Cold Brew is a type of brewing method that can grown a lot in popularity lately. It’s a refreshing and smooth cup of iced coffee that is enjoyed around the year.
The only problem with Cold Brew as a coffee brewing method is that it takes a long time to prepare. Traditionally, cold brew needs to steep anywhere between 8 hours to 24 hours.
A single serve espresso and coffee machine, like Nespresso, offers the convenience of instantly brewed cup of coffee with a press of a button.
So the question here, can you make cold brew with Nespresso to help speed up the brewing process to a few minutes rather than hours?
The quick answer is yes! Nespresso can make cold brew coffee. BUT, it’s important to keep reading to understand Which Nespresso machine can make cold brew, and how does Nespresso make cold brew coffee.
How Does Cold Brew Work on Nespresso?
As you already know, Nespresso is a pod espresso and coffee machine. So how does Nespresso make cold brew?
This Nespresso Vertuo Pod does a 12 oz serving size of cold brew coffee with a press of a button.
How does Nespresso Cold Brew work?
Your Nespresso Vertuo will automatically detect that you have inserted the Cold Brew pod and will adjust parameters accordingly. The machine will start by brewing hot to extract all the flavor, but will start to cool down as it brews the rest of the coffee to give you that distinct smooth cold brew taste.
When brewing the Cold Brew Nespresso Vertuo pod, Nespresso recommends that you fill your water reservoir with cool (below 10°C / 50F) water and add ice to your glass so the coffee brews over ice.
Which Nespresso Machine Can Make Cold Brew Coffee?
Let’s start with the important question here: if you already have a Nespresso machine, can it make cold brew coffee? Or if you’re shopping for a new Nespresso machine, which one should you choose?
Nespresso Cold Brew Machine
Nespresso has a Cold Brew pod that works exclusively with these following machines:
- Nespresso Vertuo Next
- Nespresso Vertuo Pop
- Nespresso Vertuo Creatista
- Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima
So if you have an older model of Nespresso Vertuo, Cold brew pod won’t work.
Nespresso Cold Brew Pods
As of the time of writing this post, Nespresso has one Cold Brew pod only. It is called Cold Brew Pod Intense and it’s a blend of South American coffees that is split roasted. Which means, it has a ratio of lightly roasted grounds blended with darker roasts.
How To Make Cold Brew with Nespresso Vertuo
To make Cold Brew coffee using Nespresso Vertuo, you need to two things:
- Nespresso Cold Brew Pod
- A compatible Nespresso Vertuo machine
Nespresso Cold Brew Instructions
Brewing a Cold Brew Vertuo pod is easy and simple.
1- Fill the water reservoir with cool, chilled water. Some Nespresso associates will also tell you that you can add water IN the water reservoir (but only when brewing a cold brew pod!)
2- Add ice to a tall cup and place it under the Nespresso machine spout.
3- Insert the Cold Brew pod, and hit brew.
That’s it! Your Nespresso will do the rest for you.
You’ll notice that the coffee will first come out hot, then it will start to come out to the same temperature as the water you added in the reservoir because at that point your Nespresso will bypass the heating element.
Nespresso Cold Brew Not Working
The only reason your Nespresso Vertuo wont’ brew the Cold Brew Intense pod is because you’re using a non-compatible Vertuo machine.
If you’re trying to brew the Cold Brew pod using: Nespresso Vertuo Plus, Vertuo, Evoluo… The pod will not work.
Unfortunately, you need a newer Nespresso Vertuo like Vertuo Next, Pop, or Vertuo Creatista/Lattissima. Possibly any future releases from Nespresso Vertuo will work, too.
Can Nespresso Make Cold Espresso or Coffee?
No, Nespresso machines (Vertuo or Original) can’t brew cold espresso or coffee.
The only exception is the Cold Brew pod.
Other than that, even iced coffee pods like Ice Forte, Ice Leggero, Freddo Intenso, Freddo Delicato… they all brew hot.
Is Nespresso Good For Iced Coffee?
If all Nespresso pods, even the ones for Iced coffee, brew hot, then is a Nespresso machine a good choice for Iced coffee? Yes, absolutely!
Coffee or espresso can’t be brewed cold. Not quickly anyway. That’s a scientific fact.
This is why Cold brew usually takes up to 24 hours to extract, because using cold water to brew the coffee grounds requires a long time to extract flavor.
To make iced coffee using Nespresso, you brew your coffee hot then add in the ice and cold milk, if you want.
That’s how Iced coffee is made even in your favorite coffee houses. Coffee and Espresso never comes out cold from the machine. Instead, they add in hot coffee on top of the iced ingredients.
