Wine and beer take the spotlight when talking about fermented drinks, but kombucha, that is, fermented tea, has recently been gaining popularity. Fermentation is traditionally used to increase a beverage’s alcohol content, but it also creates a concoction full of helpful probiotics and bacteria.
It is natural to wonder if you can ferment coffee, and the simple answer is yes! Fermented coffee is similar to fermented tea, and many coffee companies are experimenting with coffee kombucha. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about fermented coffee. We cover what fermented coffee is, who should try it, and some of the health benefits. Let’s get started!
What Is Fermentation?
Don’t worry—we will not turn this into a science class, but it is important to understand what fermentation is generically before we can meaningfully talk about fermented coffee.
Fermentation is the process of breaking down sugar used by yeast and other bacteria as a food source. As the yeast feeds on sugar, it produces alcohol as a byproduct. The longer the fermentation process runs, the less sweet the resulting water will be and the higher the alcohol content. Interestingly, fermentation is an autoregulating process since some forms of yeast cannot survive above a certain threshold of alcohol concentration. Brewers use this fact to control the alcohol content of beer reliably and consistently.
What is Fermented Coffee?
So, where does coffee enter the picture? When coffee cherries are harvested and the beans prepared, a key part of the process is fermentation. Traditionally, coffee cherries were naturally processed and allowed to dry in the sun with the coffee cherry fully intact. During the drying phase, fermentation occurs naturally and imparts sugary sweet flavors to the beans. In modern coffee farming, it is more common to completely remove the coffee cherry and induce fermentation artificially by soaking the beans in water. This type of fermentation is an essential element of coffee production, but not what most people mean when they talk about fermented coffee.
When we say fermented coffee, we’re referring to fermenting brewed coffee, akin to how wine is sort of like fermented grape juice (we apologize to any wine experts for the oversimplification). Fermenting coffee after brewing makes a kombucha-like drink that most people creatively call “coffee kombucha.”
How Does Coffee Kombucha Taste?
Fermenting brewed coffee produces a drink with many similarities to traditional kombucha made with tea. Coffee kombucha has a tangy quality to it, with a velvety smooth mouthfeel, surprisingly low acidity, and a tiny bit of carbonation-like bite.
Much like kombucha made with black or green tea, coffee kombucha retains most of the flavor from the brewed coffee base. We tend to like medium roasts for coffee kombucha, but light roasts also work well if you can get the extraction right. Dark roasts aren’t the best choice for fermented coffee since the bold flavors can easily overpower the more subtle effects of fermentation.
How to Make Fermented Coffee at Home
Equipment
- Glass or ceramic container
- Coffee filter or cloth
- Rubber band
Ingredients
- 2 quarts brewed coffee
- ½ cup sugar
- Kombucha SCOBY
Instructions
- In a non-porous container—glass or ceramic is a good choice—combine 2 quarts of freshly-brewed hot coffee with ½ cup of sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
- Add the SCOBY and cover the container with a coffee filter or cloth. Make sure the container is tightly sealed by securing the cover with a rubber band.
- Leave the mixture at room temperature out of direct sunlight for at least 7 days. Be sure to monitor the kombucha for signs of rancidity daily.
- After 7 days, taste small amounts of the kombucha through a straw once per day until you reach your desired taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Conclusion
Fermentation has always been an essential part of coffee processing but fermenting brewed coffee is less common and unfamiliar to most people. In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of coffee kombucha, and many coffee companies are experimenting with producing fermented coffee.
Fermented coffee has a unique taste, and making your own is a fun weekend project. Luckily, it’s not hard to make coffee kombucha, and we hope our simple recipe is enough to pique your interest and inspire you to try it out for yourself.
- SEE ALSO: What is Coffee Beer? Is It Worth Trying?
Featured Image Credit: Fotema, Shutterstock
