Coffee-free coffee developed with non-tropical ingredients
In the Netherlands, entrepreneurs have spent the last two years working on a coffee alternative with a strict sourcing policy: it must not contain any ingredients grown in a tropical environment.
The result, which launched onto the market last week, is Coffee Free Coffee by Northern Wonder. According to the start-up, the product has the taste and smell of coffee, contains caffeine, and is even brewed the same way as regular coffee.
It’s all in the name, suggested Northern Wonder co-founder and CEO David Klingen: “It’s a miracle, or a ‘wonder’, that we succeeded in making such a great product with ingredients only from the ‘northern’ hemisphere.”
Northern Wonder is launching its first line of products on the market. Four SKUS – made up of caffeinated and decaffeinated filter blends; and caffeinated and decaffeinated capsules – make up first line of products.
The final ingredients chosen differ slightly depending on whether it is intended for filter or capsule formats. The capsule blend, for example, is made from lupin, barley, rye, fig, chickpea, chicory, carob, black currant, caffeine, and natural flavour. The roasted filter ground blend doesn’t include fig or carob.
The caffeine level is similar to normal coffee (1400mg/100g), but comes from a different source. “We have a very string rule, which states we don’t use tropical ingredients. Because conventional products that contain caffeine can only be found in the tropics, we use a synthetic caffeine source,” Klingen explained.
The crema element was developed by chance: when the Nespresso-compatible capsules are put through a machine, crema – which ‘looks like the real thing’ – appears, thanks to Northern Wonder’s selected blend of ingredients. “It turned out great,” said the CEO.
Northern Wonder is initially launching direct to consumer via its website.
More details on Northern Wonder’s development of coffee-free coffee can be found HERE.
Image source: Northern Wonder