Nitro cold brew is one of the newest trends in coffee-based beverages nowadays.
It was first developed in craft coffee houses in Austin, Texas, but only boomed globally when it was introduced by Starbucks in 2016.
And since the nitro cold brew or NCB isn’t exactly the typical coffee drink we usually have, there are still a ton of questions that surround this newly developed caffeine drink.
And one of the most asked questions is, ‘does nitro cold brew have espresso’?
It is hard to know since NCBs aren’t exactly prepared and made like any other typical coffee drink, but still let us try to find out.
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So, Does Nitro Cold Brew Have Espresso? The answer is NO.
While nitro cold brew does not include espresso, it is widely recognized as a delicious source of caffeine as it contains about 150mg of caffeine for every 12oz serving.
It does not taste as strong as a freshly brewed cup of hot coffee, but it’s a unique way to get your caffeine fix to start the day.
Also, if you’re one who is trying to cut on some calories but couldn’t resist that coffee taste, the nitro brew’s sweet and creamy taste would definitely clear all your cravings.
What is Nitro Cold Brew?
A nitro cold brew or nitro coffee is a unique coffee recipe that is infused with nitrogen that helps in developing a different kind of taste and texture to a rather plain and simple drink.
The concept was first played with using the same principle behind carbonated drinks but using nitrogen gas rather than using carbon dioxide.
While the idea of putting gas in beverages may sound weird for some, we actually use it in numerous drinks such as sparkling water and soda pops to give it its notable feel.
A nitrogen cold brew is much like a typical iced coffee that offers a low acidity and extremely smooth beverage.
However, one difference is its mouthfeel, unlike your usual cold brew, nitrogen-infused coffee has a unique silky mouthfeel brought by the nitrogen’s characteristic that it does not dissolve in liquids as quickly as carbon dioxide; so the bubbles in nitrogen-infused drinks are notably smaller and smoother.
Nitrogen cold brews are way different than your typical cold brew coffee, as it is characterized by a creamy, foamy, and texturally rich that can be likened to that of a draft beer.
How To Make Nitro Cold Brew At Home
This coffee shop favorite requires a different process and is not made like your typical brewed coffee.
Coffee shops even need to set up a whole new brewing system specifically made for making nitro brew coffee.
Making nitro cold brew at home is a lot simpler, and you can absolutely give it a try.
- Prepare a regular cold brew by filling your drawstring with coarse coffee grounds. Pull the drawstrings just tight enough to secure the ground from spilling out of the bag, not too tight that water would have a hard time penetrating the bag.
- Once you get your bag filled, sealed, and ready to go, place your bag in your container and let it sit at room temperature or cold filtered water. Make sure to cover your container with a lid and away from direct sunlight to keep the coffee from oxidizing and staling.
- Let the coffee brew as long as you can, ideally 12 to a maximum of 18 hours. While the longer you let the coffee brew, the richer and stronger your concentrate will be, let it sit for over 18 hours could lead to an unwanted bitter taste.
- When you complete your brew, it’s time to pour your cold brew into a whipped can dispenser along with the combination of milk, water, sugars, and spices according to what you like.
- Screw on the dispenser’s N2 cartridge tightly until you hear a hiss, then you can shake the container around to let the nitrogen mix with your brew.
- To pour your nitro cold brew out, turn the dispenser upside down and squeeze on the trigger to dispense your now thick nitrogen-infused cold brew.
- For safety, make sure to let all excess gas from the dispenser before unscrewing it.
Benefits and Risks of Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
Before you get yourself hooked to the luscious taste of nitro brew coffee, it is important that you know why and what you’re getting into.
Nitro cold brew is easy to get into not only because of its unorthodox taste and feel but because it is highly promoted by a ton of coffee lovers and connoisseurs.
Still, look into what you might be getting once you let yourself fall into the nitro cold brew blackhole.
Benefits
Lower Acidity
Nitrogen-infused cold brew is ideal for people often dealing with acid reflux or indigestion, but couldn’t resist their coffee cravings.
While coffee beans are the ones that bring the acidity in coffee, it’s the process behind brewing nitro cold brews that help to bring the acidity to a minimum.
Sugar-free
Unlike most coffee shop staples that need some type of sugar and milk to improve the taste of the drink, nitro cold brews generally don’t need any other sweetener as it is already naturally sweet.
The nitrogen in the drink produces a rich and creamy taste that requires little to no flavor development or alteration.
Risks
Higher caffeine level
Too much of anything is always bad. And in this case, nitro cold brews are known to contain more caffeine than your usual drinks.
This is simply because nitro cold brews use a more concentrated coffee brew and do not necessarily include other ingredients such as water and milk.
Taking this into consideration, too much consumption of nitro-infused cold brews can overstimulate your body and make you experience side effects such as anxiety, irritability, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, digestive issues, loss of focus, and changes in appetite.