs
- Keg size 5 gal.
- Easy to clean and use
- 1-year warranty[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] CONS
- Nitro gas charges not included[/su_column][/su_row]
Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Maker – Best For Budget
You don’t have to give up on nitro coffee just because you’re on a budget. Royal Brew is here for you. This keg system will transform your cold brew coffee into a thick, creamy beverage. On the budget!
Royal Nitro keg kit has been modeled after stout beer dispensing systems to create the ultimate smooth, rich body with a foamy top. Forget about creamers, sweeteners, or dairy, there’s no need for that when you make Nitro coffee with this keg.
What’s included? Keg, stout creamer faucet, Nitrogen holder casing, coffee spear with pressure, faucet/tower combo wrench, tap plug to stop the drip, custom carry bad, cleaning brushes, plastic hose
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] PROS
- Stainless steel
- A tap plug to prevent leaking included
- Compatible with nitrogen and N2O cartridges
- Keg size 64oz.
- Easy to assemble and use
- Lifetime warranty[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] CONS
- Nitro gas charges not included
- Doesn’t fit into the fridge as nicely as some other models[/su_column][/su_row]
Types of Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Makers
There are two different nitro makers:
- Whipper Style: this is a nitro charger, similar to a cream dispenser. Use it to charge your cold brew coffee with nitrogen. This method is ideal for people who want a nitro-charged coffee treat occasionally or only brew nitro for themselves.
- Keg Style: a mini-keg with a tap allows you to charge cold brew coffee with nitrogen, and dispense it into a glass. This method is perfect for hard-core nitro devotees. It’s easy, popular, and can please a crowd.
Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker: Buyer’s Guide
Nitro brewer for home use can help you save a lot of money. But before you buy one, here are a few things to consider:
Capacity
Getting the capacity right with Nitro kegs is important for two reasons.
#1
It may take anywhere from 1 hour to 12 hours for the nitrogen and coffee to fully combine. You aren’t able to make the second batch of nitro coffee quickly.
#2
The process of coffee expanding with the gas can take up to 50% of the capacity, in some cases even 75%. Remember to consider this when deciding on the right size keg.
Charger
A real nitro coffee brewer should be able to handle nitrogen N2 chargers which give that cascading foam effect. You may run across nitrous oxide N20 cartridges, but these are used in a whipped cream dispenser. And they don’t give the same effect.
Materials
Stainless steel is the best material to use and also the most typical one. It’s durable, easy to clean, and corrosion-resistant.
Some nitro brewers use plastic and silicone parts for the pipes and the taps. Make sure they’re BPA-free.
Size
Nitro kegs can be smaller and larger in size. Think about whether the keg of choice can fit into your fridge, as most of them usually require sitting in there for an hour or two.
Warranty
Another thing to consider is the warranty. These coffee maker kits aren’t cheap, so make sure to check what the manufacturer offers.
Other uses
Apart from infusing coffee with nitrogen, these kegs have other uses as well:
- To dispense craft beer
- To aerate wine before serving
- To make carbonated beverages, like sparkling water
How To Make Nitro Cold Brew At Home?
Making Nitrogen coffee at home is quite simple.
As a first step, you need to make cold brew coffee.
Prepare And Weigh Coarse Ground Coffee
Weigh and measure your coffee beans of choice. You can buy pre-ground coffee, but for best results, we recommend grinding them fresh before you brew.
Ideally, you’ll want coarsely ground coffee for a cold brew as these are more suitable for slower coffee extractions (similar to the French press).
Making Cold Brew Coffee
Next, take the brewer of choice; there are a couple of ways to make cold brew coffee: Toddy system, French press, or a mason jar.
Place the ground coffee into the brewer of choice and cover it with cold water. Stir well so that all the grounds are evenly distributed and covered with water.
Place the brewer on the kitchen counter or into the fridge and let the coffee steep overnight. The ideal brewing time is from 6 -24 hours.
When the time’s up, remove coffee grounds from the cold brew concentrate and discard them responsibly.
Cold brew coffee is ready to use.
Add Nitrogen
To make nitrogen-infused cold brew, you’ll need one of the Nitrogen coffee makers we listed above. There are two ways to add nitrogen to coffee:
- Whipped cream dispenser
- Nitro mini-keg
Both of these work well, but we recommend using a keg for a few reasons:
- it’s easier to use
- it makes a real nitro cold brew
- great for larger batches you can use throughout the week
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkvW0cT8Sks&t=2s” width=”400″ height=”200″ title=”how to make nitro cold brew coffee at home”]
Nitro cold brew VS Regular cold brew
The main difference between these two is the texture.
Nitrogen coffee is based on cold brew, but it’s charged with nitrogen to give it that smooth, velvety, thick texture. It’s naturally sweet and richer than cold brew coffee.
Many consider Nitro to be a more palatable version of black coffee, easier to drink black without the need to add sugar or creamer.
FAQ
How long do nitro cartridges last?
That depends on the size of the cartridge and the batch size of coffee you want to charge. Check the reviews and comments of the nitro keg to be completely sure.
How long does Nitro cold brew last in a keg?
Ideally, cold brew coffee should be consumed within 2 weeks from when you first made it. The same goes for Nitro brew. While it can potentially last longer, the flavor deteriorates with time. In order to drink good coffee, brew it as fresh as you can.
Can I add creamer to nitro coffee?
yes, you can. It’s actually a good idea to add milk or creamer to coffee before you pour it into the nitro brew maker. That way you boost the creaminess of the end product even more. Coffee shops sometimes do it to get the creamiest nitro possible.
Why does my nitro brewer drip?
The pressure builds up in your nitro cold brew coffee maker. That pressure makes the cascading effect. But it can also cause the faucet to leak after you pour the coffee. A pressure relief valve can minimize this issue, and a tap plug can stop it.
Is nitro cold brew bad for your health?
Nitro isn’t much different from regular coffee, so not really. The only major difference between cold brew to regular coffee is the acidity level. Cold-brew is lower in acid and easier on the stomach.
Best Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker: A Recap
Making Nitro coffee at home isn’t as challenging as it used to be.
With specialized nitro keg systems, you can brew Nitro coffee from the comfort of your home.
That way you save money and still get to enjoy your favorite beverage anytime you want! While some of these kegs seem pricey at first, they usually pay for themselves after about 30-40 uses.
All the keg kit systems listed above are a great option for anyone who wants to master Nitro coffee at home. Each of the kegs is unique in a way.
But, if I had to choose one, it would have to be NitroTapp Keg System for a few reasons.
First, it comes with 10 cartridges when you first buy it. That’s a rare feature and budget-friendly at that.
Also, the extra cartridges you still have to buy are much more affordable than many others on the list.
Last but not least, it’s a sturdy and compact nitro keg system that’s easy to use. It fits into my fridge, and it makes nitro coffee affordable, fun, and delightfully smooth.
The thing that convinced me to get the NitroTapp is their 30-day money-back guarantee. Let’s be honest here. When it comes to these coffee makers, nitro kits can be quite an investment. This guarantee gives you the option to test it out as much as you want. If you don’t like it, send it back. Full money refund, no questions asked. I thought that was pretty cool of them to do.
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