Nitro VS Cold Brew – 4 Major Differences


Are you debating whether to order a large glass of nitro coffee or a nice cold brew? I’m sure we’ve all been there.

What are the distinctions between nitro coffee and regular cold brew? 

Do they even make a difference?

How do you choose between them?

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Because there are a few differences between these two cold coffees, hopefully, this post will assist you in determining the best coffee for your morning trip. So there you have it.

Cold-brew vs. Nitro

Both nitro coffee and cold brew coffee are classified as iced coffee, although the feel of each is distinct. 

Nitro brew becomes a creamy drink due to the millions of bubbles added by the nitrogen infusion, whereas cold brew is much lighter.

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Cold-brew is more flavorful, while Nitro isn’t as widely available just yet.

These distinctions and others are explained and explored in the article, so keep reading to learn about them all.

1. Nitro has a creamy, thick texture.

You should know that nitro coffee always has a thick foam on top that gives it a creamy mouthfeel. 

If you’re looking for mouthfeel in general, you should know that nitro coffee always has a thick froth on top that gives it a creamy mouthfeel.

It is similar to how steamed milk becomes creamy when it is also microfoamed, as in a flat white.

In other cases, depending on how the Nitrogen was infused, it may not be entirely cream from top to bottom, but a considerable amount of it will be frothy instead.

Regular cold brew is the straightforward, fizz-free coffee that we’re all familiar with. 

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I promise you that it will not produce any bubbles or any other issues in your life. As a result, it may be considered the milder of the two.

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Also, cold brew frequently, if not always, comes with a side of the ice to keep it as cold as possible. As far as I’ve noticed, nitro coffee is ice-free.

You have been informed if this is something you normally consider.

2. Regular cold brew provides a more flavorful experience.

If you prefer flavor over the texture of your coffee, regular cold brew is a good option.

This is because it will always provide you with that authentic coffee flavor. It’s a little sweeter than regular hot coffee because it’s less bitter and acidic.

When drinking cold brew, many people claim they can taste the origin of the coffee bean or notice differences between roast types.

As a result, regular cold brew will have a much clearer, cleaner taste.

Nitro is a little sweeter than cold brew because the millions of bubbles in the foam hit the tongue in so many different ways that it doesn’t detect bitterness or acidity.

This drink rarely requires additional sugar or cream/milk to improve its flavor.

No worries, you’ll find nitro coffee in a variety of flavors. It’s just not as important as it is with other types of coffee.

The disadvantage of this is the taste of the foam itself. If you’ve ever had beer, you’ll understand what I mean. 

The foam does not completely mimic the beer’s flavor but only takes on certain notes.

On the other hand, Nitro tastes a little different than regular coffee. It’s not bad; it’s just different. 

As a result, if you’re looking for a pure coffee flavor, you might not get it.

3. Nitro always contains more caffeine.

Because most cups of nitro coffee are mostly or entirely foam, the recipe needed to be tweaked slightly.

This is because the solid foam contains only a small amount of actual coffee, with the remainder consisting of air bubbles.

As a result, the recipe for cold brew was modified to include more caffeine. In addition, more coffee grounds are used when brewing nitro coffee, resulting in an increase in total caffeine in the end product.

How much is it? The difference can be as large as the equivalent of a full espresso shot. 

It’s no coincidence that the best-rated Starbucks drinks are nitro cold brew and regular cold brew.

So, if you need a lot of help getting your gears going in the morning, Nitro might be the one for you.

Cold-brew isn’t far behind, so even if you get that, you’ll still get a lot more caffeine than a latte, cappuccino, or anything else from a coffee shop.

4. Regular cold brew is still more widely available than Nitro.

Even though most people are aware of, or have at least heard of, Nitro in the last 2-3 years, it is not widely used.

Yes, you might find it at Starbucks, but it might not be available in all of their locations.

In the case of smaller coffee shops or chains, the changes are much more subtle.

If convenience is important to you and you want to get a coffee as soon as possible, you should go with a regular cold brew. That’s almost always available and can be found almost anywhere.

For those who live in one of the world’s most populous cities, finding nitro coffee will be a piece of cake.

In the end, they’re pretty much the same coffee.

Now that you understand the main differences between these two coffees, you should choose your favorite.

And, aside from the fact that one is infused with Nitrogen and the other is plain, there isn’t much to say about how they differ in terms of actual coffee.

We all know they’re the same cup of coffee deep down. However, Nitro is frequently more impressive, and if you want to try it just for the novelty of it, why not?

After all, no matter which option you choose, you’ll end up with the same result: cold-brewed coffee, served with or without ice, and with or without cream, depending on your preference.

I believe you should get both of them and share them with a friend. Then, compare them and see which one you prefer so you can choose your favorite based on your own experience.

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