What you’ll learn in this article:
- How a cold brew coffee nitro tap works and why they’re gaining popularity
- The operational benefits of using atmospheric nitrogen systems like Hardtap
- How to use cold brew coffee nitro taps to expand your menu and attract new customer segments
- Market trends that make nitro cold brew a smart investment
- Expert insight from a specialty coffee business using the tech in real life
As consumer tastes and demands evolve, serving hot coffee is no longer enough for foodservice and hospitality businesses. Now, alternatives like cold brew are becoming a requirement. Its smoother, less acidic flavour profile appeals to Gen Z and millennials in particular. Finding ways to serve it is crucial for winning over these demographics.
One of the most effective tools for this is a cold brew coffee nitro tap. This small addition to your countertop can transform standard cold brew into an even more premium drink. Renowned for its foamy mouthfeel and Guinness-style froth, nitro cold brew is another growing sector for businesses to explore. However, having a cold brew coffee nitro tap can open up even more opportunities.
To learn more about cold brew coffee nitro taps, I spoke to Daniel Neale. He is a coffee roaster and the Company Director of Big Hand Little Hand Coffee, a pop-up coffee bar in Hampshire, England.
What is a nitro cold brew tap and how does it work?
Nitro cold brew taps are specialised faucets that infuse cold brew with nitrogen while dispensing. As the cold brew is poured, the tap releases millions of nitrogen bubbles, which give the drink its cascading effect and creamy mouthfeel.
Traditionally, nitro cold brew taps require a significant amount of additional equipment. Firstly, coffee shops and hospitality businesses need a kegerator to store kegs of cold brew before dispensing. Cold brew is a volatile drink, requiring specific storage conditions below 5ºC to prevent microbial activity and spoilage. You also need a nitrogen gas supply, usually in the form of a canister, to create nitro cold brew’s signature bubbles and foamy head.
However, modern taps such as the Hardtap use atmospheric nitrogen drawn from the air, meaning there’s no need for tanks or pressurised cylinders. “Utilising atmospheric nitrogen, it provides a much better drink,” Daniel says. This is an accessible way to serve nitro cold brew without additional equipment – making it useful for smaller operations or venues tight on space.
For busy professionals running cafés, hotels, or restaurants, the utility of a cold brew coffee nitro tap goes beyond spectacle. Instead, the practical gains from serving nitro cold brew without added gear or complicated setup are a meaningful upgrade.
How a cold brew coffee nitro tap helps to diversify your café or restaurant menu
When you’ve already invested in making cold brew with specific machinery such as the Baby Hardtank, adding a cold brew coffee nitro tap is the next logical step. With it, you can serve both standard and nitro cold brew to appeal to various consumer tastes.
“You’re offering the same product in two forms,” says Daniel, “but the nitro effect elevates standard cold brew.” Though the creaminess and foamy mouthfeel make the drink stand out, its visually striking appearance also makes it a premium product. Many customers associate the cascade effect and distinctive microfoam with higher quality – meaning you can also command a higher price.
Nitro cold brew is also central to a rapidly expanding sector of coffee. Cold brew servings in fast-casual and restaurant settings increased by 27% in 2022 alone. Now, nearly half of UK coffee consumers say they drink a variety of cold brew monthly. Adding a cold brew coffee nitro tap is a way to capitalise on its popularity by increasing the cold brew varieties you can serve with minimal additional equipment.
For coffee shop staff, cold brew coffee nitro taps also make service quicker. The Hardtap, for example, is compatible with commercial workflows and has two taps to increase your output. Once it’s set up, it’s as simple as pulling a tap – the same as any draught line. You don’t need to spend time or money training staff on nitro cold brew preparation when the process is this simple.
However, the Hardtap also comes with the benefit of a digital dosing system. Using a touchscreen, staff determine how much to pour for each serving, allowing for consistency and minimising waste.
The speed of a cold brew coffee nitro tap also makes it a time-saving alternative to other cold coffee drinks. “The flexibility and speed with which nitro cold brew can be produced with a tap over an iced coffee can increase output many times over,” Daniel says. You can pour nitro cold brew in seconds and move on to the next customer.
Lastly, when you use systems like Hardtank, you don’t need to worry about fiddly cleaning routines or awkward maintenance. The nitro tap works alongside machines with automated cleaning programmes, which run between uses. That way, you can avoid human error in the cleaning process and ensure your equipment is hygienic and compliant with food safety regulations.
The use of a cold brew nitro tap also extends beyond coffee. You can harness its nitrogen infusion technology to make anything from nitro espresso martinis to matcha or chai. Therefore, you can add a huge number of products to your menu without needing more equipment – appealing to new customers and demographics in the process.
Why nitro cold brew appeals to health-conscious and alcohol-free consumers
Nitro cold brew ticks a lot of boxes in terms of what today’s customers want. It’s dairy-free by default, naturally low in sugar, and rich in antioxidants. With up to 62% of consumers taking health and wellness into account when buying food and drinks, you can position nitro cold brew as a healthy but tasty alternative to other drinks.
Its rich, stout-like texture also makes it a feasible option for the rising number of younger consumers drinking less alcohol. Up to 21% of young adults have given up alcohol, so drinks with a similar mouthfeel to choices like Guinness can appeal to those consumers.
Due to these fast-evolving consumer trends, nitro cold brew is likely to grow in popularity in the future. Having a cold brew coffee nitro tap already linked with your system puts you at the forefront of this development.
“I think cold brew is a seriously underrated drink – let alone nitro cold brew,” Daniel says. “I think as time goes by, and the tech becomes more user-friendly and cost-effective, it will start making huge waves here.”
Therefore, the demand for nitro cold brew is only set to increase in the coming years. As more customers uncover the drink’s unique mouthfeel and flavour, dispensing nitro cold brew at speed will help businesses appeal to these trends. If you’re running a foodservice business that wants to keep up, now’s a good time to consider what a cold brew coffee nitro tap could offer.
Ready to offer nitro cold brew without the mess?
To easily incorporate a cold brew coffee nitro tap into your operations, Hardtank 20 machines can be installed with one or two dispensing taps. We also offer Hardtap as an add-on to your existing cold brew system. Request a quote or schedule a consultation here.
FAQ
What is nitro cold brew coffee?
Nitro cold brew is a version of cold brew coffee infused with millions of nitrogen bubbles using specialised dispensing taps. It has a foamier texture and creamy mouthfeel compared to regular cold brew.
How does a cold brew coffee nitro tap work?
As the cold brew coffee nitro tap is pulled, the specialised faucet releases millions of nitrogen bubbles, which give the drink its cascading effect and creamy mouthfeel.
What else can a nitro cold brew coffee tap do?
As well as dispensing regular cold brew, nitro cold brew coffee taps can also infuse foam into drinks like matcha, espresso martinis, and chai.
Do I need specific equipment to install a nitro cold brew coffee tap?
To serve nitro cold brew, you do need some form of cold brew system and a compatible tap. For traditional setups, this includes a keg system, nitrogen gas canister, and refrigeration (like a kegerator).
However, newer systems like the Hardtank with Hardtap use atmospheric nitrogen from the air – so there’s no need for gas tanks or extra cooling units. If you already brew cold brew in-house with equipment like the Baby Hardtank, you can simply add the Hardtap without needing a full keg setup.
Can I charge more for nitro cold brew?
Yes. Thanks to its foamy texture and premium feel, nitro cold brew is often perceived as higher value by customers – which means many cafés successfully charge more for it than standard cold brew.
Is nitro cold brew healthy?
Nitro cold brew is naturally dairy-free, low in sugar, and rich in antioxidants – making it a great fit for health-conscious consumers.
How long does nitro cold brew last once poured?
Nitro cold brew is best enjoyed immediately after pouring, when the nitrogen bubbles are still active and the creamy head is intact. If left to sit, the cascading effect disappears and the drink can go flat within a few minutes.
However, unopened cold brew stored in kegs or airtight containers (before dispensing) can stay fresh for up to 10–14 days if refrigerated properly. The shelf life depends on factors like cleanliness, oxygen exposure, and storage temperature.
