Starbucks baristas spill the beans on their favorite Nitro Cold Brew drinks
Starbucks baristas share their best secrets for customizing Nitro Cold Brew coffee.
Updated 7/26/2019
Starbucks Cold Brew is known for its smooth texture and naturally sweet flavor, slow-steeped to be served cold without a trace of bitterness. Add nitrogen and it gets even better, producing a cold, creamy iced coffee (without the need for actual ice) that’s delicious straight from the tap with just five calories and no added sugar.
It’s no wonder that Nitro Cold Brew has quickly bubbled up to one of the top spots in the Starbucks drinks menu ever since it was first introduced in 2016, soon joined by Nitro Cold Brew with Sweet Cream and Nitro Cold Brew with Cascara Cold Foam. Starbucks added taps to 80 percent of stores in the United States, – as well as taps in Canada, China and the United Kingdom – with plans to expand to all U.S. company-operated stores by the end of 2019.
Now Starbucks baristas are spilling the beans on their favorite Nitro hacks. (Pro tip: many of these customizations are available using Mobile Order and Pay with the Starbucks mobile app.)
A splash of flavor
Adding a pump or two of syrup is one of the easiest ways to mix up your Nitro routine. For a little sweetness, try caramel or vanilla syrup. Wednesday Breslin in Cincinnati likes to add a touch of caramel syrup to bring out the cold brew roast notes. For a nutty taste, try a pump of toffee nut or hazelnut syrup.
Just add milk
Boost Nitro’s creamy texture with a splash of dairy or your favorite plant-based alternative. Heather Weizsacker in Seattle likes to add a half-pump of mocha sauce and a splash of coconut milk to the base of the cup before pouring in the Nitro Cold Brew and giving it a swirl for a cool flavor like a chocolate milkshake.
Sweet & spicy
Adding a couple pumps of chai syrup is a favorite among baristas for a sweet and spicy twist on Nitro. Brittany Chorney from Odessa, Texas, tops her chai-infused Nitro with a sweetened cold foam.
Top it off
Although Nitro Cold Brew already has a frothy cap of micro-bubbles, add a little something special with a creamy layer of cold foam. Or for a special treat, cap with a swirl of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel or mocha.
Topsy turvy
Elodie Metz in Plattsburgh, N.Y., likes to start with a two pumps of vanilla and some whipped cream, and then she pours the Nitro. Trista Papen from Portland, Ore., also flips the script with her recipe – which starts with a cold foam made with sweet cream and vanilla bean on the bottom of the cup with Nitro Cold Brew poured on top.
Where to find Nitro
Looking for Nitro in your neighborhood? Starbucks.com’s store locator can help. Just enter your ZIP code and select Nitro Cold Brew under “Amenities.” You can also check on the Starbucks App under “Stores.
