What Is Coffee Extract?
We don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that almost everyone knows what coffee is. But what about coffee extract? This ingredient isn’t as common as coffee is, especially seeing as you can find coffee on every street corner. However, you’ve probably run into it more often than you’d think.
In this article, we’ll discuss what coffee extract is, as well as how it’s made. We’ll also talk about how it stacks up with regular coffee when it comes to caffeine and whether that’s good or bad.
What Is Coffee Extract?
So, what is coffee extract, really? It’s a liquid made by soaking crushed coffee beans in alcohol (or sometimes water) to pull out all that delicious, deep-roasted goodness. Ultimately, this results in a concentrated extract that captures coffee’s essence in just a few drops.
Not to be confused with brewed coffee or espresso, this stuff isn’t for sipping straight — you can try, but you probably won’t try twice. Instead, it’s for spicing up recipes, boosting drinks, or making your kitchen smell like a cafe.
How Is Coffee Extract Made?
Making coffee extract isn’t rocket science — in fact, it’s so easy that you can do it in your own kitchen. First, you coarsely crush whole coffee beans (the same ones you’d grind for a killer French press).
Then, you let them hang out in a bath of alcohol — usually vodka — for about a week or two. The alcohol extracts all the oils, acids, and robust flavor notes that make coffee so magical. After steeping, you strain out the beans, and voila: You’ve got coffee extract.
There’s also green coffee bean extract, which is made by soaking unroasted beans in water or alcohol, then concentrating the liquid. This version is known for its chlorogenic acid content, which has been studied for potential antioxidant and metabolic benefits. However, it definitely doesn’t taste the same as regular coffee extract.
You may also hear about coffee concentrate, which is different from extract. This concoction is brewed with a high coffee-to-water ratio (often cold brew-style) and isn’t shelf-stable like extract. But hey, now you know the difference like a true coffee nerd.
How Can You Use Coffee Extract?
Coffee extract might come in a small bottle, but it packs a big flavor. Want your brownies to taste like they’re wearing a three-piece suit? Add a teaspoon of coffee extract. Need to up the delicious coffee factor in your homemade vanilla latte? A few drops will do.
This stuff shines in baked goods, cocktails, smoothies, and even homemade ice cream. It’s strong, so a little goes a long way.
You can also use it in place of vanilla extract to bring some boldness to cookies, cakes, and frostings. And if you're feeling adventurous, add it to whipped cream or drizzle a dash into a glass of orange juice and tonic water for a barista-level upgrade at home.
Just remember that coffee extract isn’t the same as cold brew or espresso shots. It’s way more concentrated, shelf-stable, and not meant for sipping straight unless you enjoy the taste of regret and ethanol.
Are There Any Health Benefits of Coffee Extract?
Beyond adding bold flavor to your brownies, coffee extract has a few tricks up its sleeve. When made from roasted beans, it delivers powerful antioxidants like caffeic and chlorogenic acids that can help neutralize pesky free radicals.
If you're using green coffee extract (from unroasted beans), you’re also getting an extra dose of chlorogenic acid, which some studies suggest might help manage blood sugar. Plus, let’s not forget the mood factor. Even low-caffeine extracts can offer a subtle lift in alertness without delivering the full-on espresso jitters.
Does Coffee Extract Contain Caffeine?
The short answer? Usually, yes — but not always the same amount. Traditional coffee extract made from roasted beans contains caffeine, though it's less than what you'd find in a full-on cup of joe. Green coffee extract tends to have less, too.
However, we do things a little differently at Everyday Dose. Our proprietary extraction method keeps all that rich, roasted flavor while leaving most of the caffeine behind.
We designed our coffee extract to keep the flavor, antioxidants, comforting aroma we all know and love, while ditching the nervous energy and caffeine crashes. Our mellow, low-caffeine extract blends seamlessly into our Mushroom Coffee+. You get the experience of coffee plus some extra benefits thanks to ingredients like lion’s mane and chaga mushroom, L-theanine, and collagen.
Why Look for Low-Caf Coffee Extract?
Caffeine isn’t the enemy, but that doesn’t mean you want to go overboard. For some people, too much caffeine leads to racing thoughts, heart palpitations, and that "I can see sounds" kind of anxiety.
Sure, the FDA says 400 mg per day is the “safe” limit for healthy adults, but let’s be real: caffeine tolerance is personal. Your perfect amount might be way lower than the average recommendation, and that’s okay.
That’s why our mushroom coffee contains only 45 mg of caffeine per serving. It’s just enough to give you a mental nudge without sending your nervous system into overdrive. Of course, if you have a metabolism that can crush three cups of coffee before breakfast without blinking an eye, we also offer our Bold Coffee+, which contains 90 mg of caffeine per serving.
Basically, listen to your body, not the label. When it comes to caffeine, it’s all about how you feel.
The Bottom Line
Coffee extract is flavorful, versatile, and way more interesting than it lets on. Whether you’re in it for the antioxidants, the taste, or the mellow caffeine buzz, it brings a lot to the (coffee) table.
At Everyday Dose, we’re all about giving you the benefits of coffee without the side effects. One sip of our mushroom blends, and you’ll see — less really can be more.
Sources:
Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more | Mayo Clinic
The Different Types of Alcohol You Can Use to Make Vanilla Extract | Vanilla Bean Kings
