How Countries Turn Coffee Waste Into New Drinks

Coffee drinkers rarely see the tons of pulp, wastewater, and spent grounds left behind after harvest and brewing—but around the world, innovators are transforming these scraps into surprising new drinks with real benefits.

From Belgium’s digestible white coffee fruit soda to Japan’s air-free coffee spray, seven countries have turned coffee waste into functional beverages, including alcohol, vinegar, protein, and even cooking oil—each with measurable yields and uses.

Belgium’s White Coffee Fruit Soda

Belgium has developed a milky, easily digestible ingredient from a new variety of white coffee fruit pulp. Despite its color, it has the same chemical makeup as regular coffee and offers multiple health benefits. This material, derived from previously discarded fruit, has been used to create a coffee-flavored soda ideal for athletes and those with digestive issues.

Japan’s Coffee Spray Drink

Japan’s New Century Food Company recently launched a best-selling "coffee spray drink." Packaged in an aluminum aerosol can, it delivers concentrated espresso liquid via a nozzle—just press to spray coffee mist directly into your mouth or dilute with water or hot water. The production process avoids air exposure using ultra-high pressure and carbon dioxide sealing, ensuring freshness comparable to premium fresh coffee.

Coffee-Based Alcoholic Beverages

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), researchers found that about 15 kilograms of coffee pulp can yield 1 kilogram of 90% alcohol. The country pioneered "Robusta coffee wine," a clear spirit with strong coffee aroma that has gained popularity in Europe and the U.S. over the past two years.

Coffee Vinegar from Processing Wastewater

Japanese seasoning companies have created coffee vinegar by fermenting and concentrating wastewater from wet coffee processing. This results in a vinegar with 4.6% acetic acid content. The resulting coffee vinegar, valued for its taste and nutrition, has become a hit in international markets.

Edible Gelatin from Coffee Slime

Indian scientists have extracted high-quality gelatin from the sticky mucilage produced during wet coffee processing. Each kilogram of fresh coffee berries yields 50–120 grams of gelatin, a valuable ingredient for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, offering high economic returns.

Coffee Byproduct Caffeine Extraction

German scientists have developed efficient methods to extract caffeine from coffee waste and byproducts. This caffeine is used in veterinary medicine, human cancer prevention, birth control, and as a stimulant in beverages and pharmaceuticals.

U.S. Coffee Protein Production

An American company has scaled up production of protein extracted from coffee pulp. They’ve also pioneered new applications, such as creating meat-like protein products using cooling molds and extrusion, and producing egg-white-like substances from coffee’s 7S protein fraction—offering novel ingredients for the food industry.

Brazil’s Coffee Oil Extraction

Brazilian researchers successfully extracted high-grade edible oil from spent coffee grounds and plan to move into large-scale production.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is white coffee fruit, and how is it used in Belgium?

Belgium has developed a milky, easily digestible ingredient from a new variety of white coffee fruit pulp. It shares the same chemical composition as regular coffee but is more digestible and offers health benefits, and has been used to make a coffee soda suitable for athletes and people with digestive issues.

How does Japan’s coffee spray drink work?

Japan’s coffee spray drink comes in an aerosol can. Pressing the nozzle sprays concentrated espresso mist directly into the mouth or can be diluted with water or hot water. The process avoids air contact using ultra-high pressure and CO₂ sealing, keeping the coffee as fresh as premium brewed coffee.

How much alcohol can be made from coffee pulp?

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, researchers found that about 15 kilograms of coffee pulp can produce 1 kilogram of 90% alcohol, used to make a clear, aromatic Robusta coffee wine popular in Europe and the U.S.

What is extracted from coffee processing wastewater?

Japanese companies ferment and concentrate wastewater from wet coffee processing to produce coffee vinegar with 4.6% acetic acid, which is valued for its taste and nutritional value in international markets.

What can be made from coffee slime in India?

Indian researchers extract 50–120 grams of high-quality gelatin per kilogram of fresh coffee berries from the mucilage produced during wet processing, useful in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

What other coffee byproducts are being turned into useful products?

Germany extracts caffeine for medicine and beverages; the U.S. produces coffee protein for meat alternatives and egg-white-like products; and Brazil extracts edible oil from spent grounds for potential large-scale production.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee Experiments

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for bright, floral notes that highlight coffee’s natural complexity—great for exploring flavor potential in alternative brews. Their Colombia Geisha showcases delicate stone fruit and jasmine, ideal for testing extraction from non-traditional sources. Both beans reflect the quality potential of specialty coffee byproducts. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.