Equipping for Nitro Coffee

10%

of consumers occasionally order nitro coffee on weekdays (up from 3% in 2017).

Source: Technomic 2019 Breakfast Consumer Trend Report

Concentrate Models

Certain nitro coffee dispensing systems use a concentrate that comes in a ready-to-use form, which is ideal if operators don’t want to brew their own coffee on-site. Sometimes called bag-in-box models, these systems are considered plug-and-play, once connected to a gas source. They are typically used in operations with multiple locations that need to produce consistent nitro brew reliably with maximum ease of use. With these models, pumps mix coffee concentrate with water at a specific ratio inside the unit before dispensing it.

Infusion Kits

Operators also can use infusion kits to transform existing keg and tap systems into nitro coffee systems. With this setup, operators can use kegs they’ve filled with coffee brewed on-site, which allows them to have more control over the beans and steeping recipe. They also can purchase ready-to-use kegs of cold brew.

In the past, cold brew kegs were pumped with nitrogen and shaken to promote infusion. This labor-intensive procedure initially produced the desired nitro cold brew, but the keg’s infusion eventually dissipated and had to be repeated. Infusion kits, however, nitrogenate the coffee before it’s pushed to the tap. These small boxes with in-lines and out-lines feed the nitro gas into the kit’s box, then push the coffee through the same box, nitrogenating it before it travels to the tap.

Dedicated Cold Brew Systems

Instead of retrofitting an existing keg and tap system or buying the equipment piecemeal, operators can choose dedicated keg-style nitro coffee systems. These systems use in-line nitrogenation to infuse beverages at the dispensing point for ease of use and more reliable results. These units, many of which are in their second generation of cold-brew infusion technology, offer a turnkey option when brewing coffee or producing other infused beverages on-site.