Coffee is a global beverage facing a series of innovations over the years. Some of the major revolutions in the coffee industry include the rise of oats milk, coffee-based cocktail, coffee delivery drones, cascara soda, mushroom lattes, among others. The emergence of the new coffee format “ready to drink” or cold coffee indicates that the innovation is not stopping soon. An example of cold coffee available in the market is Nitro coffee.
Nitro coffee is a cold brew charged with colorless, tasteless, and odorless nitrogen gas. In other words, it is a nitrogenated cold brew coffee.
If you enjoy taking coffee, you would like to taste every new coffee product coming to the market, especially with the rise of out-of-home consumption. Supposing you are yet to taste the Nitro coffee, here is all you should know about it.
What Does Nitro Do to Coffee?
Nitrogen does not dissolve in liquids, so once it is infused into the coffee, it forms tiny bubbles that make its texture extremely smooth and creamy with a unique silky mouthfeel.
To add to that, nitrogen is safe, odorless, and tasteless, which does not change the taste of the coffee.
Nitro coffee is available “on tap” served from a pressurized valve with a tiny hole that creates silky, creamy effects. Most people like it black, either served over ice or enjoy its natural creaminess.
It can also be prepared as a cocktail like the nitro pina colada or enriched with a flavor like vanilla syrup for those with a sweet tooth. Nitro coffee goes well with many flavors than regular coffee.
Is Nitro Coffee Healthy?
The natural sweetness and the inherent creaminess in nitrogenated coffee make it a healthier alternative to regular coffee.
The sweetness makes it an ideal option for anyone dependent on coffee with cream and sugar.
Nitro coffee contains high levels of caffeine due to less water saturation making it perfect for keeping you awake. Like other coffee brands, nitro coffee has many health benefits, which include;
Boosts antioxidants
Coffee beans are high in antioxidants, a class of nutrients responsible for protecting healthy cells from radical degeneration and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress harms several body functions leading to severe diseases.
Since the preparation of the nitro coffee does not involve heating, the antioxidants are always efficient.
In addition to antioxidants, nitro brew coffee is also loaded with nutrients such as potassium, manganese, and vitamins B2, B3, and B5.
Helps in reducing sugar intake
If you are struggling to reduce your sugar consumption, then nitro coffee is your best option; it is naturally rich, creamy, and sweet. Drinking a cup of fresh nitro coffee can save you unwanted calories.
It helps avoid stomach upset.
Infusing nitrogen gas in coffee produces nitrous oxides that make it rich in healthy fats. In addition,
Nitrogenated coffee has a lower acidic level than regular coffee, making it ideal for people with sensitive stomachs.
Improves physical performance
Nitro coffee contains equal or more caffeine than regular coffee needed to improve mental alertness. It also has an ergogenic effect that enhances physical performance.
So if you are a sportsman or have a busy schedule, sipping a nitro coffee can help improve your performance and endurance.
Promotes weight lose
Apart from helping you reduce sugar intake, nitro coffee can also help you cut on weight. This is because the presence of caffeine content in nitro coffee increases your body’s capacity to burn calories.
It also helps suppress your appetite, reducing the chances of consuming unnecessary calories.
Lowers the risk of diseases
Since nitro coffee is naturally sweet and does not require added sugar, it is an ideal beverage for people living with diabetes.
It also has all properties of regular coffee that help reduce the risks of type two diabetes.
Regular consumption of nitro coffee, supported by proper diet and exercise, can help prevent the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease development.
Additionally, coffee can help reduce liver cancer risks and other types of cancer such as breast, skin, head, colorectal, etc.
Is Nitro Coffee Stronger Than Regular Coffee?
Unlike regular coffee that uses heat to extract caffeine, nitro coffee, a nitrogenated cold brew, is prepared as a concentrate with more coffee to water ratio of 1:4.
As a result, the process results in high caffeine concentration, making nitro coffee stronger than regular coffee.
An example of the ready-to-drink nitro coffee brands that are high on caffeine is the Stumptown cold brew coffee.
Since the caffeine content in cold brew coffee is higher than the typical drip brew, you can use water or milk to neutralize it to a ratio of 1:1.
Examples of ready-to-drink nitro cold brew coffee that you can readily find in a coffee shop include; caveman coffee co. —Nitro cold brew coffee, Starbucks nitro cold brew coffee, la Colombe lemon shandy, etc.
Is Nitro Coffee Stronger Than Espresso?
Nitro coffee is more robust than espresso. Why? Because cold brew coffee has more caffeine content than espresso.
The caffeine concentration difference can be associated with their preparation differences. For example, espresso is prepared using an espresso machine, which takes around thirty seconds.
On the other hand, Nitro cold brew is prepared by soaking coarse ground coffee in cold water for twelve-hour or more.
Time is of the essence in coffee preparation, and since the nitro cold brew takes more time in the water, more caffeine is extracted, making it more robust than the espresso, which is prepared in less than a minute.
Although espresso and nitro coffee have a good flavor, the cold brew flavor is more robust than that espresso.
Besides the flavor difference resulting from the preparation methods involved, it can also result from the coffee origin.
Coffee is produced by different countries globally, and some countries have full-bodied coffee beans, while others make more acidic coffee beans.
If you want your espresso to be slightly stronger, leave it to cool down, cooled coffee tastes stronger than a hot one.
Suppose you are a cold brew fan but prefer the espresso caffeine content; use water, milk, or other alternatives to dilute it to the same caffeine content as espresso.
Is Nitro Cold Brew Good for Weight Loss?
Nitro cold brew is perfect for weight loss; this is how. When cold brew coffee is infused with nitrogen gas, it results in smooth, creamy, and sweet coffee that does not need additional sugar or dairy.
This reduced sugar intake will make your desire to lose weight easier to achieve.
The caffeine in the nitro cold brew also helps in weight loss. In addition, caffeine is a hunger suppressor, reducing the chances of consuming junk and fast food that increases calories in your body.
If you intend to lose weight for health reasons or any other reason, you may consider narrowing your coffee preferences to black coffee.
Why? It contains a chlorogenic acid that slows down glucose production. So if you take a cup of black nitro coffee after a meal, your body will produce less glucose and fats.
Taking a cup of black coffee before starting your workout will also promote metabolism hence reaping significant benefits from your exercise.
What Is the Difference Between Cold Brew and Nitro?
Although nitro coffee is a nitro-infused cold brew, you can find a few differences when you look at them closely.
It is good to consider their preparation method, taste, and texture in this case. Cold-brew is prepared by soaking the coarse ground in cold water for twelve to twenty-four hours to come up with concentrate.
Nitro cold brew, on the other, is a variation of cold brew produced by infusing nitrogen gas into the cold brew.
It has a smooth texture compared to cold brew, which is syrupy due to many hours of soaking. Cold-brew is less bitter, smoother, and less acidic than iced coffee.
It becomes super soft with a sweeter flavor when infused with nitrogen gas to produce nitro coffee.
Nitro coffee is an improved cold brew that is gaining popularity among the young generation.
If you love the sweeter, milder, and smoother flavors, you would love nitro coffee; it has all the qualities of a great coffee brand that you do not want to miss.
Does Starbucks Nitro Have More Caffeine?
Since Starbucks nitro cold brew is not served over ice, its caffeine content is more than the regular iced coffee.
However, Starbuck has produced more flavors with varying caffeine levels. So, if you are looking for a ready-to-drink nitro cold brew that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home, Starbucks got you covered.
It comes in flavors like black, dark caramel, or sweet vanilla cream readily found in a grocery store.
Caffeine consumption has many benefits, but it is vital to remember that excessive consumption is harmful to your health. Therefore, always stick to brands with moderate caffeine levels for your health reasons.
Final Thoughts
The benefits related to the consumption of nitro cold brew cannot be overlooked, from keeping you awake to preventing diseases. In short, nitro cold brew coffee is like a flavor added to an already popular cold brew.