Coffee-Flavored Beer: What’s It Really Like?

You’ve probably heard of coffee stouts or espresso martinis—but what happens when brewers actually put coffee beans into the beer itself? In Japan, a collaboration between a coffee company and a brewery has led to a new kind of drink where coffee isn’t just an addition, but part of the ferment. The result? A beer designed to tackle the common complaint of thin or one-dimensional flavor with the boldness of roasted coffee.

Yes, this beer really does include actual coffee beans added during brewing—not just flavoring or extracts. The goal is to use the rich, full-bodied taste of coffee to complement and deepen what might otherwise be a light or watery beer profile.

How Coffee Ended Up in Beer

This isn’t a flavored beer in the usual sense. Rather than infusing the finished product with coffee essence or syrup, the brewers introduced coffee beans directly into the brewing process. This method allows the coffee’s natural oils, acids, and roasted compounds to interact with the malt and yeast, creating a more integrated flavor. The result is a beverage where coffee doesn’t just sit on top—it shapes the entire profile.

The Design: Art Meets Craft

The packaging for this coffee-beer hybrid was created by Nendo, the renowned Japanese design studio. Their concept is simple but striking: the glass bottle’s label is covered with dozens of individual coffee beans arranged by hand. No two bottles are identical, making each one visually unique. The label doesn’t shout “coffee beer”—it shows you, clearly and beautifully, what’s inside. The tactile arrangement of real beans reinforces the artisanal quality of the product.

What Does It Taste Like?

While we don’t get a full sensory breakdown in the original article, the intent is clear: the coffee is meant to round out the beer’s body, adding the deep, sometimes chocolatey or nutty tones associated with well-roasted beans. The goal is to fix the “thinness” often found in basic beers by introducing the complexity and weight that coffee brings. Whether it tips more toward beer or coffee in the final balance is exactly what curious drinkers are eager to find out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this beer contain real coffee beans or just coffee flavoring?

This beer includes actual coffee beans added during the brewing process, not just coffee flavoring, extracts, or syrups. The beans interact directly with the malt and yeast, influencing the beer’s flavor profile throughout fermentation.

Who made this coffee-flavored beer?

The beer is the result of a collaboration between a Japanese coffee company and a local brewery. While the specific brand names aren’t mentioned, the project highlights a partnership between coffee and brewing specialists.

Who designed the packaging?

The bottle and label were designed by Nendo, the acclaimed Japanese design firm known for minimalist yet impactful creations. They applied real coffee beans to the label by hand, ensuring each bottle has a unique arrangement.

Why add coffee beans during brewing instead of after?

Adding coffee during the brewing process allows its flavors—oils, acids, and roasted notes—to integrate fully with the beer’s malt and yeast. This creates a more cohesive taste compared to simply adding coffee flavoring or pouring coffee into finished beer.

Is the coffee flavor stronger than the beer flavor?

The article doesn’t specify which dominates, but the goal is to use coffee’s richness to address the thinness often found in basic beers. The result is likely a balanced drink where neither coffee nor beer overpowers the other.

Are there any images of the coffee beans on the label?

Yes. The bottle label features multiple coffee beans arranged by hand, and no two bottles are the same. A photo of this unique packaging is shown here: .

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee-Beer Experiments

If you’re curious how coffee influences a malty brew, try these single-origin FrontStreet beans known for bold profiles that could mirror the coffee side of a coffee beer. FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Huakui offers bright citrus and floral tones with a juicy body—great for exploring how acidity plays with malt. Their Yirgacheffe brings lemon zest and berry-like brightness, ideal for tasting how fruit-forward coffees might lift a beer’s flavor. For deeper notes, their Black Cocoa Blend delivers chocolate and caramel undertones, akin to the roasted qualities brewers aim for in coffee-infused beers. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.