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Nitro Coffee: Coffee Geek Hype or Real Benefits?

There’s been a lot of buzz about nitro coffee, and even though it’s silky and smooth like a cold draft beer, it won’t leave you feeling foggy or blurry-eyed because it’s completely free of alcohol. It’s the acceptable afternoon indulgence, with a smooth finish and frothy head just like a pint of Guinness.

Plus, nitro coffee provides the same coffee nutrition benefits as a traditional cup of joe, while supplying more caffeine and less sugar.

When Did Nitro Coffee Hit The Streets … and What Makes It Special?

Nitro coffee is cold brewed, put into a keg and then infused with nitrogen gas. It’s served straight from the tap, just like a cold beer, and it offers that frothy and bubbly, adult-beverage feeling with the carbonation and beer-like head from the nitrogen. More and more baristas are buying into the nitro trend, which made its debut at Austin’s Cuvée Coffee in August 2012.

The big bonus for consumers is that there’s no sugar, milk or alcohol in nitro coffee, and it contains about 30 percent more caffeine per ounce than your good ol’ cup of joe, and some companies claim there’s even more. And now nitro coffee is available in bottles and cans, so you can enjoy this trending coffee at home or at the office. The craze for nitro coffee has gone so wild that high ranking self proclaimed coffee geeks even have bought their own systems such as KEG STORM Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker to be able to brew nitro coffee at home at 75% less the cost of buying it from cafes. 

Is Nitro Coffee Healthier Than Traditional Coffee?

You may feel like you’re drinking a craft beer, but you’re still getting the benefits of coffee with nitro brews. For those of you who can handle an extra kick of caffeine, nitro coffee may be your new favorite. But for some, the caffeine increase can lead to unwanted side effects. Here are the top pros and cons of nitro coffee.

The Pros:

1. High in Antioxidants — Did you know that coffee is the No. 1 beverage for anti-aging effects? Coffee is a top antioxidant food, or in this case, beverage, for a cup of coffee contains massive amounts of antioxidants that fight toxicity and protect the body against free radical damage. Research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that coffee contains more free-radical fighting antioxidants than cocoa, green tea, black tea and herbal tea. (1)

Certain antioxidants found in coffee, such as cafestol and kahweol, have cholesterol-balancing effects. Coffee intake is also associated with lower risks of heart failure and stroke.

2. Improves Mental and Physical Performance — Coffee increases alertness and improves mental and physical performance. And did you know that drinking a cup of nitro coffee after a workout can increase post-exercise energy expenditure (known as the afterburn effect)?

That means that you are continuing to burn calories after exercise as our bodies use energy to recover, cool down and deal with the hormonal changes that took place during our workout. If your plain old cup of coffee can have this effect, imagine the difference when you add 30 percent more caffeine from nitro coffee. One of the best nitro cold brew coffee makers that pro coffee geeks recommend and use is the KEG STORM Nitro Cold Brew coffee maker which can be bought online if you live in USA, Canada, Australia or the UK. 

Coffee also increases blood flow to the brain, thereby supporting cognitive function. The Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University found that bioactive compounds in coffee reduce both motor and cognitive deficits in aging rats. Rats that were given coffee supplements performed better in psychomotor testing and in a working memory task. (2)

3. Doesn’t Need Sugar — Nitro coffee is served free of milk and sugar, and it doesn’t need it. The rich and creamy taste comes from the nitrogen infusion, so there’s no need to bring out those sugar packets.

In reality, nitro coffee may be saving you some calories, especially if you like your coffee light and sweet. Two tablespoons of half & half and two sugar packets is about 70 calories … and let’s say you’re having more than one cup of coffee a day — that adds up. But nitro coffee lovers claim that sweeteners aren’t needed, it’s delicious as is, and even tastes a bit like milk chocolate.

4. Lower in Acidity — Nitro coffees are commonly made with dark roasts, which are richer and fuller-bodied coffees that have lower acidity levels. Traditional hot water brewing can amplify the acid in the brewing process, while cold brewing softens the acid factor. The higher acidity in traditional coffee can cause acid reflux, heartburn or a burning discomfort.

The Cons:

1. Even More Caffeine — You’ve heard before that consuming too much caffeine can have an addictive side effects, even leading to a caffeine overdose, and it’s true. In fact, caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. Too much caffeine can overstimulate the body and burn out your adrenal glands. After a few too many cups of coffee, you may notice a feeling of anxiety and irritability, trouble concentrating, headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, cardiac problems, insomnia and changes in appetite.

Because nitro coffee contains even more caffeine than traditional coffee, you are increasing your risks of experiencing these side effects. Everybody handles caffeine differently, so monitor your bodily responses in order to access an appropriate caffeine intake for you. (3)

2. Can Increase Anxiety Levels — Caffeine has the power to alter your mood and physiology, impacting your hormones, nerve signaling, muscles and neurotransmitters. Many people work long, tiring days and they use coffee to mask fatigue and exhaustion. What they really need is some rest and time to reboot. When we use caffeine to keep us going, even though our bodies are worn out, this can lead to feelings of anxiety and even heart problems. (4)

Is Nitro Coffee Worth the Hype?

Coffee lovers continue to promote nitro coffee because of its taste and texture. It’s still coffee, but with a new approach. When you order a nitro coffee at a coffee bar, it comes in a fancy glass from the cafes nitro coffee machine and feels like you are really indulging; plus, the extra caffeine leaves you with a quick boost of energy. 

The taste of nitro coffee is dependent on a few factors: the type and roast of the bean, how the beans are ground and the temperature and purity of the water used in the brewing process. Every company does nitro coffee a little differently — using different beans, gas mixtures, pressures and dilutions, so the taste and texture won’t always be the same.

Cold brew coffee is the base used for nitro coffee, which requires a 16 hour period to brew versus the few minutes it takes for hot coffee. This typically makes the coffee more potent, which explains why nitro coffee drinkers get that coffee buzz faster than after a cup of hot coffee. It also goes down easily because it’s cold, creamy and sweet.

Just because it’s nitrogen-infused, doesn’t mean it’s automatically delicious. Plus, you are paying a hefty price for nitro coffee — it’s going for around 5 dollars for a 12 ounce serving. For those on a nitro coffee craze with a budget opt to buy their own nitro cold brew coffee machine instead which enables them to have the facility of brewing nitro cold brew coffee at home for less than a $1 for 12 ounce serving. But coffee lovers still insist that the rich and creamy taste is unmatchable, so you will have to be the judge.

How to Buy A Coffee Maker?

Coffee is how most people in the United States (and throughout much of the rest of the world) start their day. It helps people overcome the grogginess of waking up in the morning and keeps them productive throughout the day.

Nowadays, it’s a regular enough part of life that it’s expected to be offered from office break rooms to anywhere breakfast is served. Coffee makers are also one of the most common appliances found in homes today.

From the devoted coffee lovers to those who simply turn to it for the occasional pick-me-up, few people need to be convinced of the benefits of owning their own coffee maker. But with coffee shops a familiar sight in most cities, not everyone considers the benefits of making their own at home. 

Once you realize the benefits of owning a coffee maker then next logical step would be actually buying one. If your in that mode and are actively looking to buy a coffee maker then you will benefit from this " Best Coffee Makers Ranked 2018 " it's a in-depth coffee maker buying guide with the best coffee makers you can buy right now. This guide will help save you ten's of hours researching on your own all the models and hundreds if not thousands of features of each coffee maker. 

4 Benefits of Owning a Coffee Maker

Owning a coffee maker can pay dividends, both in how much money it saves you and in how much it adds to your life:

1. Savings vary based on how you like your coffee, but if you drink at least one cup of coffee every day you’re probably saving $2-$3 a day making your own. Over a year, that’s around $1,000.
2. You’ll save both gas and time by skipping that trip to the coffee shop.
3. You can make pretty much whatever type of coffee you like best at home (and have some options you won’t find at your usual coffee shop).
4. That coffee smell you like so much will fill your kitchen every morning.

If anything, making your own coffee at home gives you more room to be picky about choosing the type of coffee you like best and crafting the perfect cup to your tastes every time you brew a pot. And no matter how you cut it, as long as you use your coffee maker rather than falling back on the familiar habit of buying coffee by the cup at your local Starbucks, you will save money in the equation.

4 Types of Coffee Makers

The type of coffee maker you buy can make a big difference in your the overall experience. There are plenty of options available to you, and there’s no clear consensus on which type is best, it’s all a matter of taste and what works best for your situation and budget. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of coffee makers.

1. Drip Coffee Maker / Coffee Brewer

The coffee brewer, sometimes called an automatic drip coffee maker, is easily the most common type of coffee maker you will find in homes across the world. This type of coffee maker can come in a number of shapes and sizes, but when you hear someone talk about making a pot of coffee (e.g. several cups at once), they’re usually going to be using a coffee brewer.

These familiar machines are very easy to use. You load up a coffee filter with your choice of ground coffee, put it in the allotted spot, add water, and start the coffee maker. For some drip coffee makers, this process is even easier than that. You can make the coffee as strong as you prefer and return to the pot for refills until it’s done (or no longer fresh enough to meet your tasting standards). These drip coffee makers aren’t just common in homes, they’re also the type you’ll see the most often in office break rooms and many types of restaurants.

This type of coffee maker is not only affordable to buy, it’s also affordable to use. Filters are cheap to buy and will last for a long time. And ground coffee both come pretty cheap (unless you choose to splurge on more high-end brands of the latter). You can also buy bags of whole bean coffee and use a coffee grinder to grind it yourself.

Benefits:

• Extremely easy to use.
• Affordable to buy and use on a daily basis.
• Very convenient, as it makes a whole pot of coffee at once.
• Lots of options for different models, shapes, sizes and brands.
• Offers easy flexibility in brewing the best-tasting coffee for your taste buds.

To Keep in Mind:

• Only makes basic coffee. Nothing fancy, and likely won’t be satisfactory for those that prefer espresso drinks.
• Makes a lot at once. While a benefit, there may be instances where you end up wasting a lot of coffee.

2. Single-Serve Coffee Maker / One Cup Coffee Maker

One of the newest types of coffee makers on the market, single-serving coffee makers are sometimes referred too as pod coffeemakers because that’s what you use to make the coffee – single-serving pods or K-cups.  . You can buy pods in all sorts of different flavors that are tailored to meet your personal preferences, and then simply drop them into the machine, add water, and brew.

Automatic drip coffee makers were already convenient and easy to use, but single-serving models are even more so. You don’t have to worry about messy coffee grounds or filters, so you skip a couple of the steps common to making coffee in a more traditional brewer. There’s also less clean-up as the pod gives you coffee, but the grains stay contained within.

While the over all cost will range based on features and brands, single-serving coffee makers tend to be affordable to buy, but can be more expensive to use over time. The pods you use with this type of machine tend to be more expensive than simply buying a bag of coffee beans or ground coffee.

Don’t let this stop you though, as some single-serve models have extra add-ons that allow you skip the individual pods and load your own coffee grounds. While this will help offset the long-term costs, it may potentially create more of a mess that you’ll need to clean up daily.

Benefits:

• Extremely easy to use and clean.
• This type of coffee maker is usually very affordable.
• Coffee pods come in many flavors.
• Less waste of coffee if you only want to drink one cup at a time.
• Great for offices, as coworkers can brew coffee precisely to their taste.
• Will also brew tea, if you buy the right pods.

To Keep in Mind:

• Buying individual pods will get expensive over time.
• Not great for the environment, because constant use and disposal of K-cups will produce a lot of plastic trash over time.

3. French Press

One of the most traditional methods for making coffee, the French press is decidedly low-tech, but still simple to use. You simply pour in the amount of coffee grounds you want, add boiling water, and press the lid of the device down to force the grounds to the bottom.

A French press is one of the cheapest types of coffee makers available for you to make your own coffee at home. Not only can skip buying filters, but it uses absolutely no electricity. And depending on the size and brand you buy, the device itself can cost as little as $10.

The coffee produced by the French press isn’t always as flavorful as that of some of the other options, especially if you don’t let it brew for just the right amount of time. And you’re more likely to get some loose grounds floating in your cup.

So, while for the frugal it’s an obvious choice, for those at all particular about the quality of their morning cup of joe, it might not make the best option.

Benefits:

• This type of coffee maker is the most affordable option.
• Very little costs once the device is bought.
• Extremely simple to use.
• No filters or electricity required.

To Keep in Mind:

• You may end up with more grounds floating around in your coffee.
• You have to get the timing just right for the flavor to be how you want it.

4. Espresso Makers

Espresso makers are the “sports cars” of the coffee maker world. If you’re a serious coffee aficionado, espresso is probably your favored type. While it will widely-range based on brand and features, espresso makers almost always fall on the higher end of the price range, but for those who really value their daily cup of joe, the difference is absolutely worth it.

Espresso makers usually produce smaller quantities (think a shot versus a cup) that are stronger and more flavorful. However, any decent espresso machine out there will allow you to make a variety of drinks, such as cappuccinos, macchiattos and lattes. The most common models will allow you to make just one shot of espresso at a time, but it’s becoming more common to make two shots of espresso at once.

To make your buying decision even more complex, there are a wide variety of features, brands and types of espresso machines available for you to choose from. If you feel that an espresso machine is the best coffee maker for your home, we’d encourage you to read our buyer’s guide before making your purchase.

Benefits:

• Espresso machines create the highest quality of coffee, according to most enthusiasts.
• Offers you the ability to make the types of drinks you often see at coffee shops, like cappuccinos, lattes, mochas and macchiatos.
• An attractive kitchen appliance to have on your countertops.
• Extremely easy to use.

To Keep in Mind:

• Usually, this will be the most expensive coffee maker on the market.
• Makes small quantities at a time, only a shot versus an entire cup or pot.

Conclusion

Now that you know there are tremendous benefits of owning your own coffee maker here are the best coffee makers you can buy right now with in-depth reviews for each one. Good luck on your coffee journey and remember life is to short to drink bad coffee. 

You can check out: Best Espresso Machine Under 500 For More Info.

What up y'all (where yat) to all my SNOBS. So Bob Arcenaux and I have made it to anaheim, ( it looks like houston, which looks like dallas, which looks like Metarie( sorry Baby) , the only differnce is it's got hills. I wasn't that scared on the flight which is awesome because i'm not a fan of flying . Next year in houston will be great. not a bad drive .

;:

I know I shouldn't be as starstruck as I am, but seeing some of the biggest names in the game: Lem Butler , Gwilym Davies, Heather Perry ( with brown hair), Stephan Morrisey, just to name a few, out in real life and not on the coverof a Barista Mag is mighty cool. I hope i might get a chance to holla at them over the weekend.

Hey Barista Mag how come you didn't do a wrap up of the SCRBC, shame on you. I hope some of my redheaded bretheren from the forgotten region do something to make you remember us. Looking forward to the Inteligestia Party on friday.. i'll check back in.

Thanks Coffee Roasters of New Orleans, Orleans Coffee Exchange, and Society of New Orleans Baristas, for sending me out here to get more certifications,and to do some schmoozing.

By the way I only put caps on things I respect or appreciate.