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Nitro Cold Brew Coffee is a drink infused with nitrogen gas, served chilled without ice so that the foamy top does not get damaged. For many of you, this might be a head-scratcher, as it could lead you to wonder – what is the point of nitro coffee, or why do we even switch to it.

This article will highlight: what is nitro cold brew coffee, and for the most part, is it better than regular coffee?

What is Nitro Cold Brew Coffee?

Nitro cold brew coffee is a drink carefully injected with nitrogen gas – to yield a foamy, caffeinated beverage. Nitrogen gas gives the coffee a denser bubble, making it velvet smooth and enhancing the natural sweetness. Being a colourless, odourless gas, Nitrogen has smaller bubbles than carbon dioxide, which have a hard time dissolving. The bubbles give the coffee a thick, heavy mouthfeel, which sets it apart from regular coffee.

The Nitro process brews the coffee with cold or room temperature water for 12-24 hours. The next step involves a transformation of cold brew into nitro cold brew by infusing the liquid with nitrogen gas with a pressurized valve. Hence, giving the coffee its velvety texture.

Although this drink has been around since 2013, it is only until, in recent years, it gained its popularity in the industry. Many believe that the nitro cold brew method can even make a black coffee taste smooth, sweet, and rich in the body – like it already had sugar and cream added in it.

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To understand the superiority of nitro cold brew coffee- over regular coffee, the difference in caffeine content should be enough to intrigue- a coffee lover. However, the drink has other interesting charms as well.

Caffeine content

Let’s start with the basic and most important factor that sets apart nitro cold brew coffee from regular coffee – caffeine content.

Since the nitro cold brew method does not use heat to make the coffee, it requires three times the amount of coffee to extract the same flavour. Extra coffee results in a high level of caffeine, which makes it stronger than espresso and black coffee.

The higher level of caffeine content present in nitro cold brew makes it stronger than – an espresso or a regular coffee.

Less acidic

Nitro cold brew coffee is less acidic than regular coffee. Brewed at – a lower temperature, nitro cold brew coffee has significantly less acidity than regular coffee. On the other hand, regular coffee is acidic because many acids found in regular coffee appear only at higher temperatures of 195-250⁰F (90-96⁰C).

Low acidity in nitro coffee provides a unique taste and reduces bitterness in comparison to regular coffee.

Sweeter taste and thicker texture

Yes, you read it right. Despite being a stronger drink, nitro cold brew coffee is much sweeter and smoother than regular coffee. The nitro process extracts sweet flavours out of the coffee to create a smooth and delicious drink. The small bubbles in the nitro cold brew coffee contribute to creating a thicker mouthfeel.

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Enhanced flavour and aroma make the need for extra ingredients such as creamer and sugar – unnecessary.

Healthier than regular coffee

Although regular coffee is called a healthy drink in several studies, all the aforementioned points contribute to making nitro cold brew – a bit healthier than regular coffee.

Alongside alertness and an improvement- in physical performance, caffeine has been associated with lowering the risks of several conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson, and type 2 diabetes. However, nitro coffee may not be a good idea for everyone, as the high level of caffeine consumption has side effects and is not suitable for people who suffer adverse effects.

Nitro cold brew coffee can be a treat- for people susceptible to stomach discomfort, as it is less acidic than regular coffee.

Alongside the velvety texture and smoothness, the nitro process helps to enhance the sweetness in the coffee. Enhanced sweetness in the nitro cold brew coffee renders the need for additions such as sugar and creamer in the drink – making it a healthier choice than regular coffee.

Fitness studios are starting to add nitro cold brew coffee to their menus due to its additional benefits.

Final thought

The nutritional values and health benefits of nitro cold brew coffee are somewhat similar. Due to its enhanced flavour and aroma, nitro cold brew coffee has lately been a popular choice among millennials.

Apart from having a smoother texture, nitro cold brew coffee is less acidic and higher in caffeine, making it stand out from regular coffee.

Making changes in the drink choice is completely dependent on the drinker’s preference as it is an essential part of one’s day to day routine. However, after learning about this more palatable coffee, it is hard not to add it as one of- the top drink choices.