If you’ve ever been to Starbucks, you know that the entire menu is full of coffee favorites. And if you’ve ever sipped on a velvety smooth Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, you know that there’s something different about this drink. Maybe it’s the higher price or fancy appearance, but something about it feels special.
So what is it, exactly? What gives Nitro Cold Brew its unique characteristics, and how is it different from typical cold brew? Let’s break down everything there is to know about the popular Nitro Cold Brew at Starbucks to see what’s so special about this creamy coffee beverage.
What is Nitro Cold Brew?
Whether you’ve had one or not, you may not be so sure what this beverage is made up of. So let’s answer the most obvious question first – what even is a Nitro Cold Brew? A menu item that first came to be in Starbucks’ home town of Seattle, Nitro Cold Brew is simply Starbucks signature Cold Brew that’s poured from a nitrogen-infused tap.
The signature Cold Brew at Starbucks is slowly steeped for 20 hours, soaking the coffee in cold water (never hot) to extract flavor over time. What makes Nitro Cold Brew special is the same thing that makes it “nitro”: rather than just being released from the tap like regular Starbucks Cold Brew, this drink is infused with nitrogen gas as it’s poured.
Nitro Cold Brew is transformed by the micro-bubbles that the nitrogen imparts into the liquid. No longer a “still” or “flat” coffee beverage like its cold brew base, the cold brew comes out of the tap with a creaminess throughout and a naturally-occurring head of velvety foam on top. Its texture and appearance are similar to a draft stout beer like Guinness.
Nitro Cold Brew isn’t just exceptionally smooth to sip on, but it’s also slightly sweeter than most cold brew since the micro-bubbles help to remove some of the coffee’s bitterness. It’s a creamy, smooth, frothy, and less acidic beverage that, for many people, makes cold brew even more delicious.
What’s the nutritional profile of Nitro Cold Brew?
You might take a sip of Nitro Cold Brew, and thanks to its rich and creamy taste, assume it comes with a decent amount of calories or fat. But the nitrogen gas in Nitro Cold Brew actually doesn’t add or take away anything nutritionally; it only affects the drink’s texture.
So Nitro Cold Brew is actually the same, nutritionally speaking, as the signature Cold Brew at Starbucks, which means it’s a very low-calorie Starbucks option. A grande size Nitro Cold Brew is just 5 calories, with zero fat and zero sugar.
However, even though a Nitro Cold Brew may taste more mild and less bitter, it’s actually a little stronger in terms of caffeine. A grande Cold Brew has 205 mg of caffeine, while a grande Nitro Cold Brew has 280 mg (although these are approximate values according to Starbucks).
Is Nitro Cold Brew sweetened?
While Nitro Cold Brew tastes a little sweeter than Starbucks signature cold brew and some of their other black coffee drinks, that sweetness is simply another natural effect of the gas and the drink itself does not contain sugar or any added sweeteners.
However, you can order a Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew, which comes topped with a dollop of Starbucks vanilla sweet cream that they make in house (which is a blend of milk, heavy cream, and vanilla syrup). And you can also order the Nitro Cold Brew with cold foam on top, like the Cinnamon Caramel Nitro Cold Brew, for even more sweetness and frothiness.
How is Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew different from Cold Brew?
Nitro Cold Brew is the same at its base as Starbucks signature Cold Brew beverage, with the addition of nitrogen gas. But there’s more that differentiates these two drinks at Starbucks.
The biggest difference is in the way Nitro Cold Brew is served at Starbucks. While a regular Cold Brew order will be poured over ice, Nitro Cold Brew is poured and served as is, with no ice at all; this is meant to maximize that smooth finish from the tap.
And if you want to enjoy a Nitro Cold Brew inside the store and order it “to stay”, most Starbucks locations will actually serve it in a pint glass rather than a plastic cup like all other iced beverages.
Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew is their signature Cold Brew base that’s infused with nitrogen gas as it’s poured from the tap. This imparts microbubbles and creates a thicker, creamier texture, but doesn’t change the beverage nutritionally speaking.
Yes, at Starbucks the Nitro Cold Brew actually contains more caffeine than the signature Cold Brew (280 mg versus 205 mg, respectively). So although Nitro Cold Brew is a less acidic coffee drink that tastes sweeter and milder than most regular cold brews, it’s actually a stronger coffee.
Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew has essentially the same nutritional makeup as Starbucks signature Cold Brew. A grande drink is 5 calories, zero grams of sugar, zero grams of fat, 10 mg of sodium, and 280 mg of caffeine. However, because of the nitrogen gas this coffee is a bit less acidic than other choices, which may be less harsh on some peoples’ stomachs.
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