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Are you hooked on that creamy, sweet flavor of nitro-infused cold brew but want to cut down on how much you spend at the local cafe? Consider putting that money into the best nitro cold brew coffee maker, so you can make delicious nitro cold brew at home. These simple devices make it easy to brew your coffee and infuse it with nitrogen for a smooth, tasty drink.
When shopping for one of these devices, look for models with a double filtration system and vacuum-insulated stainless steel kegs. Brewers with a regulator cap and 1.5L capacity will ensure that your precious cold brew stays fresh and ready to drink for weeks. It’s also a great versatile solution for your homebrew or wine. However, a nitro cold brew coffee maker is a specialty machine, which means they can be expensive. So, consider them an investment.
A nitro cold brew coffee maker is one of the most fun and best coffee makers you can buy. Read our buying guide to learn more.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: The stout beer faucet allows you to pour yourself a perfectly balanced cup of coffee quickly. It also uses a unique gas blend to ensure perfection in the brew. You’ll receive a carrying bag so you can take it anywhere.
This is a fantastic system with many features you need, such as the unique gas blend. The faucet is modeled after the type used in a stout beer system. This means that you’ll be able to get a perfectly creamy, frothy pour every time you go to fill up your cup. Unfortunately, sometimes the faucet on this model can be on the fragile side. This means that it might wear out sooner than you’d like.
You’ll also receive a carry bag with the purchase of this brewing system. This makes it super easy to transport from place to place. If you’re going on a camping trip, for example, you can still enjoy a cup of smooth cold brew. It’s a great model to take to cookouts, too. Food-grade stainless steel is used to create the body, making it a highly durable model that will stand the test of time.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This all-in-one brewing system has everything you need to make delicious beverages at home. It features nitro tap technology so that every cascading pour will be full of rich flavor notes and totally smooth.
If you want a convenient cup of cold brew at home, this model will give you that and so much more. You’ll enjoy the regular cap that ensures your nitro cold brew stays fresh for up to weeks at a time. This means you can make large batches and have your favorite beverage at the ready. However, you will need to purchase the nitro gas chargers separately from this brewing system. It doesn’t come with the 16g chargers you’ll need to operate it.
Since it’s a relatively small brewing system, you shouldn’t have to worry about it taking up too much space in your refrigerator. They also use nitro tap technology in this system, which is excellent to ensure a creamy, flavorful cup of nitro cold brew. The 18/8 stainless steel makes it a highly durable option, especially since it’s vacuum insulated and double-walled. This is the reason why it can keep your brew far colder for far longer.
Award: BEST FOR ALL-IN-ONE OPTIONS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Since this option comes with pre-cut hoses, you won’t need to risk messing up the setup like other models. There is also a pressure relief valve that is unique to this model.
This model always produces silky, creamy coffee with deep, rich flavor notes. This is because it creates a beautiful cascade with every pour due to the keg-like pouring system. This special faucet is necessary for any brewing system that makes nitro cold brew. You’ll need to be careful with the keg when pouring, however. Sometimes it can be finicky, but tapping it a little will typically get it working again.
You’ll receive a complete kit with this system. That includes a 64-ounce mini keg, stainless steel spear, stout faucet and tap handle, a pressure relief valve, and pre-cut dispensing hoses. The pre-cut hoses are convenient since many competing models will require you to cut the hoses yourself. This can lead to measuring mishaps and having to order new parts. You’ll also receive cleaning brushes to help make the cleaning process that much easier.
Award: BEST FOR HIGH CAPACITY BREWING
WHY WE LIKE IT: You’ll enjoy the high-capacity nature of this model. It can hold up to 64 ounces, so you can have plenty of beverage on reserve for when you want it. It also easily fits in most refrigerators, so storage is a breeze.
If you want to make a massive batch of nitro cold brew at once, this is a great model for you. The 64-ounce capacity means always having a reserve of your favorite beverage on tap. It’s not an especially large model, either, and is 7.3” x 7.5” x 14.2”. This means you can easily store it in your fridge or on the counter. However, some consumers have reported that this model might leak nitrogen after a few uses. This might be a deal breaker if it happens to you.
The stainless steel material it’s made with means that you’ll have a long-lasting appliance that can bring you cold brew for longer than competing models. It’s also 304 rust-proof stainless steel, so you don’t have to worry about any potential rusting occurring. The upgraded faucet is a stout creamer that features a pressurized valve. This allows your cold brew to be extra creamy and have the same texture as a great stout beer.
Award: BEST FOR BEGINNERS
WHY WE LIKE IT: The stainless steel stout faucet ensures a smooth, creamy pour every time you go to fill up your cup. It’s an extremely easy-to-use system that is perfect for beginners. It also includes manual and care instructions.
Slow-steeping your nitro cold brew has never been easier than this brewing system. It’ll take 12 hours at the quickest but will steep for up to 24 hours for the most robust brew possible. This range allows you to have complete control over the flavor and boldness of your cold brew. Unfortunately, some consumers have experienced leaking when using this brewing system. This could make a huge mess, especially when storing coffee.
It’s also a highly convenient system that happens to be portable. You can keep it at home or take it with you to the office, out on a picnic, or to a cookout. You’ll also receive a user manual and care instructions with this model. That means that you have clear-cut details on ensuring this system stays clean and in working order for as long as possible. You’ll also never have to do any brewing guesswork since it’s all laid out for you.
Award: BEST FOR COMPACT SIZE
WHY WE LIKE IT: You’ll love how effortless it is to travel with this model because of the small, compact size. Beyond this, it is a multi-functional system that will provide different beverages for you to enjoy. It’s also dishwasher safe.
This versatile option has multiple different uses other than crafting nitro cold brew. You’ll be able to make any drink of your choice super creamy and smooth using it. Use this model to inject microbubbles for a smoother finish in your tea, coffee, beer, milk, juice, or any other beverage that strikes your fancy. However, this compact size does come with a disadvantage. You won’t be able to make large batches of your favorite brew at a time.
This brand uses a patented high-pressure nitro nozzle to ensure you get the best pour you’ve ever had and plenty of CO2 or N2, depending on what type of drink you’re making. The best part about this option is how portable it is. Since it’s a small model, weighing just under four pounds, you can easily take it wherever you go. If you’re somebody who travels often, this will be the best model to choose.
A nitro brew cold coffee maker is designed to infuse nitrogen into your cold brew, resulting in a smoother, creamier, frothier, sweeter drink. Nitrogen draws out the natural sweetness of coffee, and a nitro brew is meant to be served chilled, without ice, so it doesn’t damage the foam. Interestingly, you can also make iced tea in a coffee maker, too.
A nitro brew cold coffee maker brews a chilled cup of coffee, but in the last seconds, it injects pressurized nitrogen into the brew, giving it a bubbly froth and releasing the sweetness of the coffee, which reduces the need for added sugar or sweetener.
There are several different kinds of cold coffee, and a nitro cold brew is only one of them. There’s also a traditional cold brew and iced coffee. All of them use a different process, and these differences are key.
Regular iced coffee is brewed like hot coffee. You simply use your favorite coffee grounds, brew your coffee at 195-205 degrees, strain it, and then refrigerate it. It’s intended to steep quickly, for only a few minutes. Once it’s chilled, you can add ice cubes and enjoy it cold. The texture and taste are much like hot coffee. Speaking of heat, if you’re unsure of the level of heat your brewer makes, you might want to read our helpful info guide on how hot coffee gets in a coffee maker.
Cold brew coffee is brewed cold. Select your grounds and add cold water. It’s traditionally either cool or room temperature, but not too cold. Let your coffee steep for at least 12 hours at room temperature. Filter the grounds and chill the brew in the refrigerator before enjoying. You don’t need to add ice.
A nitro cold brew follows the same steps as a cold brew, but it’s infused with nitrogen after it’s chilled and before you enjoy it. This completely changes the taste and texture of the cold brew, giving you a foamy, sweet beverage with a smooth, creamy texture.
Understanding how these brews differ helps shed some light on the differences between nitro cold brew coffee makers and other coffee makers. A nitro cold brew coffee maker is a kit that includes a keg for cold-brewed coffee with a faucet that allows you to dispense your cold brew while infusing it with nitrogen.
Standard cold brew coffee makers simply brew the coffee, but they don’t infuse the brew with nitrogen. However, you can use a cold brew coffee maker in conjunction with a nitro cold brew kit. Brew your coffee first, then put it in the keg and dispense it with nitrogen afterward. The best Ninja coffee maker can make a cold brew for you.
A nitro cold brew coffee maker allows you to infuse your coffee grounds with cold water for 12-24 hours and then filter the grounds out. The nitro cold brew coffee maker is outfitted with a faucet, a nitrogen cartridge, and a pressure gauge so that once the cold brew is ready, you can inject nitrogen into the coffee.
Every nitro cold brew coffee maker is different. Some simply come with a keg, so you have to brew your cold coffee in a separate coffee maker before putting it in the keg. Once the coffee is in the keg, simply pull the handle to infuse nitrogen and dispense your nitro cold brew out of the faucet.
If you don’t have a nitro cold brew coffee maker, but you want to liven up your coffee experience, it’s definitely worth the investment. If you do have a nitro cold brew coffee maker, there’s always a reason to upgrade.
A quality nitro cold brew coffee maker will last up to 10 years. With proper cleaning and maintenance, you can keep it looking nice and working well. It’s important to remember that it needs to be cleaned after every use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper cleaning methods.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to change the nitrogen cartridge when it gets empty. It won’t last as long as the machine because it needs to be replaced or refilled to continue infusing nitrogen into your cold brew.
Every nitro cold brew coffee maker will come with a different warranty length as well, but some quality machines come with a lifetime warranty, so it’s something to consider if you’re going to be spending a bit more money.
There are several factors to consider when shopping for a nitro cold brew coffee maker. Not all machines are created equal, so begin by evaluating the capacity followed by charger type, materials, and other uses.
You need to choose the capacity that suits your needs. It takes up to 12 hours to brew the coffee for your nitro cold brew, so it’s difficult to make another batch while the machine is occupied. You also need to keep in mind that you only want to fill up the canister about halfway to allow the coffee to expand as the gas is added. Get something that’s large enough to hold all the coffee you need.
A larger capacity also means greater external dimensions, so make sure you have enough room for the machine, too. You may have to keep it in the refrigerator while it brews, so larger versions are harder to accommodate in smaller kitchen refrigerators.
There are two different types of chargers. A nitrogen charger creates a cascading effect while a nitrous oxide charger is similar to what you would find in a can of whipped cream. While there’s force behind it, a nitrous oxide charger doesn’t offer the same effect, and won’t result in a thoroughly infused nitro cold brew.
For a quality cold brew, you want a nitrogen charger. However, these can be more expensive, so there may be times when you want to cut corners and opt for a nitrous oxide charger.
Chargers are typically sold separately and you can find them in a variety of weights and sizes. Large kegs may require two chargers per batch, so it’s important to ensure you order the correct size and type for your machine.
Most nitro cold brew canisters are made of stainless steel because it’s durable and easy to clean. However, it can scratch easily, and if you’re transferring it back and forth from the refrigerator to the countertop often, you may want to consider something that doesn’t scratch as easily.
Taps and pipework are often made of silicone and plastic. It’s important to ensure that these materials are BPA free.
Some nitro cold brew coffee makers are dual purposes. This is useful for making things other than coffee. One of the most common uses is for craft beer. Some will even aerate wine. If you can replace the nitrogen charger with a CO2 charger, you can make carbonated beverages like soda or sparkling water.