Does Coffee Extract Have Caffeine?
If you are a coffee lover, coffee extracts have certainly grabbed your attention at least once. A coffee extract is truly a magic elixir for all “coffeeholics!” It has an intense coffee flavor and aroma — but can it keep you awake?
Does coffee extract have caffeine? Yes, coffee extract contains caffeine. In fact, it contains a higher amount of caffeine than regular coffee! The amount of caffeine in coffee extract depends on a few factors, including the type of coffee and the coffee-to-alcohol ratio.
Continue reading to learn how much caffeine coffee extract contains, how to use it, if you can make coffee extract at home, what is the difference between coffee extract and coffee concentrate, etc.
What Is Coffee Extract?
Coffee extract is a liquid with a concentrated coffee flavor. Similar to other commonly used extracts, such as vanilla, almond, and peppermint, coffee extract is made with alcohol.
To make coffee extract, roasted coffee beans are first crushed to release maximum flavor. They are soaked in alcohol for a few weeks.
The mixture is then strained to remove the coffee bits, leaving behind a liquid that is full of coffee flavor and aroma.
Does Coffee Extract Have Caffeine?
Yes — as coffee extract is made with coffee beans, it naturally contains caffeine. Alcohol is used to dissolve coffee beans and extract all flavor, oil, aroma, and caffeine from them.
How Much Caffeine Does Coffee Extract Have?
The amount of caffeine in coffee extract differs from brand to brand and depends on multiple factors.
Here are some of the things that determine the amount of caffeine in an ounce of coffee extract:
- Type Of Coffee. The caffeine content in coffee extract largely depends on the type of coffee beans you use. For example, the caffeine content in Robusta beans is almost twice as high as the caffeine in Arabica coffee beans.
- You can get up to 2.7 grams of caffeine per 100 grams of Robusta coffee beans.
- The same amount of Arabica beans contains up to 1.5 grams of caffeine.
- Coffee-To-Alcohol Ratio. The coffee-beans-to-alcohol ratio is another factor that determines the caffeine content of the extract. The less alcohol you add to the crushed coffee beans, the more potent will the extract be.
- Steeping Time. The longer you steep the coffee beans, the more caffeine they will release into the solvent. With this said, even if you want a higher concentration of caffeine, don’t steep the beans for too long as it will make the extract too bitter.
- The Roast. The roast of the coffee beans matters, too. Dark roast coffee contains the highest amount of caffeine!
How To Use Coffee Extract
Coffee extract has a wide range of uses. It is as versatile as vanilla extract. Coffee lovers can use coffee extract instead of vanilla extract in nearly all recipes. However, you should never forget that coffee extract contains caffeine.
Here are some ways to use coffee extract:
- Baking Recipes. Coffee extract is especially good for chocolate desserts, such as brownies and chocolate chip muffins, as it enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Breakfast Dishes. Add a dash of coffee extract to your favorite sweet breakfast recipe for a unique coffee aroma. You can also add it to your batters for French toast, pancakes, waffles, and crepes.
- Coffee Drinks. Coffee extract is high in caffeine. If you need a caffeine boost, add a few drops of coffee extract to your coffee drink. The extract will also enhance the coffee’s aroma and flavor.
- Cocktails. Use coffee extract to make delicious cocktails with vodka, whiskey, Baileys, rum, etc.
- Sweet Treats. Coffee extract can be used to make a variety of sweet treats, including sweet sauces, glazes, flans, candies, ice cream, etc.
What Is Decaf Coffee Extract?
If you love coffee extract but the high amount of caffeine is what keeps you from using it, get a decaf coffee flavor extract. Or, make your own coffee extract using decaf coffee beans!
Decaffeinated coffee has almost all of its caffeine removed and contains negligible amounts of caffeine. As a rule, a cup of decaf coffee contains only 2 milligrams of caffeine.
What Is Green Coffee Extract?
Green coffee extract is the coffee extract made from unroasted green beans. Green coffee extract is said to have more health benefits than regular coffee extract. It is less bitter and has a milder flavor.
Green coffee extract contains a lower amount of caffeine than coffee extract made of roasted coffee beans. It is also less acidic and bitter and is said to be better for your health than coffee extract made with roasted coffee beans.
Coffee Extract Vs Coffee Concentrate — What’s The Difference?
Coffee concentrates are another popular coffee product that are often confused with coffee extract, but are different from coffee extract. Unlike coffee extract which is made with alcohol, a coffee concentrate is made with water.
Coffee concentrate is essentially very strong coffee that needs to be watered down — you need to dilute it either with water or milk.
To make coffee concentrate, roasted coffee beans are steeped in water for up to 24 hours. Coffee concentrates are a lot stronger than regular coffee and contain a much higher amount of caffeine.
Similar to coffee extracts, coffee concentrates are used not only for drinks, but for baking recipes too!
Can You Make Coffee Extract At Home?
Making coffee extract at home is quite easy. You only need two ingredients — coffee beans and alcohol. Using freshly roasted coffee beans is the secret to getting strong and flavorful extract.
As for the alcohol, you can use ethyl alcohol or vodka. Rum and brandy will work too, though they may interfere with the coffee flavor.
Here is how to make coffee extract at home:
- Crush the coffee beans. You can use a mortar and a pestle to do it or a food processor. You can also crush coffee beans with the help of a rolling pin. Put the beans in a plastic bag and roll the pin over it to achieve the desired medium-coarse grind.
- Pour the crushed coffee beans into a jar with an airtight lid.
- Pour alcohol over the coffee beans. The alcohol should cover the crushed beans.
- Close the jar with the lid and shake.
- Store the jar in a cool and dark place and let the coffee steep for at least a week. Shake the jar from time to time.
- After a week, check the flavor of the coffee extract. If it is strong enough and you like it, strain it to remove the coffee bits.
- Pour into a glass jar with an airtight lid.
Does Coffee Ice Cream Have Caffeine?
Coffee ice cream is made with coffee and may also contain coffee extract. Thus, coffee ice cream does have caffeine in it. The amount may vary depending on the type and amount of coffee used, as well as the serving size of the ice cream.
As a general rule, an 8-ounce serving of coffee-flavored ice cream contains 50-80 milligrams of caffeine. For comparison, the same amount of coffee contains around 95 milligrams of caffeine.
If you drink a few cups of coffee throughout the day and don’t want to exceed the recommended caffeine amount by eating coffee-flavored ice cream, you can buy or make decaf coffee ice cream with decaf coffee and coffee extract.
Related Questions
Now that we’ve learned all about coffee extract and whether it has caffeine, here are some additional questions we thought you might have.
How do you store coffee extract?
Store coffee extract in an airtight glass jar or bottle in a dark and cool place. You can also store coffee extract in the fridge.
Can you make alcohol-free coffee extract?
Extracts are typically made with alcohol. However, alcohol in extracts may not be desirable for many people. Luckily, you can make alcohol-free extracts too, including alcohol-free coffee extract.
To make alcohol-free coffee extract, steep crushed coffee beans in one part of water and three parts of food-grade glycerin.
Can you use coffee instead of coffee extract?
While regular coffee is not the same as coffee extract, you can use strong coffee instead of coffee extract for your drinks or in baking recipes.
The easiest thing to do is to make strong instant coffee and use it instead of coffee extract. To do this, mix one part of instant coffee with two parts of water.
Does coffee fruit extract contain caffeine?
Coffee fruit is a type of stone fruit that grows on the coffee plant. The pits inside the coffee fruit are actually coffee beans.
Coffee fruit, also known as coffee cherries, is edible though it tastes nothing like coffee. These grape-size red berries have a sweet and floral flavor.
Coffee fruit is used to make extracts too. And while coffee berries look and taste very different from coffee beans, they have one thing in common — caffeine.
Coffee fruit extract contains caffeine but in very low amounts compared to the caffeine content of coffee beans. Depending on the extraction process, a serving of coffee extract may contain up to 20 milligrams of caffeine.