Dive Brief:
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A new Napa Valley partnership between Molinari Private Reserve and coffee roaster John Weaver infuses coffee beans with wine, according to FoodBev.
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The beans are rehydrated to a liquid percentage using a house-made red wine, then dried and roasted. The brand describes the flavor as a "rich, full-bodies coffee with a blueberry note."
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It will soon be available at an assortment of wine and coffee venues across the Napa Valley.
Dive Insight:
There was a time when coffee only came black or with cream — unless people were in a rare 1960s-era coffee house.
In the ‘70s, when the Starbucks chain began its meteoric rise, different varieties, roastings and beans started to come back into prominence. The trend has continued until today, as Starbucks is even capitalizing on the coffee fruit, or cascara, to flavor its new lattes.
Individually, coffee and wine are regarded as classy adult beverages used to wake and mellow consumers. Given the love for each individual beverage, the combination of the two is likely to get some fans — just as long as the execution and taste are good. And the trend just might have staying power. According to the National Coffee Association's 2016 Coffee Drinking Trends report, 36% of 18-24 year olds and 41% of 25-39 year olds said they drank gourmet coffee the previous day.
According to 2012 figures from the Specialty Coffee Association, premium coffee has a 37% volume share — and is worth half of the value — of all cups consumed in the U.S.
Molinari Private Reserve is likely to inspire other California wine growers to find their own coffee partners — or tea importers or whiskey and vodka distillers to mix with coffee for morning beverages that add another hint of adult tastes — without becoming cocktails.