Step-by-Step Guide to Make Nitro Coffee Brew with a Coffee Keg Maker

Step-by-Step Guide to Make Nitro Coffee Brew with a Coffee Keg Maker

If you love the creamy, frothy texture of nitro coffee served at your favorite café, you can easily make it at home using a coffee keg maker. Nitro coffee is infused with nitrogen gas, which gives it a smooth, velvety mouthfeel and a rich, creamy head. With the right tools, specifically a coffee keg maker, you can create this delicious drink right in your kitchen.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the steps to make nitro coffee at home using a coffee keg maker. Plus, we’ll recommend some of the best coffee keg makers available to elevate your at-home coffee brewing experience.

What You’ll Need to Make Nitro Coffee at Home

Before we get into the step-by-step process, here’s a list of the essential tools and ingredients you’ll need to make nitro coffee:

Essential Tools:

  • Coffee Keg Maker: This is the key piece of equipment. It allows you to brew and dispense nitro coffee with ease. The keg typically holds your cold brew coffee and infuses it with nitrogen for a creamy texture.
  • Nitrogen Gas (N2): You’ll need a nitrogen tank to infuse the cold brew coffee with nitrogen. Make sure you’re using pure nitrogen (N2), not CO2, as CO2 will change the flavor of the coffee.
  • Nitro Coffee Faucet: A specialized faucet that creates a cascade effect when dispensing the nitro coffee, enhancing the creamy, frothy head.
  • Cold Brew Coffee: Nitro coffee is typically made using cold brew coffee. You can either make your own cold brew or buy it from the store.

Ingredients:

  • Ground Coffee: Choose your favorite coffee beans. For cold brew, coarsely ground coffee beans are recommended to extract the coffee slowly over a long steeping process.
  • Water: You’ll need filtered water to brew the coffee, which will result in a clean, crisp flavor.

Step-by-Step Process to Make Nitro Coffee Brew with a Coffee Keg Maker

Step 1: Brew Your Cold Brew Coffee

The first step to making nitro coffee is to brew your cold brew coffee. Cold brew coffee is steeped in water for an extended period (usually 12-24 hours) to create a rich, smooth concentrate with lower acidity than regular brewed coffee. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Measure Your Coffee: For a strong concentrate, use a ratio of about 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee to 4 cups of cold or room temperature water.
  2. Steep the Coffee: In a large jar or pitcher, combine the ground coffee and water. Stir gently to make sure all the coffee grounds are soaked. Cover the jar or pitcher and let it steep for 12-24 hours at room temperature or in the fridge.
  3. Strain the Coffee: After the steeping period, strain the coffee using a fine mesh strainer or a coffee filter to remove the grounds. The resulting liquid is your cold brew concentrate.

Step 2: Fill Your Coffee Keg Maker

Once you’ve brewed your cold brew coffee, it’s time to transfer it into your coffee keg maker.

  1. Clean the Keg: Before adding your cold brew, make sure the keg is clean and sanitized. Any leftover residue or bacteria can affect the taste of your nitro coffee.
  2. Pour the Cold Brew: Carefully pour your cold brew concentrate into the coffee keg maker. Be sure not to fill it all the way to the top—leave some room for nitrogen infusion and to allow space for gas expansion.

Step 3: Add Nitrogen to the Keg

Now, it’s time to carbonate your cold brew coffee with nitrogen to give it that signature smooth texture.

  1. Attach the Nitrogen Tank: Connect your nitrogen tank to the gas input valve on the coffee keg maker. Make sure all connections are secure.
  2. Set the Pressure: Adjust the nitrogen pressure to around 30-40 PSI. This will allow the coffee to absorb enough nitrogen for a silky, smooth texture.
  3. Shake the Keg: Gently shake the keg for about 10-15 seconds to ensure the nitrogen dissolves into the cold brew. The nitrogen will create tiny bubbles, giving the coffee a creamy consistency.

Step 4: Dispense the Nitro Coffee

Now comes the fun part: dispensing the nitro coffee!

  1. Chill the Keg: If your cold brew isn’t already chilled, place the keg in the fridge for a few hours to cool it down before dispensing.
  2. Pour the Coffee: Attach your nitro coffee faucet to the keg’s liquid post, and pull the tap. You’ll notice the coffee flowing out with a thick, creamy head similar to a stout beer.
  3. Enjoy: Pour your nitro coffee into a glass and enjoy the smooth, velvety texture with a frothy top.

Tips for Perfect Nitro Coffee

  • Freshness Matters: Always use fresh, high-quality beans for your cold brew. The flavor of the coffee will shine through in your nitro coffee.
  • Don’t Over-Shake: Shaking the keg too much can cause too much nitrogen to be absorbed, leading to an overly frothy and less enjoyable drink. Shake gently.
  • Clean Your Equipment: After every use, make sure to clean and sanitize your coffee keg maker and faucet. This will prevent any build-up or flavors from contaminating your next brew.

Recommended Coffee Keg Makers for Nitro Coffee

Here are some of the best coffee keg makers available to help you make the perfect nitro coffee at home:

  1. Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker

    • Capacity: 64 ounces
    • Features: Includes a stout-style faucet, nitrogen regulator, and a CO2 valve. Made of food-grade stainless steel for durability.
    • Best For: Homebrewers and coffee lovers looking for an easy-to-use, high-quality system for making nitro coffee.
    • Purchase Link

  2. GrowlerWerks uKeg Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker

    • Capacity: 50 ounces
    • Features: Double-walled insulation to keep coffee cold for up to 8 hours, built-in nitrogen charger, and a sleek, portable design.
    • Best For: Those who want a portable and compact nitro coffee maker that looks great in any kitchen.
    • Purchase Link

  3. My Morning Brew Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker

    • Capacity: 1.8 liters
    • Features: Stout faucet, easy to use, comes with a nitrogen cartridge and a complete starter kit.
    • Best For: Beginners looking for a hassle-free way to make nitro coffee at home.
    • Purchase Link

  4. HB Brewing Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker

    • Capacity: 1.8 liters
    • Features: Stainless steel design with a stout faucet, durable and compact for easy storage.
    • Best For: Small homes or apartments where space is limited, but you still want to enjoy rich nitro coffee.
    • Purchase Link

  5. TMCRAFT Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker

    • Capacity: 64 ounces
    • Features: Comes with a cartridge capsule and creamy control faucet, sturdy stainless steel keg, and is easy to clean.
    • Best For: Nitro coffee lovers who want to brew a larger batch of coffee at home.
    • Purchase Link

Conclusion

Making nitro coffee at home is a fun and rewarding experience, and with the right coffee keg maker, you can enjoy the rich, smooth texture of nitro coffee anytime you want. By following these simple steps—brewing cold brew coffee, adding nitrogen, and dispensing through a specialized faucet—you’ll create the perfect nitro coffee to enjoy at home.

Whether you’re a first-time brewer or a seasoned coffee enthusiast, the coffee keg makers listed above are reliable, high-quality options for crafting delicious nitro coffee. Choose the one that fits your needs, and get ready to pour the perfect glass of creamy, velvety nitro coffee!

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