April 11, 2026
Cold Brew vs. Nitro Cold Brew
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Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for 12 to 24 hours and served over ice. Nitro cold brew is the same coffee infused with nitrogen gas and served on tap. The coffee is identical. The nitrogen changes the texture.
What Nitrogen Does
Nitrogen gas dissolves into the cold brew under pressure inside a keg. When poured through a restrictor plate, the nitrogen comes out of solution as thousands of tiny bubbles that are smaller than carbonation bubbles, so nitro feels creamy rather than fizzy. The sweetness perception also increases with nitrogen. Something about the creamy texture tricks the palate into reading the drink as sweeter than it is. No sugar has been added.
Which to Order
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Regular cold brew when you want something straightforward and iced. Nitro when you want the full textural experience and want to drink it black without it feeling austere. Remember: nitro is served without ice. If it arrives with ice, the shop does not understand their own product. Find a shop serving nitro near you.
Keep reading: Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee, What Is Nitro Cold Brew, What Is an Americano.
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Our Picks
What we'd buy on Amazon for this
Hario · Mizudashi Cold Brew Pot, 1L
The right tool for ready-to-drink cold brew rather than concentrate.
$20.09
View on Amazon →OXO · Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker
The rainmaker lid distributes water evenly across the bed, which the Toddy and Mizudashi do not.
$59.95
View on Amazon →Toddy · Cold Brew Coffee System
Todd Simpson designed the Toddy in 1964 after a trip to Peru, where he watched workers brew coffee cold.
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