Starbucks introduced Nitro Cold Brew in its U.S. stores in 2016.
Nitro Cold Brew is cold-brewed coffee infused with nitrogen as it is poured. The gas gives the drink a creamy texture, a cascading visual effect, and a smooth mouthfeel without making it a dairy beverage. Starbucks began testing the product before expanding it to many U.S. locations in 2016.
Nitro Cold Brew is related to, but not identical with, ordinary cold brew. Cold brew refers to the brewing method, in which coffee grounds steep in cool water for an extended period. Nitro describes the later nitrogenation and serving process.
A frequent confusion is with Starbucks’ nationwide cold-brew rollout, which happened earlier. Nitro Cold Brew was a later product development built on the popularity of cold coffee.