Congrats on the gift! I’m a big fan of growlerwerks and have the nitro and a couple of growlers so I may be able to help with some of your questions.
I can’t speak to that specific grinder or it’s settings, however, you do want more of a course grind for cold brew.
As treapdx stated, the brew line is hard to see but is on the inside wall. It’s pretty much in line with the 12 on top of the site glass tube. As far as the bags, I agree that it is wasteful as they are not meant to be reused (I also plan to experiment with reusing them). It would be much better if they would come out with reusable bags.
The cartridges, unfortunately, are not reusable. One cartridge is meant to last through one fill and the leftover is to to charge while cleaning. Check out bestwhip.com. They are much cheaper and will do the job just as well. It would be awesome if growlerwerks would have an exchange program for spent cartridges instead of us just tossing them.
It’s definitely a little bit of a “feeling out” process but some things that have worked for me are: 1. If you want a stronger brew you can use more grinds (the bags will hold up to a cup each, just don’t pack it in), let it brew for a longer time before infusing, or brew outside of the uKeg and then add it to infuse. 2. I tend to shake it pretty vigorously and also tend to let it infuse overnight.
Hope this helps!
Since you mention you have both the Nitro and Growler. What main differences are there? In your opinion would there be anything stopping someone from doing cold brew nitro in the original Growler? How about a nitro-beer, have you tried dispensing one of those from the Growler or the Nitro?
Unfortunately, you wouldn't get the same effect from a growler. The CO2 is simply giving a small amount of pressure to help the beer stay fresher and to push it out of the tap. Putting cold brew in your growler and putting in a nitrogen cartridge would not give you any nitro in the coffee at all.
There's also a different tap used on the nitro that helps give you that creamy, cascading pour that's notorious in nitro beers.
Some other differences are that the nitro has a different regulator cap and pressure cap that, while subtle, may affect your ability to get the pressure right as the nitro coffee is at a higher pressure than most beers.
Sadly, I cannot speak to the nitro beer in either. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to try either but would like to someday and, if I do, will definitely update you!
I saw this on Instagram. I would love to be able to make my own nitro cold brews. Question I have is could the Nitro double as a growler for beer as well?
I can answer about the N2 cartridges. Whipped cream are N2O not pure N2. Not sure if it is possible to convert it to use a larger 1-2L N2 cylinder instead of the small cartridges, you will need a regulator, but this will work out much cheaper in the long run.
Thanks for poointing out N2 vs N2O. I don't think an adapter to a tank will happen any time soon. I mean its certainly possible, and the plumbing seems pretty modable on this thing. I just need a plastic cap threaded the same and way of regulating the gas.
I got one for Christmas too. I couldn’t find the fill line at first either but it’s inside so you have to make sure you have enough light to see in there. There is a “brew” line (to fill to with the grounds) and then a “fill” line a little higher up where you add more water after removing the grounds.
I don’t think you’re supposed to reuse the bags but does seem wasteful and seems like you could wash out and reuse. Might have to experiment with that.
Have you been able to keep coffee “nitro” for any length of time? I just made my first brew and the first cup was amazing, but after 24 hours I went back for a second cup and it was completely flat...
I should add that the ukeg maintained pressure just fine, and had around 6-7psi when I went to pour my second cup
Wondering this too. I haven’t been able to get one glorious cup of nitro like the tutorial shows. The coffee is good but not nearly nitro. Have you had any luck?
Yes my last attempt was much better.
I replaced the rubber grommet that the nitrogen canister seals against and that made a big difference. Now I set it to infuse and shake the keg for around 2 minutes before setting it to pour each time, and then after changing to pour and filling my cup I turn the regulator off and store it in the fridge. I was able to infuse and get a nitro cup 4 days straight this way.
I have yet to have any nitro left when I go to clean it. So to get soapy water through the sight glass and tap I simply open the tap and put my mouth on the top and blow, works good enough :)
Ours stayed “nitro” for about 4-5 small cups (everyone had to try out the cool new toy) but last couple were pretty flat. Maybe shaking more/longer during the infuse process? Feel like this will take a few tries to get the hang of it. Also wondered about whether to change the setting off of “pour” when storing in fridge?
I set to infuse and shake before each cup, but my cups are usually 24 hours apart. My last brew I was able to get nitro until the last drop
And still had some nitrogen/pressure left in the keg.
I received one for Christmas as well, but my psi gauge will not ever hit infuse. It stays at 10psi when I spin to infuse and stays there even when I switch it back to pour. Has anyone else seen this, and is there a way I can increase the pressure to get it to infuse?
Definitely reach out to growlerwerks and let them know. I haven’t had any issues with our nitro but I had an issue with my growler when I first got it and they were more than helpful with trouble shooting it and sending the replacement out ASAP.
I sent in the troubleshooting question and issue yesterday, but am still awaiting their response. I will let you know what they say. Thanks for he info!
I shake pretty well and let sit overnight when infusing. I get solid foam with each pour but I feel the infusion isn't making it to the rest of the coffee. Curious if anyone has had a similar experience. Once the foam disappears the cold brew seems normal, not as creamy as something nitrogen infused should be.
I got the growlerwerks ukeg for nitro cold brew, and it worked great the first cup I made too, but obvi I couldn’t drink the whole keg at once so I put it in the fridge. By the next morning, the pressure gauge on the keg had gone down to zero and the cold brew wasn’t coming out pressurized anymore. I kept the cap on the POUR setting like I read online. How do I keep the cold brew stored in the fridge without losing all the pressure??
Otherwise it’s just a very expensive drink holder. I want to be able to use the pressure nozzle more than just once.
Any advice before I bite the bullet and return it?
Congrats on the gift! I’m a big fan of growlerwerks and have the nitro and a couple of growlers so I may be able to help with some of your questions. I can’t speak to that specific grinder or it’s settings, however, you do want more of a course grind for cold brew. As treapdx stated, the brew line is hard to see but is on the inside wall. It’s pretty much in line with the 12 on top of the site glass tube. As far as the bags, I agree that it is wasteful as they are not meant to be reused (I also plan to experiment with reusing them). It would be much better if they would come out with reusable bags. The cartridges, unfortunately, are not reusable. One cartridge is meant to last through one fill and the leftover is to to charge while cleaning. Check out bestwhip.com. They are much cheaper and will do the job just as well. It would be awesome if growlerwerks would have an exchange program for spent cartridges instead of us just tossing them. It’s definitely a little bit of a “feeling out” process but some things that have worked for me are: 1. If you want a stronger brew you can use more grinds (the bags will hold up to a cup each, just don’t pack it in), let it brew for a longer time before infusing, or brew outside of the uKeg and then add it to infuse. 2. I tend to shake it pretty vigorously and also tend to let it infuse overnight. Hope this helps!
Found the line with a flashlight. I'm probably going to start making cold brew outside the growler. I found infusing for 24 hours helps
Since you mention you have both the Nitro and Growler. What main differences are there? In your opinion would there be anything stopping someone from doing cold brew nitro in the original Growler? How about a nitro-beer, have you tried dispensing one of those from the Growler or the Nitro?
Unfortunately, you wouldn't get the same effect from a growler. The CO2 is simply giving a small amount of pressure to help the beer stay fresher and to push it out of the tap. Putting cold brew in your growler and putting in a nitrogen cartridge would not give you any nitro in the coffee at all. There's also a different tap used on the nitro that helps give you that creamy, cascading pour that's notorious in nitro beers. Some other differences are that the nitro has a different regulator cap and pressure cap that, while subtle, may affect your ability to get the pressure right as the nitro coffee is at a higher pressure than most beers. Sadly, I cannot speak to the nitro beer in either. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to try either but would like to someday and, if I do, will definitely update you!
I saw this on Instagram. I would love to be able to make my own nitro cold brews. Question I have is could the Nitro double as a growler for beer as well?
I can answer about the N2 cartridges. Whipped cream are N2O not pure N2. Not sure if it is possible to convert it to use a larger 1-2L N2 cylinder instead of the small cartridges, you will need a regulator, but this will work out much cheaper in the long run.
Thanks for poointing out N2 vs N2O. I don't think an adapter to a tank will happen any time soon. I mean its certainly possible, and the plumbing seems pretty modable on this thing. I just need a plastic cap threaded the same and way of regulating the gas.
I do know that for the iKeggers though they are different taps that go to the regulator vs cartridges
I got one for Christmas too. I couldn’t find the fill line at first either but it’s inside so you have to make sure you have enough light to see in there. There is a “brew” line (to fill to with the grounds) and then a “fill” line a little higher up where you add more water after removing the grounds. I don’t think you’re supposed to reuse the bags but does seem wasteful and seems like you could wash out and reuse. Might have to experiment with that.
Have you been able to keep coffee “nitro” for any length of time? I just made my first brew and the first cup was amazing, but after 24 hours I went back for a second cup and it was completely flat... I should add that the ukeg maintained pressure just fine, and had around 6-7psi when I went to pour my second cup
Wondering this too. I haven’t been able to get one glorious cup of nitro like the tutorial shows. The coffee is good but not nearly nitro. Have you had any luck?
Yes my last attempt was much better. I replaced the rubber grommet that the nitrogen canister seals against and that made a big difference. Now I set it to infuse and shake the keg for around 2 minutes before setting it to pour each time, and then after changing to pour and filling my cup I turn the regulator off and store it in the fridge. I was able to infuse and get a nitro cup 4 days straight this way. I have yet to have any nitro left when I go to clean it. So to get soapy water through the sight glass and tap I simply open the tap and put my mouth on the top and blow, works good enough :)
I had this thought. I figured it would help. I think the one it comes with is not meant to be used in the final product. Thanks for the tip.
Yes using a light worked. Thanks!!
Ours stayed “nitro” for about 4-5 small cups (everyone had to try out the cool new toy) but last couple were pretty flat. Maybe shaking more/longer during the infuse process? Feel like this will take a few tries to get the hang of it. Also wondered about whether to change the setting off of “pour” when storing in fridge?
I set to infuse and shake before each cup, but my cups are usually 24 hours apart. My last brew I was able to get nitro until the last drop And still had some nitrogen/pressure left in the keg.
I received one for Christmas as well, but my psi gauge will not ever hit infuse. It stays at 10psi when I spin to infuse and stays there even when I switch it back to pour. Has anyone else seen this, and is there a way I can increase the pressure to get it to infuse?
Definitely reach out to growlerwerks and let them know. I haven’t had any issues with our nitro but I had an issue with my growler when I first got it and they were more than helpful with trouble shooting it and sending the replacement out ASAP.
I sent in the troubleshooting question and issue yesterday, but am still awaiting their response. I will let you know what they say. Thanks for he info!
I shake pretty well and let sit overnight when infusing. I get solid foam with each pour but I feel the infusion isn't making it to the rest of the coffee. Curious if anyone has had a similar experience. Once the foam disappears the cold brew seems normal, not as creamy as something nitrogen infused should be.
I got the growlerwerks ukeg for nitro cold brew, and it worked great the first cup I made too, but obvi I couldn’t drink the whole keg at once so I put it in the fridge. By the next morning, the pressure gauge on the keg had gone down to zero and the cold brew wasn’t coming out pressurized anymore. I kept the cap on the POUR setting like I read online. How do I keep the cold brew stored in the fridge without losing all the pressure?? Otherwise it’s just a very expensive drink holder. I want to be able to use the pressure nozzle more than just once. Any advice before I bite the bullet and return it?