REVIEW: Nitro Cycle
Final Score: 90%
Has this ever happened to you:
You’re riding your bike, cruising down some standard street. Then, suddenly and quite inexplicably, you think: man, this bike could really use a nitro cold brew coffee contraption.
As crazy as it may seem, that series of events has happened- here in Monterey Bay! Good thing too, for it has brought us the quirky and delicious NitroCycle- a bike-powered caffeine dealer. Since 2019, NitroCycle has peddled (hehe) a menu dominated by nitro-infused coffee. Described as “a labor of love” with a special focus on sustainability, this traveling cafe has captured a devoted following who keeps up with the bike’s planned route and regular stops.
I caught the NitroCycle at the Carmel-by-the-Sea farmers market the other day, and we must ask the inescapable question: how’d it do?
1. Location: 4.9/5
I mean… it’s a traveling caffeine dealer! Without a brick-and-mortar location, this bike is free to wander about and reach a wide array of nitro enthusiasts like myself. Typically, you can find the bike at the Thursday Carmel-by-the-Sea farmers market, the Everyone’s Harvest market in Pacific Grove, and the rec trail in Monterey. Additionally, you may find some nitro at other special markets on the peninsula, and it can be booked for private events. Essentially, all this flexibility and multiple locations constitutes a high score!
2. Aesthetic/vibe: 9.6/10
There’s no vibes, it’s a bike. I must say, it’s quite visually appealing, with a rad and unique wooden menu, big logo, and clean bar setup. All in all, it’s an impressive and beautiful contraption. I still can’t believe this is a thing, and the fact that it is executed so well!
3. Coffee options: 9/10
This is not the place you should go if you want a boring and stale drip coffee. For that, you are going to have to go to a different bike with an espresso bar. The menu here is relatively extensive. Notable options include the nitro flash brew coffee, dirty chata, nitro matcha latte, and nitro chai oat milk latte. Specialty drinks rotate in and out of the menu. Pretty rad!
4. Actual coffee: 20/20
My order was the iced nitro oat milk latte, and HOLY SHIT it was excellent!!! It had creamy foam on the top, a perfect amount of sweetness that seemed natural and a nice balance overall. This was so good. I almost died and went to heaven.
5. Prices: 6/10
My latte was about $8, which is ouchie. This is absolutely worth it for an occasional treat, and the novelty and one-of-a-kind product would justify a higher price, but… ouch. I forgive you, lil bike.
6. Cups: 4.5/5
NitroCycle has a cool gig where you can buy a glass jar from them, and you can bring the jar whenever you want a caffeine fill up for a discount! I also bought a NitroCycle sticker and slapped it on the jar, so it’s like a logo. Creativity and sustainability off the charts. I love this gig. Otherwise, you can just get their regular compostable cups that will have a stickered logo. Fair enough.
FINAL SCORE: 54/60= 90%
This bike has garnered a nice following recently, and for good reason. The drinks are reliably perfect and unlike anything you can get elsewhere, plus it’s a bike… slinging coffee. The full setup featuring nitro cold brew on tap is a feast for the eyes, and I wonder how people come to think of this stuff. Rad bike, rad coffee, rad life.
See y’all next time!
