More and more coffee lovers are abandoning the espresso and the carafe of hot coffee and reaching for cooler solutions. It started with iced coffee and before we knew it, cold brew became a staple. Now, cold coffee has taken another step further and arrived as Nitro cold brew.
Nitro cold brew is thick, indulgent, and velvety in texture yet sweet and bold in flavor. It’s a way to enjoy black coffee that removes all the bitterness and dampens down the acidity so everyone can appreciate it.
If you love Nitro cold brew then you will love the product we have today. Save yourself money by making your own nitro cold brew and get creative in the kitchen with the Royal Brew Keg Kit.
Here is everything you need to know about this brewer, how it works, what’s included, and how you set it up and use it. We also have some common FAQs to answer any questions you may have.
Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker Home Keg Kit – Coffee Maker Review
Brand: Royal Kitchen Co.
Size: 64 Oz Mini Keg (also comes in 128 Oz Keg size and 64 Oz Growler Design)
Compatibility: Use either 2 x 2g Nitrogen Cartridges or 1 x 8g Nitrous Oxide Cartridge
Pros
- Creamy, Foamy Coffee without added Ingredients
- Tap and Carry Bag Included
- Lifetime Warranty
- Durable, Food Grade Stainless Steel
- Steel or Matte Black Finish
Cons
- Nitrogen Capsules Sold Separately
- Not Dishwasher Safe
What Is Nitro Cold Brew?
Think of Guinness or a similar stout beer and how these drinks are served at bars. They are delivered via a special kind of faucet that pressurizes the drink using nitrogen gas. The pressure forces the gas into the beer and gives an extremely frothy, velvety texture to it.
If you take this same technique and apply it to cold brew coffee then you get Nitro cold brew. The nitrogen gives it a bubbly, creamy texture and a sweet flavor. It’s the perfect option if you love creamy, sweet coffee but you’re also trying to avoid added calories or sugar.
Nitro cold brew is found on the menu of many Starbucks as well as other coffee shops. If you’ve never tried it before then ordering a cup can be a great way to try it. Be careful though, as most people find once they give it a go, that’s them hooked for life! It’s so rich and satisfying you may find you are spending far too much per cup and that’s where a home brewing system can save you.
Benefits of Nitro Cold Brew
Coffee is packed full of healthy antioxidants that help your body grow and repair. Nitro cold brew is quite high in caffeine so is the perfect choice to get you up and ready for the day. Caffeine helps improve memory, boosts energy levels, and decreases fatigue.
A lot of the health benefits associated with coffee are said to be negated when you add sweeteners, sugar, or creamer. Nitro cold brew has a naturally sweet flavor and creamy texture without the need for any extra ingredients. This makes it diet-friendly, and fine for vegans and a ketogenic diet.
Cold brew coffee is naturally low in acidity compared to regular coffee. This makes it an ideal choice for anyone with a sensitive stomach or if you suffer from acid reflux. It’s also better for your teeth.
What’s Included
When you buy the Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Coffee maker you get all the bits and pieces you need to get you started. There’s the main keg that holds and pressurizes the coffee. It’s made from food-grade stainless steel, so is safe to use, non-reactive, durable, and hygienic. It has a pressure relief valve so you don’t have to worry about too high pressure.
The dual-action, stout creamer faucet helps create that ultra-creamy head to give a frothy iced coffee. There’s the cartridge holder casing and a faucet combo wrench so you can easily attach the nitro tap. The kit comes with o rings to help create an airtight seal.
It also comes with two cleaning brushes so you can easily clean out the faucet, plastic hose, and any other tricky-to-reach spots.
Setting It Up
Once you get your Nitro Cold Brew keg kit system the first thing to do is attach the spear to the faucet. A white o ring should be placed over the faucet and the combo wrench will help you tighten the seal.
The tap handle can then be easily screwed into place. Next up, take the plastic hose and measure about 20cm from the enclosed silicone end. This is where it should be cut and now you can gently press the tube onto the coffee spear where the ridges will hold it in place.
This is now the faucet and dispenser assembled and the whole device can be fixed onto the keg in place of the cap provided.
Now you’re ready to make some nitro cold brew.
How To Make Nitro Cold Brew at Home
Start by adding your cold brew coffee to the keg. Only fill the keg up to 50-75% full as the coffee needs room to expand. The 64 Oz keg will hold 40-48 Oz of cold brew.
Fix the faucet and spear to the keg as described above.
Place a nitrogen charger into the charger shell and screw this in place at the canister holder. You should hear a hissing sound as the gas is released into the keg.
Shake the keg well for 15-20 seconds to disperse the gas and let it sit for half an hour. Add a second canister and then place the device in the fridge for an hour.
Serve into an ice-cold glass and enjoy!
How To Make the Perfect Cold Brew Coffee
It’s recommended that you start using your Royal Brew coffee machine with store-bought cold brew initially until you get used to how it works. This is because homemade cold brew can vary a lot in concentration and this affects the diffusion of the nitro gas.
Once you get the hang of the procedure, then making your own cold brew coffee can be very rewarding. Do not attempt to brew the coffee in the keg as the grounds will cause clogging of the spout.
Start with very coarsely ground coffee or whole coffee beans and a burr grinder. Start with around 7oz of coffee for 28 oz of water. This will give you around 16 oz of cold brew concentrate.
Let the grounds sit in cold water for a minimum of 12 hours but you can leave it for up to 18 hours. It’s best to use filtered water to avoid impurities affecting the end flavor.
The filtration step is very important as coffee grounds not only clog the nitro cold brew system but also affect the texture. It’s best to use a cheesecloth or paper filter (like you would use for drip coffee) to remove all the grounds.
Dilute the concentrate with 32 ounces of water to give 48 oz of cold brew coffee. You can use it straight away to make nitro cold brew or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Any Issues?
If your cold brew doesn’t taste as you expected then it may be worth checking the kind of coffee you usually enjoy. Some store-bought options add cream and sweeteners to give a thicker, whipped cream effect. Feel free to add any ingredients you enjoy best to the cold brew system but do be wary of keeping it clean, especially after using dairy.
Homemade nitro brew isn’t everyone’s cup of coffee as some folk prefer to leave all that hassle up to their barista. The main downside of this option is that it does take some time and patience to make coffee so if you hate waiting then this may not be the best coffee maker for you.
If you do experience any issues with your coffee maker then rest assured this product has a lifetime warranty. The company is American-owned and you can message them 24/7 for full support or service.
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F.A.Q.s
How do you use royal brew Nitro?
It’s really simple. All you need to do is add cold brew coffee, assemble the device and add a nitrogen canister. Shake the keg and let it sit for 30 minutes then add a second canister. Place it in the fridge and allow it to sit for an hour, then you can serve and enjoy.
Is Nitro Brew healthy?
Nitro cold brew boasts all the health benefits that come from drinking coffee without any of the downsides that come from creamer and sweeteners. The nitrogen actually reduces the acidity so is ideal for anyone with a sensitive stomach.
Nitro cold brew is very high in caffeine so if you are a caffeine sensitive individual then best avoid this in place of decaf.
How much caffeine is in Nitro Brew?
The actual amount of caffeine does depend on the strength of the cold brew you use. A typical Starbucks 16 oz cup of nitro cold brew has 280mg of caffeine.
Is royal brew nitro gluten-free?
Yes.
What is the best time to drink nitro cold brew?
First thing in the morning, not just before bed.
What other brands make nitro cold brew coffee makers?
There are plenty of options when it comes to Nitro cold brew systems, Nitropress makes a portable option and there’s also Growlerwerks ukeg nitro cold brew coffee maker that keeps your coffee icy cold with its double-wall insulation. To find out more, check out our article on the Best nitro cold brew coffee makers.
