Although most cafés still rely on bulky kegs and long brew times, an Arizona company says there’s an easier way. NitroBrew, based in Tempe, has rolled out a small box called the Brix that mixes cold coffee concentrate with water and pumps in nitrogen right when a cup is poured.
The unit sits inside a fridge or under a counter and runs without plugs or heavy kegs. Owners hook a bag of concentrate, a water line, and a tank of nitrogen to three inlets, then twist two knobs to set how strong and how creamy the drink should be. The coffee shoots out of a stout faucet already cold, bubbly, and ready to drink.
Nitro coffee benefits include a smooth feel and a light natural sweetness even though no sugar is added. The tiny bubbles give the drink a silky top that looks like a draft beer. Brewing techniques that once needed 24-hour cold steeping and large metal kegs are now cut to moments. The Brix dilutes the concentrate on the spot, so cafés don’t need to make gallons ahead or guess how much will sell.
No sugar, no waiting—just silky nitro coffee that pours in moments, not days.
A small air compressor pushes the liquids, so the system works without electricity as long as the water pressure stays above 50 psi. The device costs about $2,000 on NitroBrew’s site. It fits in food trucks, office lobbies, farmers market carts, or home kitchens.
Bars can switch between still cold brew and nitro by turning one knob. No extra tanks or pumps are required, and the whole setup weighs less than a single keg. The firm says the Brix keeps concentrate fresh with gentle nitrogen pressure at just five pounds per square inch.
Compared to older gear, the new unit skips long prep and heavy lifting. Traditional nitro rigs need big kegs, gas cylinders, and chillers that take up floor space and raise power bills.
The Brix replaces all of that with a lunchbox-sized box and a few hoses.
