How to Make Nitro Cold Brew at Home

default image by Sophie Kidd Carr | Posted on November 2nd, 2022

All the tips and tricks you need to make cafe-quality nitro cold brew in your home.


Nitro Cold Brew quickly became a cult classic and is loved around the world for its rich flavor, creamy texture, and sweet chocolatey notes – not to mention the caffeine boost! The thing about nitro cold brew is that it’s not a simple method to recreate at home.

nitro coffee

In cafes and other coffee industry sites, many resources and equipment are required to make the delicious brew available to loyal customers like you and me. So how can we possibly make nitro cold brew at home? Keep reading, and you’ll soon find out!

Nitro Cold Brew

Nitro Cold Brew

So what exactly is Nitro Cold Brew? In sum, nitro cold brew is coffee brewed for 12+ hours with cold water before being placed in a keg and infused with Nitrogen.

The nitro cold brew is then dispensed from a keg and tap system, just like a beer. Of course, there is so much more to it, and you can read all about it in our article “What Is Nitro Cold Brew?”.

Now, it’s pretty unlikely that most people have full-size kegs and nitrogen tanks at home, let alone a full tap system to dispense this soft beverage. Don’t worry, though; we’ve got two easy and simple solutions for you!

A Quick Note on Cold Brew

A quick word on cold brew itself before we get started. Before adding Nitrogen to cold brew, it is brewed as regular cold brew through a many-hour process.

Thankfully, that process is pretty hands-off. However, if you’re planning to make your nitro cold brew home, you’ll need to plan and brew your cold brew the day before.

Learn more about cold brew and how to make it by reading our article “How to Make the Perfect Cold Brew”.

Nitro Cold Brew at Home… With a Whipped Cream Dispenser

It may sound silly, but a whipped cream canister is a simple and easy way to make your very own nitro cold brew at home. Follow these steps to see for yourself!

Supplies

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Instructions

  • Step 1. Pour the 16 ounces of Cold Brew Coffee into the Whipped Cream Dispenser and securely fasten the lid onto the dispenser.
    • It is super important that the dispenser is tightly sealed!
  • Step 2. Take one Nitrogen Cartridge and charge the dispenser according to the Whipped Cream Dispenser’s instruction guide.
  • Step 3. Shake the entire dispenser for thirty seconds so that the Nitrogen can infuse with the Cold Brew Coffee.
    • Let sit for another five minutes so the Nitrogen can fully infuse into the Cold Brew Coffee.
  • Step 4. Over the sink or into a glass, use the Whipped Cream Dispenser’s lever to let out a small amount of air before serving your Nitro Cold Brew into your favorite glassware!

A Note on Nitrogen Cartridges

If you find that your Nitro Cold Brew is not creamy enough and does not have the texture you are looking for, simply use two Nitrogen Cartridges to charge the Cold Brew in the Whipped Cream Canister.

Following Step 3, remove the first Nitrogen Cartridge and replace it with a second Nitrogen Cartridge. Then repeat Step 3 and let sit for five minutes before continuing to Step 4.

Nitro Cold Brew at Home… With a Mini Keg

The Mini Keg system works for nitro coffee similarly to the Whipped Cream Dispenser method. However, it allows for a larger quantity of Cold Brew to be made into Nitro Cold Brew.

Additionally, it is a larger financial investment but well worth the price tag if you Nitro Cold Brew as much as we do at Crazy Coffee Crave.

Supplies

  • 50 ounces of Cold Brew Coffee
  • Mini Keg
  • 4 Nitrogen Cartridges

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Instructions

  • Step 1. Pour the 50 ounces of Cold Brew Coffee into the Mini Keg and tighten the lid onto the mini keg.
    • The lid must be securely fastened to the Mini Keg!
  • Step 2. Take four Nitrogen Cartridges and charge the Mini Keg according to the manual. Remove the spent Nitrogen Cartridge and repeat for each Nitrogen Cartridge.
  • Step 3. Shake the entire Mini Keg for forty-five seconds so that the Nitrogen is able to infuse with the Cold Brew Coffee.
    • Let sit for another five to ten minutes so that the Nitrogen can fully infuse into the Cold Brew Coffee.
  • Step 4. With a cup in place to catch any spills, pull the tap handle forward to dispense any air lingering in the Mini Keg. Shake the Mini Keg for another ten seconds and let it sit for one more minute.
  • Step 5. Dispense your homemade, delicious, and velvety Nitro Cold Brew from your Mini Keg!

A Note on Nitrogen Cartridges

Again, if the texture is not to your liking, use more Nitrogen Cartridges as you see fit. Each Mini Keg will be slightly different, and your homemade Cold Brew will interact with Nitrogen differently depending on your chosen recipe.

All it takes is a little trial and error, and you’ll have your favorite beverage in no time.

Whipped Cream Dispenser VS Mini Keg

Comparing the Whipped Cream Dispenser method with the Mini Keg method does not give you a simple conclusion. Both are great methods for recreating the well-loved and tasty Nitro Cold Brew at home.

However, we do recommend each method depending on how frequently you plan to make and consume Nitro Cold Brew and your financial resources. 

If you like Nitro Cold Brew but don’t think you’ll be making it every day at home, the Whipped Cream Dispenser method is the one for you. A small financial investment and minimal setup are the easy answer to that sometimes craving for Nitro Cold Brew.

If you simply can’t get enough of your Nitro Cold Brew and must have it every day, all day, then the Mini Keg method is for you!

Considering the amount of money you would spend on Nitro Cold Brew at your local coffee shops, for avid drinkers, the Mini Keg method is a bit of an investment up front but a money saver in the long run. 

The best thing about the Mini Keg method is that it allows you to make a larger quantity of Nitro Cold Brew, which, if refrigerated, will keep for a few days to a week, depending on your habit!

If you’re obsessed with Nitro Cold Brew, who knows how long that wonderful beverage will last in your fridge?

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Sophie Kidd Carr

Sophie Kidd Carr is a freelance writer and educator with over five years of experience in the coffee industry. Sophie also enjoys traveling to different countries and discovering new adventures.