Coffee... but without the coffee beans? That's the challenge taken up by an American start-up in response to the climate crisis that's endangering coffee growing. The firm's "beanless coffee" recipe is based on upcycled date seeds combined with extracts of chicory and grape. For the moment, the formula can only be enjoyed as a cold brew.
From meatless meat to chicken-free nuggets and vegan cheese, while alternative foods are numerous, scientific research isn't just focusing on replacing animal proteins. Food engineers are also working to address the issue of produce that could be under threat from global warming.
And for some of those foods, the consequences are already being seen, as is the case with coffee. In one year, the price of Arabica has risen by nearly 40%. And you might even notice a slight price hike at the office coffee machine. The reason? Episodes of frost but also floods in Brazil that have destroyed nearly 30% of the crop.
For the last three years, an American start-up, based in Seattle, has been devising a formula that could compensate for the shortage of coffee beans. The idea is to upcycle date seeds, which are rehydrated in a liquid solution based on chicory and grape extracts. The caffeine in the recipe is extracted from tea leaves.
After a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, the Atomo brand notched up various financial investments before securing its latest $40 million in funding. This financing will allow the commercialization of its product, which is currently only enjoyed in cold brew form. This 'coffee' drink is packaged in cans, priced at around $5 to $5.50 each. Online sales are expected to start from July 15, while commercial agreements should soon help distribute this beanless coffee more widely
Note that this isn't the only initiative seeking to develop alternative coffee. In Finland, a team of researchers has applied the principle of in vitro meat production to coffee beans, creating cell-cultured coffee in a lab.
