Nitro Cafe Recipe

Steep coffee

Combine 1 cup coarsely ground coffee and 4 cups cold filtered water in a large jar or pitcher. Stir to ensure grounds are fully saturated.

Cover and refrigerate or leave at room temperature for 16 to 20 hours to steep for a cold brew concentrate.

After steeping, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean container. Press gently to extract liquid but avoid pushing through fine sediment. You should end up with about 3 to 3.5 cups of cold brew concentrate.

Store concentrate refrigerated if not using immediately. Use 1 cup of this concentrate for the Martini recipe below.

Combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Stir until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture comes to a gentle simmer, about 3 to 5 minutes. Do not boil vigorously.

Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature, then transfer to a bottle or jar and refrigerate. Syrup will keep for up to 2 weeks.

Chill a martini glass in the freezer (or fill with ice water while you prepare the cocktail).

In a cocktail shaker, add 1 cup cold brew concentrate, 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup, 2 oz vodka, 1 oz coffee liqueur and 1 cup ice. If you prefer a creamier top, add 1 oz heavy cream.

Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker becomes frosty and the mixture is well chilled. If you have a nitro tap or handheld nitro device (e.g., small whipped-cream charger and nitro infuser) you can skip shaking and instead assemble the liquid cold and charge as described below.

If using shaker: Double strain the cocktail into the chilled martini glass to remove ice shards and ensure a clean pour.

If using a nitro infuser: Combine the cold brew concentrate, vanilla syrup, vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream (if using) in the infuser canister. Charge with one N2O cartridge according to the manufacturer's instructions, shake gently, allow the gas to fully integrate (about 20–30 seconds), then carefully release pressure and dispense into the chilled martini glass. The nitro will create a silky, cascading crema and a thick foam head reminiscent of a nitro coffee.

Allow the crema to settle for 10–20 seconds for the best visual effect.

Float 3 coffee beans on top of the foam as a garnish.

Serve immediately. Stir gently before sipping if you prefer a uniformly mixed drink; otherwise enjoy layered crema then coffee.