Cold Brew vs. Nitro Coffee -- A Guide

If you love your coffee cold, you’ve likely heard of cold brew and nitro coffee. They seem pretty similar, so how are these two coffees different? Let’s go through the differences between cold brew and nitro coffee to help you choose the best coffee for your mornings.

What is cold brew?

Iced coffee is just coffee that you add ice to, but cold brew coffee is a type of coffee that brews at room temperature or in the fridge for 18-24 hours with coarse coffee grounds. You can add ice to it if you want, but it’s delicious and cold on its own. Because of its long brewing process, it’s sweeter and less acidic than regularly brewed coffee.

What is nitro coffee? 

Nitro coffee is a type of cold brew – but with something a little extra. It’s cold brew coffee that’s been infused with nitrogen gas using a pressurized valve. Because of the infused nitrogen gas and not-so-cheap equipment needed to make it, it’s not as easy to make at home as regular cold brew is, but it’s a decadent cup of coffee to have at a café. 

Cold brew vs. nitro coffee

So nitro coffee has nitrogen gas added, which gives it a key difference in texture. Nitro coffee has fluffy foam on top and is a little thicker with a pure velvety texture. It feels like a sweet spool of satin in your mouth – absolutely delightful! But that does come with a little higher price tag, so if you want to uplevel your morning coffee without paying a pretty penny, cold brew will be a little easier on your wallet. 

Both coffees are deliciously rich and smooth, so you can’t go wrong with cold brew or nitro cold brew. If you’re ready to try a cup of cold brew, check out our cold brew on tap. It’s extra strong while still being smooth and sweet, and you can try it in multiple flavors -- black, hazelnut, vanilla, caramel or mocha!