Alps.coffee.lab: Aromatic, Whisky-Inspired Coffee

August 30, 2023 CoffeeStage 咖啡舞台

Following the earlier brandy coffee, I decided to buy this producer’s whisky-infused coffee beans as well. Before being exposed to the high temperature of pour-over brewing, their whisky aroma is genuinely delightful. If aroma is what you enjoy, these beans are worth noting.

Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan, coffee bean packaging — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Coffee enthusiast taking pour-over coffee outdoors for a seaside brew, with a camping kettle, metal dripper, glass coffee server, cube cassette stove and small wooden table — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Enjoying life by the sea at sunset with the rich aroma of coffee — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Whisky-infused coffee beans with multisensory appeal and distinct layers

The moment I opened the package, the coffee beans already carried a pronounced aroma of whisky fermentation. Hand-grinding intensified it further, and for a moment the aroma was very similar to that of a typical whisky. After pour-over brewing, the whisky aroma became more subdued, with a deeper and steadier character. On the palate, it offered fruity notes, tartness with a gentle sweetness, and only a trace of alcohol aroma. I personally found the individual flavours relatively difficult to distinguish. The overall impression was soft and mild, with a light, classic coffee-bean character. The mouthfeel was warm, rounded and silky, the finish was moderate, and the different elements were comparatively balanced. As the coffee cooled to a medium temperature, the fruit became brighter and the acidity more pronounced.

Portable manual grinder — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Grinding coffee beans with a manual grinder — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Enjoying a manual grinder while taking in the sea view — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

It still falls short when compared with the previous brandy-infused coffee

‍Compared with the producer’s previous brandy-infused coffee, I think I prefer the earlier bag by a wide margin. After pour-over brewing, this one was more balanced overall and nothing stood out as strongly. The previous coffee had a genuinely vivid character when tasted and suited my personal preferences very well, so some comparison was inevitable. However, if you have not tried the earlier coffee, this one is still worth considering. If you then have the opportunity to try the brandy-infused coffee too, the surprise will be much greater.

Pouring ground coffee into a metal dripper — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Heating water on a cube cassette stove — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Pouring water over the coffee grounds — Alps coffee lAb. whisky-infused coffee beans from Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Whisky-infused coffee bean tasting summary

‍After tasting this coffee, I actually felt a little disappointed because the previous one was simply too outstanding. Comparison does the damage, and my mind kept returning to that earlier experience. I had therefore expected this coffee to be astonishing, but unfortunately the result felt somewhat ordinary. Still, if the brandy-infused coffee is unavailable, you may have a completely different impression of this one. If you are fortunate enough to find coffee beans with an alcohol aroma in the future, try tasting them with chocolate. The pairing works remarkably well: one sip of coffee, one bite of chocolate, with their contrasting flavours and aromas moving back and forth across the palate before merging together in a very distinctive way.