The Carbotek Nitro Dispenser is a ready-to-use device designed for tapping nitrogenated and cooled beverages, particularly cold-brew coffee. It is intended for indoor use in various settings, including small shops, convenience stores, kiosks, bars, restaurants, staff kitchen areas, offices, hotels, motels, and private households. The device is specifically approved for this application and is not suitable for cooling hot liquids, unfiltered liquids, chemicals, or similar substances.
Function Description:
The Nitro Dispenser integrates several functions into one unit:
- Liquid Suction: It suctions filtered liquids (e.g., cold-brew coffee) from either an unpressurized or pressurized container, including bag-in-box systems.
- Liquid Cooling: The liquid is cooled within the dispenser's cooling block.
- Nitrogenation: Filtered compressed air is injected into the liquid. The atmospheric nitrogen (78%) in the air creates the cascading nitro effect. A built-in compressor is used for this purpose; there is no embedded nitrogen generator.
- Blending: The liquid and gas are blended in the jet-nozzle spout of the tap.
- Dispensing: It dispenses nitrogenated beverages in the typical Guinness style.
- Toggle Switch: A toggle switch allows the operator to switch between nitrogenated and non-nitrogenated drinks.
- Temperature Control: The device features outlet temperature control.
Important Technical Specifications:
The dispenser is available in 1-tap (Model: ND-20-01-01) and 2-tap (Model: ND-20-02-01) versions, with identical outside dimensions.
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 53.0 x 19.5 x 55.0 cm (including tap handle).
- Body depth (A): 40.5 cm
- Drip tray (B): 14.5 cm
- Tap (C): 10.5 cm
- Total depth (A+B): 55.0 cm
- Body height (D): 37.5 cm
- Handle height (E): 4.5 cm
- Drip tray (F1): 1.5 cm
- Max glass height (F2): 20.5 cm
- Above tap (F3): 5.0 cm
- Tap with handle (F4): 20.5 cm
- Total height (D-F3+F4): 53.0 cm
- Width (G): 17.5 cm
- Beverages: Cold-Brew-Coffee, Tea, Coffee-Cocktails.
- Electrical Specifications:
- Power supply: 220 - 240 V~ / 50 Hz
- Wattage / amperage: 408 W / 1.7 A
- Electrical connection: C14 socket (power cable not included in standard scope of delivery).
- Refrigerant: R290, 47g (Propane, an extremely flammable gas).
- Cooler Type: Dry.
- Climatic Class: N.
- Liquid Volume Inside Dispenser:
- 1-tap: 1 x 370 ml
- 2-tap: 2 x 300 ml
- Cooling Effect (non-stop dispense):
- 1-tap: Δ 7.5°C (at 0.6 l/min)
- 2-tap: Δ 7.0°C (at 0.6 l/min)
- Continuous dispensing is possible until an ambient temperature of 30°C. Between 30°C and 35°C, non-stop dispensing is possible for up to 30 minutes, after which a 15-minute recovery break is needed.
- Temperature Setup: Adjustable from 5.0–6.0°C (at level 7 on the front scale) for standard beverages. For alcoholic drinks like Espresso Martini, it can be adjusted to lower temperatures, e.g., -1°C at level 7.
- Nitrogen Source: Filtered compressed air (78% nitrogen).
- Jet Nozzle: Standard 2-hole disc (flowrate 0.6 l/min). An optional 5-hole disc (flowrate 1.2 l/min) is available.
- Gas Amount Control: No, default factory setup.
- Particle Air-Filter: Yes.
- Noise Emission Level: <= 64 dB.
- Warranty: 2 years.
Usage Features:
- Setup: The unit should be placed upright on a horizontal, level, dry, and clean surface. A free distance of 5 cm is required around lateral openings, behind, and above the dispenser for air circulation. The front with the tap outlet must remain open.
- Temperature Adjustment: The target dispense temperature is adjusted via a thermostat knob on the front panel, ranging from 17°C (position 0) to 5°C (+/-1°C) (position 7). Turning clockwise makes it colder. For coffee-spirit blends, the range is -1°C to 11°C. During cleaning, the unit must be set to level 4 or lower to prevent freezing.
- Nitro On/Off Toggle-Switch: This switch allows the user to select between nitrogenated (switch UP) and non-nitrogenated (switch DOWN) dispensing. When switching from NITRO-ON to NITRO-OFF, approximately 50 ml of coffee needs to be dispensed in small batches to flush out residual nitro gas.
- Filtration: The coffee must be filtered with a fineness of at least 100 µm (100 micron). A filter adapter with a 100 µm particle filter is installed in the coffee intake line to prevent clogging and damage to the internal pump.
- Dispenser Extensions:
- Tap Extension: Allows the dispenser to be operated undercounter with dispensing via a tower, freeing up counter space. Various 1 or 2 tap tower designs (rod or clamp-to-bar fixation, black or silver) are available.
- Mix-Box Module: An add-on module for 1-tap dispensers, placed below the unit. It functions as a postmix device, blending coffee concentrate and water. The mixing ratio is steplessly adjustable from 1:1 to 50:1. Water supply can be pressurized from the net or unpressurized from a canister.
Maintenance Features:
- Product Shelf Life: The shelf life of the product after connection depends on factors like product shelf life before connection, connection spout system, ambient/cooled environment, tapping frequency, and cleaning frequency.
- Bag-In-Box Coffee: With flash-pasteurized, aseptically packed cold-brew coffee in a bag-in-box and a minimum daily tapping frequency of 1.0 L, a shelf life of 1 week is achievable. Weekly chemical cleaning without intermediate rinsing is recommended.
- Container Coffee: If coffee is prepared on-site and stored in a vessel with air contact at ambient temperature, it should not be used for more than two days. Flushing with water every second day and weekly chemical cleaning is recommended. Placing the container in a mini-fridge can extend shelf life by 1-2 days.
- Break Times:
- Keep cooling on "max cold" during dispense breaks.
- If breaks exceed 2 days, disconnect coffee and flush with fresh water before restarting.
- Do not wait longer than 3 days to remove product and flush, to prevent microbial growth and clogging.
- For breaks longer than 4 days, follow the "Decommissioning" steps.
- Always check coffee quality with a small sip after a break.
- Chemical Cleaning: Recommended every 7 days using "DESANA MAX CL" cleaning powder for reliable biofilm removal. A cleaning protocol should be maintained.
- Rinsing with Water: Fill canister(s) halfway with water (2.5 L), shake, connect to dispenser, and open taps until water comes out.
- Air Compressor Off/Pressure Release: Switch off the "PRESSURE" button and open taps to release system pressure.
- Check Filters and Nozzles:
- Take out and flush the intake filter.
- Unscrew and check the jet-nozzle upper part (strainer) and bottom part (disc holes) for particles, then flush.
- Unscrew and check the tap valve(s) for particles, then flush.
- Prepare Cleaning Solution: Mix 4.5 L warm water with 1 pack of DESANA MAX CL powder. Connect canister(s) to the dispenser and flush until the canister is half empty. Wait 10 minutes, then flush the rest.
- Final Rinse: Fill canister(s) halfway with water (2.5 L), shake, and keep taps open until only air comes out of the nozzle.
- Preventive Maintenance:
- Vacuum Valve Rinse: Every 4 weeks, take out and rinse the silicone vacuum valve at the canister lid with warm water to remove coffee or beverage residuals that could cause clogging.
- Dust Removal: Every 6 months, blow away dust from the condenser grid at the backside with compressed air.
- Decommissioning:
- Perform chemical cleaning if storing for a long time.
- Flush with clean water.
- Let the dispenser suck in air to empty the internal liquid buffer (approx. 400ml). Do not disconnect the intake line, as the check valve prevents air suction.
- Disconnect the intake line and remove the power plug.
- Pull the tap handle to release internal pressure.
- Unscrew the nozzle and store it in the accessory box to allow it to dry.
- Store the dispenser in a dry environment between 0°C and 60°C, protected from rain and dust.