HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — There's a new coffee company in Huntsville, but you'll find the blend is not like your standard cup of joe.
The company "Figbrew" makes alternative coffee using a blend of figs from all over the world. This is called "Figgee". The brew is prepared like real coffee.
Figbrew roasts and grinds the figs. There's another product made of both a coffee and "Figgee" blend. This is called "Mellow Mix".
The company says the blend, with figs only, is healthy with vitamins and minerals.
"There's a whole segment of people that are looking for coffee alternatives, that has no caffeine that's easy on the stomach and easy on the digestive system. And this is made of 100 percent fig," says Kevin Deasy, Figbrew VP of Marketing.
Figbrew is also looking for coffee houses to buy their blend. Purchases for both products are online.
Here's a statement on their process to make the "FigBrew"
"Just like coffee, there are hundreds of different types of figs in the world – each with its own unique taste when roasted. Extracting optimal flavor profiles from figs is similar to the roasting processes that occur in coffee beans. At FigBrew, we’ve devoted extensive research and development into selecting and roasting figs for that smooth earthy taste that our customers have come to expect.
We start with the best sun-dried organic figs and have found Mediterranean figs to offer the smoothest taste with the best health advantages. Similar to the coffee roasting process, roasted figs undergo a Maillard reaction that can be tweaked to bring out certain characteristics. Unlike coffee beans though, caramelization contributes just as big or an even bigger contribution to the taste profile depending on the type of fig.
Our products were developed by experimentation over several years with multiple types of figs at various roasting temperatures and profiles. Even our grinding process is optimized for flavor extraction. We’re very proud of the end result and are committed to the consistent quality our customers demand."