The coffee that looks like beer: Nitro cold brew

Nitro cold brew is coffee infused with nitrogen gas, creating a smooth, creamy texture, resembling the look and mouth feel of a dark beer. It has particular appeal when guests see it being dispensed from an in-store tap.

The cold brew process, which involves steeping coffee for hours in cold or room temperature water, results in a less bitter and sweeter tasting brew without added sugar. The nitrogenation adds to that effect.

Although in the early days of the nitro cold brew trend the drink was often dispensed in coffeehouses, it’s now sold frequently in cans, making for a nice ready-to-drink option that consumers have shown willingness to pay extra for.

Market research firm Datassential reports that nitro cold brew is found on 1.3% of U.S. menus, up 56% over the past four years.

Click through the gallery for more on this week’s flavor of the week and see how one chain is using the ingredient on its menu.