What you’ll learn in this article:
- Why demand for nitro cold brew is increasing and how it attracts new customers
- How to set up a system for nitro cold brew using a cold brew machine plus a dispenser
- The benefits of automated cold brew equipment to efficiency, hygiene, and costs
- How to expand your menu beyond nitro cold brew with drinks like teas, cascara, and cocktails
- Operational and cost benefits of using a cold brew system with a nitrogen tap
- Quick answers to common questions about nitro cold brew
Cold brew isn’t just a trend — it’s now an essential offering in cafés, bars, and restaurants. And when infused with nitrogen, it becomes a premium drink experience that attracts customers and drives sales. Therefore, a nitro cold brew coffee machine is important to open up new markets.
To learn more, I spoke to Andrew Schurger. He is the CEO of First Tracks Cold Brew, a supplier based in Denver, USA. Read on for his insight into the potential of a nitro cold brew coffee machine.
How a nitro cold brew coffee machine works and why you need a dispenser
Instead of making it directly with a nitro cold brew coffee machine, you begin by preparing regular cold brew using a machine such as the Hardtank 20. Commonly, this consists of a filter basket or hopper where you put ground coffee and other flavourings.
You then use a specific nitrogenated tap to dispense the cold brew with the unique foaminess and distinctive mouthfeel. dispensing alongside a built-in tap for dispensing. The Hardtank 20, for example, can be fitted with one or two draught taps to dispense nitro cold brew directly from the unit.
Hospitality businesses need to know the difference between nitro cold brew and regular cold brew when sourcing the required equipment. “Nitrogen is infused through cold brew under pressure, giving it a cascading effect,” Andrew explains. “It has a creamy, Guinness-like head and a much smoother mouthfeel.”
To achieve the uniquely thick body of nitro cold brew, the equipment required is different to regular cold brew. You need a regular cold brew machine to start with, and then a tap that infuses nitrogen into the cold brew under pressure. The tap is what maintains and dispenses the unique nitro effect and makes it a nitro cold brew coffee machine.
Its flavour notes are similar to regular cold brew, which is rapidly growing in popularity. “More and more people are drawn to the smooth taste and texture of nitro cold brew,” says Andrew. “Since it’s never hot, the acidic and bitter notes are never pulled out. The resulting coffee is much smoother.”
Therefore, sourcing a nitro cold brew coffee machine, which consists of a cold brew machine and a nitrogenated tap, allows hospitality businesses to serve an especially popular cold coffee drink. However, the opportunities to expand your menu go far beyond just nitro cold brew.
Depending on the supplier you buy from, you can also get sets containing the cold brew machine, nitro taps, and kegs all together. For example, Hardtank’s nitro cold brew set contains the Baby Hardtank, a countertop nitro cold brew tap, and a nine-litre keg for storage.
Expand your menu with nitro infusions, cocktails, and more
A nitro cold brew coffee machine is primarily used to expand your menu with a range of cold drinks. While regular iced coffee is made using a traditional espresso machine, nitro dispensers are more attuned to the drink’s particular mouthfeel and body.
“Nitro cold brew and having a kegerator (refrigerators that keep pressurised kegs cool) can create a wide variety of drinks for your customers or employees,” says Andrew. “People can add any variety of syrups, creamers or toppings to make it their own. Many cafés have been expanding into nitro lattes, where strong coffee and some variety of creamer are pre-mixed and served with a creamy nitro head.”
By adding nitro cold brew to your drinks menu with a combination of machine and tap, you can appeal to fast-changing consumer trends. In the United States alone, demand for cold brew has risen by over 213% since 2016, demonstrating its rapid growth. This is in no small part due to the supposed health benefits of cold brew, such as potentially boosting metabolism and lowering the risk of heart disease.
However, since most nitro cold brew coffee machines are versatile, you can use them to produce a range of other drinks as well. For example, equipment like the Hardtank 20 can also make iced tea, cocktails, and fruit infusions. Therefore, they represent an investment that extends beyond just nitro cold brew, but a near-limitless range of drinks.
Hardtank equipment uses patented recirculation technology to constantly agitate the ground coffee in the filter basket during extraction. This also means it can quickly and accurately mix other herbs, spirits, and ingredients to replicate the process for different drinks. It can then be dispensed with a nitrogenating tap to create nitro cold brew.
How a nitro cold brew coffee machine improves efficiency
Alongside the benefits for your drinks menu, a nitro cold brew coffee machine can significantly boost efficiency for coffee shops, cafés, bars, and restaurants. It reduces the time taken to prepare these drinks, while also improving hygiene and saving money.
By nature, nitro cold brew coffee is a time-consuming and volatile drink to make traditionally. Cold brew takes up to 24 hours to prepare – and once removed from refrigeration, it retains peak freshness for less than two hours at room temperature. The process of moving it from the cold brew machine to a kegerator for nitrogen infusion and storage takes additional time, too. Overall, the preparation severely limits the time you have to serve cold brew, and the amount you can prepare and sell each day.
A nitro cold brew coffee machine, like the Hardtank 20 using one or two nitro taps, presents a solution to these problems. Using its patented recirculation technology, it can prepare up to 18 litres of cold brew in just 45 minutes. Combined with a draught tap, you can dispense nitro cold brew directly from the extraction chamber once it is prepared. It significantly reduces preparation time, allowing you to increase output and serve more customers each day.
Hygiene is another major concern for nitro cold brew. Since it is prepared at much lower temperatures compared to hot coffee, it is more susceptible to microbial contamination. In a study undertaken by Hard Beans, poor hygiene and storage conditions produced E. coli, a bacterium that causes vomiting, nausea, and fever. For hospitality businesses serving nitro cold brew, this can be catastrophic. Therefore, hygienic nitro cold brew equipment is crucial.
To address these concerns, Hardtank’s cold brew machines have automated self-cleaning programmes for hands-free maintenance. It also means that staff don’t need to spend time manually sanitising the machine between uses. This process can result in human error, so automated cleaning is especially important if you use the machine for a range of drinks.
Using a cold brew coffee machine instead of making nitro cold brew manually can save money as well. For example, it reduces labour costs as staff don’t need to manually prepare the drinks, and they don’t use disposable paper filters. Equally, the patented recirculation technology increases the cold brew’s extraction yield, meaning you get more cold brew per batch and can lower your ingredient costs accordingly.
Therefore, using Hardtank equipment and the appropriate dispenser as a nitro cold brew coffee machine can significantly diversify your drinks menu. It opens up the growing sector of nitro cold brew drinkers, while also giving you the equipment needed for an extensive range of other drinks and infusions.
“As the public has become more educated on the benefits, nitro cold brew has become the standard,” says Andrew. “If you’re a café, office, or co-working space wanting to serve cold coffee, you will be left behind if you’re not providing nitro cold brew on tap.”
Ready to bring premium cold brew and nitro drinks to your menu? Discover how Hardtank’s systems — including the Baby Hardtank Nitro Set and Hardtank 20 with taps — can streamline your workflow, delight customers, and grow your business. Contact us and get a personalised quote.
FAQ
What is the difference between nitro cold brew and regular cold brew?
Nitro cold brew is cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas under pressure, giving it a cascading effect, creamy texture, and smooth mouthfeel — similar to a Guinness beer. The nitrogen softens the acidity and creates a naturally sweeter flavour. Regular cold brew lacks this infusion and is served still.
What equipment do I need to serve nitro cold brew?
To serve nitro cold brew, you’ll need both a cold brew machine (like the Baby Hardtank or Hardtank 20) to prepare the coffee and a separate dispenser/tap system to infuse and dispense the nitrogen. The Baby Hardtank can be paired with a dispenser (as part of a Nitro Set), while the Hardtank 20 connects to one or two external taps.
How can a nitro cold brew machine help my business grow?
Nitro cold brew is a premium beverage that attracts health-conscious and trend-savvy consumers. Adding it to your menu can increase foot traffic, boost sales, and differentiate your business from competitors. Plus, with margins on healthy drinks being higher, it can improve profitability.
Can I use a nitro cold brew machine for drinks other than coffee?
Absolutely. Hardtank machines can be used to make iced teas, cocktails, fruit infusions, and more. Alongside serving regular and nitro cold brew, it is a versatile tool for a wide range of beverages.
