Nitro Coffee is about to take Karachi by storm!

Even though Pakistan is a predominantly tea drinking market, the Pakistani youth has embraced coffee and that can be seen with the way cafesÂ have beenÂ springing up everywhere. The very aroma that rises from a cafe, that of a freshly brewed mature blend, is an olfactory delight for coffee aficionados. The problem arises on two accounts: one, in summer when a cappuccino gets too hot to handle and two, in people who are lactose intolerant and don’t have a palette forÂ coffee black. Well, enter Nitro Coffee and the ideal solution. The very first taste of Nitro Coffee is being introduced in Pakistan and once Cafe FLOC (For the Love of Coffee) opens in Zamzama Lane 10, it will takeÂ Karachi by storm!

This is the first time Pakistan will be seeing Nitro Coffee here as it is hasn’t reached this side of the globe just yet. For those of us who are still new to the concept, let us explain what Nitro Coffee is and what edge it has onÂ regular coffee. Nitro Coffee was created byÂ Nate Armbrust, a food scientist at Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Portland, Oregon, who wanted to experiment with coffee by pumping nitrogen gas into the brew. The experiment worked; he produced cold coffee that became creamier and richer than regular old cold brew.

There are many benefits to drinking Nitro Coffee. Firstly, the nitrogen infusion has a remarkable effect on the texture and taste. It gives the brew a thicker, more velvety texture.Â Also, it’s creamy even when served black. This is really helpful for people who are lactose intolerant and cannot consume coffee with copious amounts of milk. Now black coffee can will taste just as creamy and frothy as a regular coffee.

I got a tasting on Friday night and went through several flavoured cups before I recognised my favourite. Poured from a keg as demonstrated below, the coffee was served in tall stemmed glasses and came in flavours including vanilla, mocha, caramel and even coconut and peanut butter. While the latter were experimental and may be an acquired taste, I had an immediate taste for vanilla and caramel. It was cold, creamy and divine.

Nitro Coffee is an initiative taken by Fouzia Siddiqui, a 29 year old Chartered Accountant and SAP consultant by profession, who decided to pursue her dream and love for good food and exceptional coffee. She dropped her corporate career andÂ conceptualised FLOCÂ as “a place for coffee and food lovers with not just quality par excellence but a dine in experience for people who aspire creativity and productivity.”

“We wanted to work on products that would be appreciated on a global scale,” she said. “While studying the top tier speciality coffee brands in North America and Europe, we discovered cold brew methods and Nitrogen infused coffee.Â We experimented using cream whippers to experience the taste and then decided to import the equipment once we realised how great it was.”

– FLOC opens later this month.Â