Cold Brew Vs Nitro Cold Brew: What’s the Difference?

Are you into iced or cold coffees? If so, you’ve probably heard of cold brew and nitro cold brew coffee.

You may have had one of these, but still wonder, what’s the difference between the two? Which one is better?

If you’re curious about these questions and want to know more about the differences between cold brew vs nitro cold brew coffee, then stick around because, in this article, we’ll talk about these coffees.

This article should also help you decide which coffee is right for you.

So without further ado, let’s get into it.

What is a regular cold brew coffee?

Before we start breaking down the differences between these coffees, we should first know about them separately.

So what really is a cold brew coffee?

It’s more than just iced coffee (which is hot coffee with ice). It’s brewed without the use of heat or hot water.

The key to the brewing process is cool water and an extended amount of time (at least 12 hours), which distinguishes it from other coffees brewed traditionally, where hot water is the norm.

Cold brew coffee is popular, especially for those looking for refreshment by drinking cold brew coffee during summer.

It was invented in Japan in the 1600s. It spread throughout the world and remains a popular cold brew to this day, becoming many people’s favorite go-to drink.

What is a nitro cold brew?

Nitro cold brew tastes very similar to the cold brew coffee we discussed above. They have the same brewing process and ingredients.

The only difference is that a cold brew nitro is also infused with nitrogen gas to make it more bubbly and creamy.

Nitro cold brew coffees were first available in coffee shops in the early 2010s.

Because of the type of the materials required to set up the nitrogen gas infusion, this coffee is rather difficult to make and marked with a more expensive price tag.

This is why it’s difficult to find, particularly in small coffee shop.

If you want to try this coffee, you can go to Starbucks or other large stores that may sell it.

Unlike cold brew coffee, nitrogen cold brew is challenging to replicate at home, but if you have the suitable materials, you might be able to make it.

Overall, a nitro cold brew is a cold brew coffee with nitrogen infusion.

True Differences and Similarities

Now that we’re familiar with both cold brew and nitrogen cold brew, let’s break down the key differences and similarities of these coffees to help you determine which one is right for you.

Coffee brewing process

When it comes to the brewing process, just like what was already said above, both coffees are almost the same. Ground coffee is steeped in cool room-temperature water for about 12-24 hours.

The brewing time should be long enough for the water to extract enough coffee flavors from the ground coffee without using hot water.

After that, you can now have a concentrated cold brew coffee. Although this coffee can be consumed directly. Some prefer diluting it, which is what we recommend you to do.

To dilute it, you can add additional water, milk, or ice. (For a detailed explanation and step-by-step procedure, you can check out our article about how to make a cold brew coffee.)

When it comes to the coffee nitro cold brew, take the cold brew diluted or not, and infuse nitrogen gas to make it foamy with a creamy mouthfeel that you can enjoy.

Equipment for cold brew

The equipment used to make nitro coffee is a little complicated to set up. 

Equipment is very important in making coffee. A regular brew coffee doesn’t require fancy materials to make.

A simple jar or container will suffice to make this coffee, so it’s really easy to be made even at home.

When it comes to nitro cold brewed coffee, the materials needed to make this coffee are quite expensive and a little complicated to use.

It requires the use of nitrogen gas and a keg, a container with a valve used to store beverages such as coffee and beers.

Coffee Taste

Talking about the taste, both coffees have the same taste. Both are less acidic, rich, sweet, and concentrated.

But when it comes to the mouthfeel, the nitro cold brew is much creamier and foamier, and it also gives you a beer-like feeling when drinking it due to the nitrogen bubbles.

And that’s the best part about nitro cold brew! You can imagine drinking a coffee with milk, but you’re actually drinking just a black coffee.

Price

Price is another important consideration when choosing a coffee in a coffee shop.

A regular coffee cold brew can also be considered an expensive drink due to the fact that it takes time and a lot of coffee grounds to make.

However, when compared to the nitro cold brew, the latter is much more expensive because of the materials needed to infuse nitrogen into the coffee drink.

Cold Brew Vs Nitro Cold Brew Conclusion

There you have them – the differences and similarities between basically cold brew and nitro cold brew!

Both coffees are similar, but the nitro brew is a little extra. It’s also creamier and fizzy, but also extra pricey.

So which one should you choose?

The decision actually comes down to you. If you like a simple coffee that you can easily replicate at home, then cold brew is the one for you.

However, if you want something different, something extra special, then grab a nitro brew.

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