What’s So Great About Nitro Cold Brew - Science, History, Health, Flavor, and More

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What’s So Great About Nitro Cold Brew - Science, History, Health, Flavor, and More

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What’s So Great About Nitro Cold Brew - Science, History, Health, Flavor, and More

13 min read APR 27, 2026

Quick Answer

Nitro cold brew is a tasty trend in coffee that began in the early to mid 2010s. This brew begins with slow made cold brew coffee, then infused with nitrogen, and commonly served on tap in cafes. Here, we’re detailing the ins and outs of this brew, including flavor, health benefits, at-home brewing, and more.

Key Takeaways

Origins of nitro cold brew - discussing how this brew is made, detailing the science and history behind it
What’s so great about nitro cold brew? - discussing flavor, texture, health benefits, at-home brewing, and more

A little over ten years ago, a new brew took cafes by storm, a cup with unparalleled texture, a smooth, subtly sweet taste, and an inherent creaminess rivaling the best latte any barista could create.

This cup, inspired by the craft beer industry, hit cafes in the early-mid 2010s, and its popularity has, for the most part, held firm since.

What beer inspired brew are we referring to? Nitro cold brew, of course!
Nitro cold brew is surging in popularity once again, so we’d like to take some time to see what all the fuss is about.

Are there any added benefits associated with nitro cold brew versus traditional coffee?
How is nitro cold brew made?
Nitro cold brew looks frothy, even creamy, so is there any added dairy in this drink?
I’ve tried nitro cold brew, and it tasted slightly sweet; how much sugar is in a serving?
Can I make nitro cold brew at home?

Come along with us today as we answer each of these questions and more, exploring and explaining the tasty trend of nitro cold brew!

Origins Of Nitro Cold Brew

If nitro cold brew was a part of a normal school day, we could liken this section to history and science classes, a time to learn the ins and outs of how this brew is made and why it became so popular.

Then, in the next section, we’ll break for recess and have a little fun, looking at the yummy flavors, you can expect when sipping nitro cold brew, some fun ways this brew can benefit your body, and a few tips for making this cup at home.

And sure, like most folks (young and old) recess is far more desirable than history and science class. But, in order to kick back during recess and enjoy the benefits of this brew, we must first understand its beginnings…

Science

When making traditional cold brew, this liquid is flat or still, and this stillness actually allows oxygen molecules to interact with the coffee.

Typically, oxygen is a good thing, but in the case of coffee, this interaction can rob your brew of flavor.

So first, some tried to add carbon dioxide to coffee, mimicking the process of making canned/bottled sodas and beers, and the result was, well, not so great.

The infusion of nitrogen into cold brew, however, much like the process of serving beer on tap, proved to be the real winner.

Nitrogen, especially when used in a high-pressure environment, serves to eliminate oxygen molecules from coffee, replacing them with nitrogen gas.

And, the infusion of this gas into cold brew is where the magic happens.

Once the nitrogen molecules replace oxygen in the coffee, they “engage with taste receptors attuned to sweetness, making the beverage taste sweeter than it truly is.”

Even better, the nitrogen molecules also increase aeration, improve the viscosity of the cold brew, and result in the formation of microbubbles which appear to cascade throughout the liquid, finally culminating in an alluring presentation, complete with a frothy topping and an added perception of creaminess throughout the brew.

This intersection of science and coffee has not only proven to be delicious, but the complication of the process alone is also said to play a part in why this beverage has become so popular, with consumers these days showing more and more interest in unique offerings and innovation, both of which are on display in the appearance, texture, and flavor of nitro cold brew.

History

Once the science of nitrogen infused beverages was perfected, an invention most attributed to craft beer brewers, innovators at Stumptown Roasters in Portland, Oregon witnessed this velvety view and thought…”why not try infusing nitrogen into cold brew coffee?”

And, by 2013, this thought became a reality.

Immediately, the attention of coffee enthusiasts and baristas was captured, each drawn into this drink by its cascading microbubbles, ‘beer straight from the tap’ appearance, velvety smoothness, and subtle sweetness.

The fabulous flavors and attention-grabbing appearance combined with the awe-inspiring science behind it all told this brew’s story long before it ever entered cafes - in other words, it was a proven winner before the first sip.

By 2016, many chain cafes, such as Starbucks, jumped on the nitro cold brew train, and folks have been riding it since.

In fact, nitro cold brew is a beverage expected to not only continue growing in popularity, but many believe it will become a true staple in cafes, possibly even topping menu charts where lattes and traditional iced coffees once reigned.

But, why?

I mean, it has a cool history and some innovative science behind it, but what’s so great about nitro cold brew?

What’s So Great About Nitro Cold Brew?

It costs a bit more than a traditional brew.

It’s much more difficult to make than a regular brew.

It looks more like a dark beer than a cup of coffee.

So, what’s so great about nitro cold brew?

Actually, let’s rephrase that - what’s not to love about nitro cold brew?!

There’s so much to love about this brew, but I think its attributes are best explored one by one.

So, let’s begin…

1- Incredible Flavor

Nitro cold brew has a naturally sweet flavor - that’s right, you don’t need to add sugar, because you’ll be able to detect a touch of confectionery goodness in every sip.
Cold brew already has a detectable sweetness to it due to the brewing process, but once it’s infused with nitrogen, these notes are pleasantly amplified.

Of course, we’re not talking super sweet or anything like that, but most folks can easily detect this.

So, let’s take a look at how this drink can be sweet minus any additions of sugar:

Cold brew is naturally a touch sweeter than traditionally brewed coffee.

This is because the high heat used in traditional brewing, which extracts the compounds in java which give it a bitter or even astringent taste, is omitted.

Since cold brew is made using much lower temperatures, these bitter notes aren’t extracted, resulting in a naturally sweeter, less bitter brew.

The infusion of nitrogen gas into cold brew also enhances the flavor of coffee, bringing out additional sweetness.

Here, think of coffee as a beverage with rough edges, this roughness experienced in the classic bitterness associated with this brew.

But, when nitrogen is added, it serves to smooth those rough edges, making your sipping experience far more pleasurable, even seemingly creamy and sweet.

So, between the cold brewing process and the infusion of nitrogen into the coffee, most folks find they no longer need to add sugars and syrups to mask java’s natural bitter notes, resulting in not only a fabulous-tasting brew but one which negates the need for additions.

2- Oh So Creamy And Smooth

Whether we realize it or not, when we add milk or cream to coffee, we’re doing so to create a smoother texture, dull the bitterness of the brew, and even reduce the acidity of our cup.

With nitro cold brew, however, the infusion of nitrogen seems to cover each of these bases on its own.

Not only does nitrogen help to tame bitterness and enhance sweetness, it also serves the same purposes of the addition of cream or milk.

The need for tamed bitterness? Gone.

The need for better texture? Solved.

The desire for greater sweetness? Granted.

As nitrogen is infused into cold brew under high pressure, the result is an infusion of microbubbles which provides a velvety-smooth texture you not only see but taste as well.

The nitrogen also eliminates oxygen molecules in the drink, thereby reducing bitterness and actually making the cold brew taste sweeter than it really is.

And yes, all of this is accomplished without the addition of calories, fat, sugar, etc.
Essentially, when sipping nitro cold brew, you’re enjoying a rich, velvety, subtly sweet glass of cold brew…black…no additions, no problem!

3- Less Acidic

Another reason this brew seems a touch sweeter and seemingly creamier than traditional coffee is because it’s less acidic and less bitter.

Since the cold brewing process involves lower temperatures than a traditionally brewed cup, as stated above, this extracts fewer oils and compounds, resulting in a less bitter cup.

But this also means a less acidic cup.

Many folks prefer cold brew for this very reason, avoiding digestive distress due to the lower acid content, but nitro cold brew also brings a creamier, smoother texture, which allows you to enjoy it even more.

4- Better Hydration

This one could come with a caveat, I suppose, because it depends on how you take your coffee as to whether nitro cold brew could provide better hydration for your body compared to your everyday brew, but there really is something to this.

So, let’s check it out…

Typically, folks add some kind of cream and some type of sugar or flavored syrup to their coffee.

And, these can have a dehydrating effect.

When you consume sugar, in particular, it enters your bloodstream and draws water out of your cells as your body attempts to dilute it, thereby having a dehydrating effect.

In the case of nitro cold brew, however, this drink is served cold, commonly contains a bit of filtered water for dilution purposes, and has a naturally sweet flavor and velvety texture, omitting the need for sugary additions.

The result? Clean hydration that’s less likely to give you dry mouth and tummy issues!

5- Increased Antioxidant Content

Coffee is already known for its high antioxidant content, a property which greatly lends to java’s multitude of health benefits.

But, when sipping nitro cold brew, these beneficial compounds are more abundant.

This is primarily due to the cold brewing process, as this method removes heat in brewing, which can break down some of the beneficial components of your brew.

Thankfully, the addition of nitrogen to cold brew doesn’t destroy these compounds either, instead keeping your cup fresh and rich in valuable antioxidants.

6- Caffeine Without The Jitters

Some folks experience serious effects from the caffeine content of coffee.

Even worse, some are left feeling drained when the jitters leave, also known as a classic caffeine crash.

But, nitro cold brew is different.

Many reports feeling a more sustained energy from the caffeine in nitro cold brew, and this is thought to happen due to the slow-release nature of cold brew.

While cold brew does often contain more caffeine than traditionally brewed coffee, it’s absorbed by your body more slowly.

This means you’ll likely feel more focused and steadier when sipping nitro cold brew thanks to what some call time released caffeine (which is really just slower absorption).

Coffee with sustained energy and no caffeine crash? Yes, please!

7- You Can Make It At Home

Obviously if you’re infusing nitrogen into your coffee from the comforts of your home, you’ll need an added piece of equipment, but you don’t actually need a full keg and tap system.

There are a few low-key options which allow you to make and enjoy the creamy, velvety, frothy, seemingly milky, seemingly sweet, smoothness that is nitro cold brew at home.

First up, most find that a good medium roast coffee is a great place to start. Lifeboost Medium Roast would be perfect here at its unmistakably smooth and balanced, high quality, and makes exceptional cold brew.
Freshly roasted whole beans are best, and Lifeboost comes in with a win here too, as all of our coffee is roasted fresh when ordered.
Be sure to cold brew the coffee first, and you’ll want a coarse grind size for this type of brewing. Then, simply cold brew your coffee using a cold brew maker, most of which utilize some type of a glass carafe with a mesh screen or filter to separate the coarsely ground coffee from the cool or room temperature filtered water. (Most cold brew advice recommends brewing with a 1:4 ratio, or one cup ground coffee to 4 cups filtered water.)
Once you’ve made your cold brew, you’ll need a nitrogen canister, a mini keg, or a whipped cream dispenser with nitrogen chargers.
Pour the cold brew into the whipped cream dispenser, canister, or mini keg, then follow the instructions on the product (obviously these will differ between products) to charge with nitrogen.

Then, shake (specifically when using a whipped cream dispenser) to allow for an even distribution of the nitrogen, serve chilled, and enjoy!

FAQ

1- If nitro cold brew is a cold beverage, why isn’t it served over ice?

Think of nitro cold brew as a beer served cold from a tap, and just like you typically wouldn’t add ice to a craft beer served this way, you would also generally avoid adding ice to this coffeehouse favorite.

Adding ice to nitro cold brew can dilute the flavor and disturb the natural, velvety texture of this beverage.

Of course, as taste and experience can be subjective, if ice is your personal preference, there’s nothing that says you can’t enjoy nitro cold brew with added ice.

2- Is nitro cold brew stronger than regularly brewed coffee?

Personally, I view this answer as a yes and a no.

Yes, it’s stronger than coffee in the sense that it is made with cold brew, which requires more coffee in the brewing process than traditional methods for making a hot cup in an instant.

However, as we mentioned in the article above, nitro cold brew is often praised for its slow energy release, meaning the caffeine content of this selection is commonly reported as less intense, making folks feel far less jittery than an average cup.

The slow absorption of cold brew provides a more sustained energy boost, so while it’s technically a stronger brew, you might not feel this extra jolt in the same way you would a traditionally prepared cup.

3- Is it safe to drink nitro cold brew due to the added nitrogen?

A few gases have been used in the creation/production of beverages, including both carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Both are safe for consumption in this form, but many actually find nitrogen infused beverages have a better effect on their body than carbon dioxide infused drinks.

Carbon dioxide is used in sodas, sparkling waters, and traditional beers. Each of these have large bubbles which can, in some people, cause digestive issues like gas and bloating.

Nitrogen, on the other hand, is used in craft beers, coffee, etc. and it produces much smaller bubbles which may prevent or result in less digestive discomfort while also providing a natural touch of sweetness that many coffee consumers enjoy.

4- Can you still add milk, sugar, or flavoring to nitro cold brew?

Milk, sugar, and flavoring can be added to nitro cold brew, but it’s worth remembering that this specialized brew does have a creamy, smooth texture which many find to mimic the addition of milk to their coffee, and the infused nitrogen combined with the cold brew base brings out a noticeable sweetness in this cup, which many report negates any additions of syrups or sugars.

In other words, you may wish to give it a try before adding milks or sugars to this creamy, velvety, subtly sweet brew.

5- If I make nitro cold brew at home (as discussed in the article above), how long will it last?

“Nitro cold brew can last for 10-14 days when stored in a keg under nitrogen pressure and kept refrigerated. The nitrogen gas helps to preserve the coffee’s freshness and flavor and prevent oxidization.”

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast .

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.

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