How to Make Nitro Cold Brew at Home (That Tastes Like the Coffeeshop)

If you’re spending $6 a day on nitro cold brew at your local cafe, you are missing out on one of the easiest and most satisfying home beverage upgrades. The creamy, cascading texture of a fresh nitro coffee isn't magic—it’s just cold brew infused with nitrogen (N2 or N2O).

With the right setup, you can learn how to make nitro cold brew at home that pours perfectly every single morning. Not only does it taste incredible, but it saves you serious money and time.

Here is your step-by-step guide to achieving coffee-shop quality nitro cold brew on tap in your own kitchen.

What You Need for Nitro Cold Brew at Home

To get that iconic cascade and creamy mouthfeel, you cannot just shake cold brew in a jar. You need a pressurized system designed to dissolve the gas into the liquid.

The Essentials:

• A Mini Keg System: We highly recommend the Keg Smiths Nitro Keg or the Keg Smiths 8-Pint Mini Keg. Our systems are built using durable 304 stainless steel and are designed specifically to handle high pressure.
• Stout Faucet: This is crucial. A traditional beer faucet won't work. A stout faucet has a restricted sparkler plate inside that forces the liquid through tiny holes, creating the thick, creamy foam head.
• Nitrogen (N2) or Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Cartridges: N2 provides the absolute creamiest cascade, but N2O cartridges (standard whipped cream chargers) are easier to find and work wonderfully for adding a slight sweetness and rich texture.
• Cold Brew Coffee: You can brew your own or buy a large jug of concentrate from the grocery store.

Step 1: Brew or Buy Your Cold Brew

If you are making it from scratch, use a coarse grind. A general rule of thumb is a 1:4 ratio of coffee to water. Let it steep at room temperature or in the fridge for 12-24 hours.

Pro Tip: Filter your cold brew very well. Coffee grounds left in the liquid can clog the tiny holes in the stout faucet of your mini keg. Use a fine mesh sieve combined with a paper filter for the best results.

Step 2: Fill the Mini Keg

Once your cold brew is prepared and filtered, pour it directly into your Keg Smiths mini keg.

Crucial Step: Do not fill the keg all the way to the absolute brim! Leave about 1 to 2 inches of empty headspace at the top of the keg. The nitrogen gas needs room to expand and dissolve into the coffee. If the keg is 100% full of liquid, the gas has nowhere to go.

Step 3: Seal and Charge with Gas

1. Thread the stout faucet and spear tightly onto the keg.
2. Take a single N2 or N2O cartridge, place it into the cartridge sleeve, and screw it quickly onto the gas inlet valve.
3. You will hear a sharp hiss as the gas empties into the headspace of the keg.

Step 4: Shake It Up!

To get the nitrogen to dissolve into the coffee, you need agitation. Give the keg a vigorous shake for about 15-20 seconds.

After shaking, place the keg in your refrigerator for at least 1 hour (ideally overnight). The colder the liquid, the better it absorbs the gas, which is the secret to a thick, cascading pour.

Step 5: The Perfect Pour

Take your chilled keg out of the fridge. Grab a glass and pull the stout tap handle firmly forward (all the way open). You want a strong, fast pour to agitate the coffee as it hits the glass.

Watch the mesmerizing, cascading wave of bubbles settle into a dark, rich coffee with a thick foamy head.

The ROI of At-Home Nitro

A standard Venti nitro cold brew at a major coffee chain can cost upwards of $6.00. An 8-Pint Keg Smiths System holds 128oz of coffee—the equivalent of over five Venti drinks per batch.

By brewing your own beans and using our reusable kegs, the system pays for itself in less than a month of daily drinking.

Elevate Your Pour Today

Ready to upgrade your morning routine? Ditch the coffee shop lines and start pulling perfect draft coffee from your fridge.

Shop the Keg Smiths Nitro Draft Systems and Accessories here!