Nitro coffee has quickly become a trendy, smooth, and creamy way to enjoy your daily caffeine fix. It’s a unique twist on traditional cold brew coffee, infused with nitrogen gas to create a rich, velvety texture and a stunning, frothy head. If you’ve ever enjoyed a cup of nitro coffee at your local café, you may have wondered how you can replicate that experience at home.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the process of making nitro coffee at home, including the equipment you’ll need, the steps involved, and some helpful tips for getting that perfect nitro brew every time. Plus, we’ll recommend some of the best coffee kegs and accessories to help you get started.
What Is Nitro Coffee?
Nitro coffee is essentially cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas, which creates a smooth, creamy texture and a frothy head, much like a nitro draft beer. The nitrogen gas doesn’t dissolve into the coffee in the same way CO2 does in beer; instead, it forms tiny bubbles that enhance the coffee’s body and create a velvety mouthfeel. The result is a refreshing, rich, and smooth coffee that’s not as acidic as regular coffee.
While making nitro coffee at home may seem complex, it’s much easier than you think. With the right equipment and a bit of patience, you can enjoy nitro coffee in the comfort of your own home.
What You Need to Make Nitro Coffee at Home
To make nitro coffee at home, you’ll need a few key tools and ingredients:
Essential Equipment:
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Cold Brew Coffee: You can either brew your own cold brew coffee or purchase pre-made cold brew concentrate. Cold brew is the ideal base for nitro coffee because it’s brewed slowly with cold water over an extended period, which results in a smooth, less acidic coffee.
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Nitro Coffee Keg: A keg designed specifically for infusing coffee with nitrogen. Nitro coffee kegs are typically equipped with a nitrogen gas line, pressure regulator, and a dispensing tap for serving your nitro coffee. Ball lock kegs are a popular option for homebrewers.
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Nitrogen Gas Canister: Unlike CO2 used in beer carbonation, nitrogen is the gas responsible for creating the creamy texture in nitro coffee. You’ll need a nitrogen canister to infuse the coffee with nitrogen.
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Coffee Tap or Faucet: The faucet or tap is used to pour the nitro coffee. Nitro coffee is poured with a stout-style faucet, which helps create that frothy, creamy head that’s characteristic of nitro coffee.
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Coffee Filter or Fine Mesh: If you're brewing your own cold brew, you’ll need a coffee filter or a fine mesh strainer to separate the grounds from the liquid.
Ingredients:
- Coffee Grounds: Use high-quality, coarsely ground coffee beans designed for cold brewing. You can experiment with different beans depending on your flavor preferences.
- Water: Filtered water is always recommended for the best-tasting cold brew coffee.
How to Make Nitro Coffee at Home: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Brew the Cold Brew Coffee
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Grind the Coffee: Start by coarsely grinding your coffee beans. The grind should be similar to that of coarse sea salt, which is perfect for cold brewing.
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Mix the Coffee and Water: For cold brew coffee, the standard ratio is 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee to 4 cups of cold, filtered water. Mix the coffee and water in a jar or container, making sure all the coffee grounds are soaked.
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Steep the Coffee: Cover the container and let it steep for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator. The longer the steep, the stronger and more concentrated the coffee will be. However, steeping for 18-24 hours will yield the smoothest, least acidic brew.
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Filter the Coffee: After steeping, strain the coffee through a fine mesh filter or coffee filter to separate the grounds from the liquid. You now have your cold brew coffee ready to be infused with nitrogen.
Step 2: Prepare the Nitro Coffee Keg
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Transfer the Cold Brew to the Keg: Pour your freshly brewed cold brew coffee into your nitro coffee keg. Make sure the keg is clean and sanitized before use to avoid contamination.
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Attach the Nitrogen Canister: Connect your nitrogen gas canister to the keg, ensuring it is properly secured. You’ll also need a nitrogen regulator to control the flow of gas.
Step 3: Infuse the Coffee with Nitrogen
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Set the Nitrogen Pressure: Typically, you'll want to set the nitrogen pressure to around 30-40 PSI (pounds per square inch) for a good infusion. This may vary depending on the keg size and desired result, so feel free to adjust based on your preferences.
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Shake the Keg: Once the nitrogen is connected, gently shake the keg for 30 seconds to a minute. This helps the nitrogen mix with the cold brew coffee. You should hear the sound of gas entering the keg during this process.
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Let It Settle: After shaking, let the keg sit for at least 12 hours in the refrigerator to allow the nitrogen to infuse the coffee fully. The longer the coffee sits under pressure, the smoother and creamier the nitro coffee will be.
Step 4: Serve Your Nitro Coffee
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Use a Stout Faucet: Nitro coffee is poured through a special stout faucet (or nitro faucet), which is designed to dispense the coffee with a rich, creamy head. The faucet restricts the flow of the coffee, causing the nitrogen bubbles to form and create that signature smooth texture.
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Pour and Enjoy: Open the faucet, and you’ll see your nitro coffee pouring out with a frothy, creamy head. Serve it chilled and enjoy the smooth, velvety texture and bold flavor.
Tips for Making Perfect Nitro Coffee
- Use Quality Coffee Beans: The flavor of your nitro coffee will be heavily influenced by the quality of the coffee beans you use. Choose beans with rich, bold flavors that will stand out after nitrogen infusion.
- Adjust the Nitrogen Pressure: If your nitro coffee isn’t creamy enough or has too many bubbles, adjust the nitrogen pressure. Experiment with different levels of PSI to get the perfect texture.
- Chill Your Keg: Always refrigerate your nitro coffee keg for at least 12 hours before serving. Cold coffee holds more nitrogen, which results in better carbonation and a smoother taste.
- Serve Fresh: Nitro coffee is best served fresh. Once you've dispensed your coffee, enjoy it immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Recommended Nitro Coffee Kegs
To make the perfect nitro coffee at home, you'll need the right equipment. Here are some of the best nitro coffee kegs on the market:
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TMCRAFT Nitro Coffee Keg
Features: High-quality stainless steel construction, perfect for homebrewers, and designed specifically for infusing coffee with nitrogen.
Purchase Link: TMCRAFT Nitro Coffee Keg -
Kegco Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Keg
Features: Comes with all the necessary components for nitro brewing, including a nitrogen regulator and stout faucet.
Purchase Link: Kegco Nitro Coffee Keg -
Kegland Nitro Coffee Keg
Features: Stainless steel design, compact size for home use, and excellent for nitro brewing.
Purchase Link: Kegland Nitro Coffee Keg -
Ball Lock Nitro Coffee Keg by KegSmiths
Features: This compact keg is designed for easy use with ball lock systems, perfect for small batches of nitro coffee.
Purchase Link: KegSmiths Nitro Coffee Keg -
Mini Nitro Coffee Keg by Beer Keg
Features: Small, portable, and ideal for experimenting with nitro coffee at home, designed for both commercial and home use.
Purchase Link: Mini Nitro Coffee Keg
Conclusion
Making nitro coffee at home is easier than you think and can elevate your coffee game with just a few simple tools. With a cold brew base, a nitrogen keg system, and a stout faucet, you can enjoy a smooth, creamy nitro coffee experience just like you’d find at your favorite café. Remember to adjust the nitrogen pressure, experiment with brewing times, and always use high-quality beans to achieve the perfect cup. Happy brewing!