Can You Drink Coffee Grounds Distilled Into Liquor?

You’ve tossed out your coffee grounds after brewing—again. But what if those spent grounds could become something stronger than espresso? Scientists have found a way to turn roasted coffee waste into a high-proof alcoholic spirit. The big question: can you actually drink it? And more importantly, should you?

Yes, you can drink it. Researchers created a distilled alcoholic beverage with 40% alcohol by volume—comparable to vodka or tequila—using only dried coffee grounds. The resulting drink passed a taste test by professionals, though it’s described as bitter and intense. Future refinements may improve the flavor.

How Scientists Made Alcohol from Spent Coffee Grounds

Researchers started with raw material collected from a Portuguese coffee roasting company. These were not fresh grounds—they were already used in brewing. First, the used grounds were dried. Then, the dried powder was boiled in water at 163°C for approximately 45 minutes. After boiling, the liquid was separated from the solids. Sugar was added to the extracted liquid, and yeast was introduced to prompt fermentation. Finally, the fermented mixture was concentrated to raise the alcohol content.

This method mirrors traditional processes used to make other distilled spirits. For example, similar steps are taken to produce whisky from wheat or rum from molasses.

What Does Coffee-Ground Alcohol Taste Like?

Eight trained sensory evaluators assessed the aroma and flavor of the final distilled product. Their feedback described the drink as having a strong coffee aroma but a bitter, slightly harsh taste. The overall impression was intense. However, researchers believe that taste quality could improve with further refinement of the production technique. Despite its sharp profile, the study concluded that the drink is safe and suitable for consumption.

Will It Give You Caffeine?

No. Most of the caffeine originally present in the coffee grounds is lost during the brewing, drying, boiling, and fermentation stages. The final distilled spirit contains negligible amounts—if any—of caffeine, meaning it won’t give you the wake-up kick you might expect from a coffee-based drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is coffee ground alcohol made?

Coffee ground alcohol is made by drying used coffee grounds, boiling them in water at 163°C for 45 minutes, separating the liquid, adding sugar, fermenting with yeast, and then concentrating the fermented liquid to increase alcohol content. The final product reaches around 40% ABV.

What does coffee ground liquor taste like?

Trained testers described the taste as bitter, intense, and with a strong coffee aroma. The flavor was considered slightly harsh, though researchers suggest it could be improved with better techniques.

How much alcohol does coffee ground liquor contain?

The distilled coffee beverage tested had an alcohol content of 40% ABV, similar to vodka and tequila.

Does coffee ground alcohol contain caffeine?

No. Most caffeine is lost during the multiple processing stages including boiling and fermentation, so the final drink has negligible or zero caffeine content.

Is coffee ground alcohol safe to drink?

Yes. Researchers concluded that the distilled product is safe for human consumption based on their tests and sensory evaluations.

Could coffee ground alcohol taste better in the future?

Yes. The study noted that taste could be improved with further refinement of the brewing and fermentation processes.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Experimental Coffee Drinks

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for its floral brightness and juicy acidity—great for exploring unique extractions—or their Yirgacheffe for a classic fruity profile that highlights coffee’s aromatic range. Both showcase the complexity of high-quality beans, which could inspire your own coffee experiments beyond just brewing. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.