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What is Coffee Wine? (And Should You Try It?)

what is coffee wine

If you love bold, delicious coffee and smooth, complex wine, we have great news for you! There is a new drink on the market that combines these two delicious drinks. But unlike classic coffee cocktails like Irish coffee or espresso martinis, this alcoholic coffee drink isn’t mixed by your bartender.

Keep reading to learn all about coffee wine, from how it’s made to what it tastes like. You won’t believe your eyes!

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What is coffee wine?

Many of us think of grapes when we think of wine. But you can make wine out of all kinds of fruit, including strawberries, peaches, coconuts, and even pineapples. The base of wine is just fermented sugar — like all kinds of alcohol — and the fruit adds flavor.

coffee wine with croissant and fruit
Image Credit: ngol ali, Unsplash

The drink we are talking about today is much crazier than any classic wine. It turns out that you can make wine out of brewed coffee, (almost) no fruit required. Brewers start with ground coffee, sugar, and water. Once the sweetened cold brew is ready, they add a variety of yeasts, enzymes, and acids. Leave the wine to ferment and then age for a few months and you’ll have coffee wine!

What does coffee wine taste like?

Coffee wine tastes as much as you’d expect. There are distinct coffee flavors like you’d find in a glass of cold brew, and there are also fruity, complex notes from the fermentation. You might not want to serve it alongside dinner, but it makes an excellent dessert wine.

dessert coffee wine
Image Credit: Kelly Visel, Unsplash

What’s the history of coffee and wine?

Coffee wine comes from an area north of Manila in the Philippines. The country is famous for its coffee — local farmers have been growing coffee plants since the 1700s. More recently, coffee companies have begun commercially bottling wine made from local coffee beans. If you’re in the Philippines, you may be able to find coffee wine on the shelves, along with a lot of other interesting wines!

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Can you make coffee wine at home?

The short answer is yes, you can make coffee wine. But this process isn’t as simple as infusing vodka or flavoring your cold brew. You’ll need a few unusual ingredients like tannin powder and yeast nutrients. And the process takes about a year! But if you have a lot of winemaking experience, why not give it a try? You can find a good starter recipe here.

If you don’t want to try your hand at making coffee wine, a few companies are selling it! Apothic Wines offers a cold brew-infused wine, and you may be able to find other brands at your local liquor store.

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Final Thoughts

Coffee wine is an innovative form of alcohol combining two of the world’s most popular drinks. With all the bold flavors of cold brew and the fruity complexity of wine, this drink is sure to surprise and delight your taste buds! You can try your hand at home brewing or look for it at your local stores. Who knew that you could make wine out of coffee?

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Kate MacDonnell

Kate is a lifelong coffee enthusiast and homebrewer who enjoys writing for coffee websites and sampling every kind of coffee known to man. She’s tried unusual coffees from all over the world and owns an unhealthy amount of coffee gear.

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