The coffee-lover community loves to experiment with their favorite beverage. They are always coming up with new ways to create and serve coffee. One of the popular kinds of coffee that you might have seen trending here of late is fermented coffee and the use of fermented coffee beans.
Fermented coffee beans are unique in the world of caffeine, and let’s be real, who these days doesn’t love and consume beverages with caffeine? To make a fantastic and healthy cup of Joe, you’re going to want to use green coffee beans that have been fermented, dried, roasted, and then ground into a fine powder. This method of brewing coffee has become popular due to its unique smell and taste, nutritional properties, and much better shelf life compared to other types of coffee and coffee beans.
In this article, we will dive deeper into the specific and preferred fermentation process, the benefits of fermented coffee beans, and the different fermentation styles you should be made aware of.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak to your doctor before using fermented coffee beans to ensure you are healthy enough to do so and that it will not affect any drugs or medications you may be using currently.
What is Fermentation?
Fermentation is the natural breakdown of organic matter by bacteria, yeasts, and other microorganisms. In the case of coffee, it’s a process that utilizes the activity of microorganisms to produce flavor compounds that add to the aroma and taste of brewed coffee.
The resulting brew will have a more complex and richer flavor profile than unfermented coffee beans.
What is Coffee Bean Fermentation?
Coffee bean fermentation is a natural process that occurs during the drying of coffee beans. During this process, enzymes break down carbohydrates and starches into sugars. These sugars are then consumed by yeast and bacteria, which produce lactic acid and acetic acid. These acids give the coffee a sour taste and can produce vinegar-like aromas.
The fermentation process can take anywhere from one to seven days, depending on the temperature of the room that the beans are drying in. The warmer the temperature, the faster the fermentation process will occur.
How to Make Coffee Using Fermented Coffee Beans
The process of fermenting coffee involves a few steps:
1. Soak
The first step to making fermented coffee is to soak the coffee beans in water for about 24 hours. The reason for this is to remove some of the tannins from the coffee beans, which will make the coffee less bitter. This soaking process also happens to be when most of the fermentation takes place.
2. Inoculate
The second step is to inoculate the soaked coffee beans with various (more than one) types of yeast and bacteria. Inoculation is a lot like sowing seeds, where you put a handful of yeasts and bacteria in liquid form (also known as starter solution) into the soaked beans.
Inoculation is an important step in the process because it helps ensure that there will be enough healthy bacteria present in order to complete all stages successfully. If the beans aren’t properly inoculated, then they likely won’t ferment properly or even at all.
3. Wait for Fermentation
Let the coffee beans sit and wait for 1-2 days. This is when the fermentation process takes place. Over a couple of days, the yeasts and bacteria in the soaked beans will do their magic and transform the chemical composition of the beans. It will lead to improved flavor, digestibility, aroma, and so on.
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This part requires the most know-how because you’d need to control things like air and light exposure, temperature, and time. If you let it sit for too long, you’ll get a vinegary-tasting coffee that many will find off-putting.
4. Wash and Dry
After fermentation, wash the beans with regular water to get rid of residues from the fermentation process.
5. Roast and Grind
The roasting process oxidizes a lot of the organic compounds present inside the bean to create the chemical compounds that are responsible for the aroma and taste of the brewed coffee.
Once you have roasted the beans, grind them into fine bits and keep brewing!
The Health Benefits of Fermented Coffee Beans
The use of fermented coffee beans is not a fad, as the act of fermentation promotes positive and notable changes in the beans. Here are some health benefits of fermented coffee beans that you should be made aware of to understand why this may be something you’ll want to add to your daily morning routine.
Easier to Digest
The most important benefit is that it is easier to digest than regular coffee. Regular coffee contains caffeine, which can be harmful to your digestive system if you consume too much of it. Caffeine can cause gastric upset, diarrhea, and even heartburn in some people. The good news is that coffee that has been fermented is easy on your digestive system because the caffeine has been broken down by bacteria during the fermentation process.
Suitable for IBS Patients
Fermented coffee beans have less acidity than a typical cup of coffee. This makes it suitable for people with stomach problems such as gastritis, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Fermented coffee contains probiotics that can improve gut health by increasing the number of healthy bacteria in the gut. This can help alleviate symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, etc.
Better Taste and Aroma
Fermented coffee is more aromatic, richer in flavor, and has a fuller body than non-fermented coffee. This is because the fermentation process breaks down the cell walls of the green coffee beans, releasing more oil and flavor compounds for your palate to enjoy.
Lesser Tannins
Tannins are a chemical compound found in coffee that can turn your teeth yellow. It is also known as the “coffee stain” effect. Fermented coffee has fewer tannins compared to unfermented coffee because it also loses some of its acidity during the fermentation process.
Cleaner and Safer to Consume
Fermenting green coffee beans helps remove pathogens and impurities that can be present in beans, such as mold, fungus, or viruses. The fermentation process also removes some of the caffeine content from green coffee beans. The end result is a better-tasting cup of coffee with fewer negative side effects that can be experienced.
Why is Koji Style Fermentation Better Than Lacto or Kefir Style?
Koji-style coffee fermentation is a delicious, healthy way to make your own coffee at home.
Koji-style coffee fermentation has been around for thousands of years and is still practiced today in many different cultures throughout the world. Koji is the Japanese name for Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus that produces enzymes that break down starches into sugar.
The benefit of koji-style coffee fermentation is that it makes a very unique-tasting beverage that is full of healthy enzymes and probiotics. This type of coffee has a much lower acidity than regular coffee, making it an excellent choice for those who suffer from digestive issues or acid reflux. It also contains lactobacillus bacteria, which help to improve digestion and increase levels of good gut bacteria in your body.
Start Your Day Off Right!
Are you looking to start your day off on the right foot? Do you want a reason to jump out of bed rather than hit the snooze button? If so, check out the Holistic Bin Fermented Coffee Beans.
The Holistic Bin Fermented Coffee Beans use a Koji-style fermentation process that not only helps present the most amazing flavor and aroma but it also helps preserve all the health benefits associated with the use of green coffee beans.
Get your morning boost of energy and health benefits to maximize your productivity and put your overall health at the forefront of your mind. There’s nothing better out there. We not only sell the best fermented coffee beans on the planet, but we are also daily consumers!
