Have you ever encountered a recipe you’re doing that suddenly needs a coffee extract? Well, do you even know what that is? If not, you made it to the right place! So, let’s not only learn what a coffee extract is but also find out how we can make one ourselves!
What is a coffee extract?
To put it simply, coffee extract mixes roasted coffee beans with alcohol. It is supposed to be concentrated. Thus, it will come out strong, which is why it is utilized in cocktails and desserts. To make one, crush your coffee beans, add alcohol, mix and let that sit!
The alcohol in this mixture serves as the solvent to extract the trapped solids and irresistible essence. We recommend using alcohol with mild flavors not to overpower the flavor of the coffee.
Coffee fruit extract vs. coffee extract
Coffee fruit is the coffee bean’s housing that holds less caffeine. It’s also milder in taste but contains antioxidants and other health benefits. As the term implies, coffee fruit extract is just the concentrate derived from the whole fruit. On the other hand, coffee extract concentrates on roasted beans mixed with alcohol used for flavoring.
Coffee extract vs. coffee concentrate
We have discussed coffee extract, so let’s go straight to coffee concentrate. The coffee concentrate is made by brewing coffee grounds with water for longer than usual, typically up to 24 hours. This results in a concentrated brew mixed with water and ice and then named cold brew or cold coffee.
Brewing
Understanding extraction
No matter what method you use, the principle remains: grind the roasted coffee into small pieces, add water, and then extract. The order of flavor compound extraction is as follows: fats, acids, sugars, and plant fibers. Now let’s convert it to flavor and body perspective: sour/oily, sweet/syrupy, then bitter/thin.
Under | Ideal | Over |
---|---|---|
Sour | Sweet | Bitter |
Lacking Sweet | Ripe | Dry |
Salty | Transparent | Astringent |
Quick Finish | Complex Acidity | Hollow |
Finish | Empty |
Source by: Barista Hustle
Coffee aficionados typically describe espresso or brewed coffee as over-or under-extracted. Under-extracted means it was only able to reach the early stages of extraction. Thus, this results in a sour or sharp taste.
This is due to the water not having enough time to break down sugar. On the other end of the spectrum, over-extraction results in a bitter and thin cup because water has come to a point where it’s already extracting the plant fibers.
Understanding strength
Strength is the number of dissolved compounds in coffee rather than the caffeine content. For instance, filter coffee is about 1-2% dissolved coffee compounds and 98-99% water. Conversely, espresso is more concentrated with 7-12% dissolved compounds and 88-93% water.
The strength talks about the product of the ratio of coffee and water. Thus, less water means you will have a muddy and overpowering cup of Joe. Conversely, if too much water is used, you will have a thin and watery coffee.
Strength and coffee are closely related. You may think that to increase your coffee’s strength; you must use less water. While this is true, the decrease in water amount will make it difficult for extraction to get all the flavors in successfully. Finding a balanced ratio is key! You must also consider checking the coffee brewing methods, as the type you use can greatly impact your cup.
D.I.Y. concentrated coffee extract
Things you need
- Coffee Beans – ¼ cup
- Vodka – 1 cup
- A Mason Jar
- A Mortar and Pestle
- A Fine-Mesh Strainer
- A Coffee Filter
- A Funnel
- A Bottle
How to make coffee extract:
- Crack your beans with a mortar and pestle to coarse pieces, not ground. Crushed beans release more flavor by increasing the surface area. You may also use a coffee grinder or a food processor. You may even place them in a Ziploc and crush them away!
- Place your coffee beans inside a clean and sterilized jar.
- Pour vodka over the beans until they are completely submerged.
- Swirl the mixture to incorporate everything well.
- Cover with the lid and seal the jar.
- Let the jar sit in a cool and dry place for about a week to allow proper and sufficient extraction. Seven days is a good middle ground.
- While waiting for a week, shake the jar daily to promote the release of trapped essence.
- After a week, strain and separate the liquid using a fine-mesh strainer and a regular paper coffee filter.
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- Pour the extract into a sterilized bottle via a funnel. Make sure to use an airtight container. Close it and store it at room temperature. This should be usable for up to a year.
Uses of coffee extract
You may use the coffee extract in the following:
- Cakes
- Cookies
- Baked goods
- Ice creams
- Cocktails
- Sauces
- Iced coffee
- Creamy smoothies
There’s no one way to use this concoction. You may use it as a vanilla substitute when baking. Thrown in a teaspoon to that milkshake or even into a steak marinade or gravy. You may also use it to substitute espresso powder, just remembering that a teaspoon of coffee extract equals a teaspoon of it.
For some quick coffee fix, you may add one teaspoon of a coffee extract with 1/4 cup of hot water if you have no time to brew one. There are so many ways you can play around with this magic potion so keep experimenting!
Last words
Coffee extract is any coffee lover’s magic elixir. Imagine being able to add some coffee punch into anything? Sounds good to me! One batch of the coffee extract can be used for up to a year! So what are you waiting for? Try out our recipe and make your coffee extract!
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Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.