Coffee extract is a great way to impart a rich coffee flavor in baked goods, ice cream, and cocktails. When adding this coffee flavor to our baking recipes, we can’t help but ask the question.
Does coffee extract have caffeine? Yes, coffee extract that is obtained by using alcohol will have caffeine content in them. Along with caffeine, you will also find other flavoring components and oils in the extract. It can take a week or two to make a coffee extract from coffee using vodka or ethanol but the end product comes with a jolt of caffeine depending on the coffee beans used.
Does Coffee Extract Have Caffeine?
As we mentioned above, coffee extract that is made by using vodka or ethanol will have caffeine content in it.
The amount of caffeine you get in the extract depends on the type of coffee bean you use.
If you’re going to use the Arabica coffee bean for extraction, then you can expect up to 1.5 grams of caffeine from 100 grams of the coffee bean.
If you’re going to use the Robusta bean for extractions, then you can get up to 2.7 grams of caffeine from 100 grams of the coffee bean.
Sometimes it is possible to obtain the flavors of coffee without using coffee beans. This process is artificial as no coffee beans are involved. Did you know that you can get the same coffee flavors from garlic? Yes, garlic.
When the coffee extract is prepared from sources other than ground coffee, then you can expect it to have much less or even no caffeine content.
What is Coffee Extract and How is it Produced?
Coffee extract is very much like vanilla extract. It can be used in baking, coffee ice cream, and even in cocktails to impart coffee flavor.
You can get it online or you can make some at your home without spending a lot of money. Homemade is always better since you have control over the ingredients and you can avoid anything and everything artificial.
Let’s take a look at how to make coffee extract from the comfort of your home.
Here is the list of stuff you’ll need:
- Good quality roasted coffee bean
- Vodka
- Mason jar with lid (glass bottle with a cork also works)
Take 1/4 cup of coffee beans in a mortar and crush it with a pestle. You don’t have to do it fine, just make sure you’re increasing the surface area of the coffee beans by cracking them open.
Once this is complete, transfer the beans into the mason jar.
Now add 1 cup of vodka into the mason jar, mix the contents, and tightly close the lid.
That’s all the active work that is needed.
You can now set it aside for a week or two or you can extend it even up to a month to get the most out of this batch.
You can mix the contents once every couple of days to ensure tight extraction from the beans.
The entire process will not take you more than 10 minutes and you can do it without any expensive ingredients or preservatives.
How Much Caffeine Is In Coffee Bean Extract?
The amount of caffeine in coffee bean extract depends on a lot of factors. You can’t put a number without knowing the details.
We have discussed that Robusta and Arabica bean varieties are the mainly used coffee beans to make coffee extract.
It is also known that using Robusta beans to make coffee extract will give you significantly more caffeine than Arabica beans.
We are not able to give a number here as the amount of caffeine will vary depending on
- The quantity of coffee used
- Type of roast of the coffee beans (dark roast coffee beans are more dense, so more caffeine)
- The quantity of alcohol used
- The period over which the mixture was kept
- The number of times the mix was stirred
- The temperature of the room
and other factors.
Is Coffee Extract Real Coffee?
Is coffee extract the same as coffee?
The term coffee extract can be used loosely based on the context.
When you think of coffee extract, it is usually the one we discussed above. It is made from coffee and alcohol and is used for imparting coffee flavor in various food products.
But the term coffee extract is also interchangeably used in place of coffee concentrate.
The coffee concentrate is what you get as a result of brewing ground coffee. Whether it’s a drip coffee or a cold brew coffee, what you get as the result is the coffee concentrate.
Some people can go so far as to say that even an espresso short can be called a coffee extract. We do agree to an extent.
So, the coffee concentrate is the real coffee here. The coffee extract that is made from mixing coffee beans and alcohol is not real coffee and can’t be consumed like coffee.
Can I Use Coffee Instead of Coffee Extract?
Yes, if you don’t have coffee extract with you at the moment, you can use high-quality instant coffee as a substitute for coffee extract.
Mix 1 tablespoon of instant coffee with 2 tablespoons of hot water. This ratio is not a standard by any means. You can experiment with the ratio and fine-tune it to suit your needs.
Wrap Up
The caffeine content in coffee extract was the question of the hour and we hope we answered all your questions and doubts regarding the issue.
To reiterate, coffee extract that is made from coffee and alcohol contains caffeine and can be used to impart coffee flavor in baking items, coffee ice cream, and even cocktails.
We had also included an easy-to-follow recipe to make coffee extract at the comfort of your home. Do try it and let us know how that turned out.
If you have any other questions, do let us know and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Visit The Old Coffee Pot for more coffee-related QnA, guides, and other information.