Crystal Malt as Coffee Sweetener?

[HogieWan]

As I enjoyed a double cappacino this afternoon, I started thinking about how we use sugar to "balance" our cup of joe. So my thoughts wandered over to balancing coffee with DME. This may work.
Then this question popped into my head: Do you think putting cracked crystal malt in with coffee grounds before brewing a pot would make a good sweetener? Would the water be too hot and extract too much tannins?
I'm not at home and won't be able to get some crystal until monday, so the first try at this experiment will be tuesday morning.
If this turns out well, I may put a whole hop cone or two in the pot or in my cup for a little hop aroma in the coffee. What do you think?

[chazwicke]

Hmmmm...... Let us know how the experiment turns out.

[BrewDog]

Coffee is pretty astringent already. Plus, you are not going to be using massive amounts of grain. I'd bet you won't be able to taste any tannins if you did try this.

[fretlessman71]

I've had chocolate malted mochas where they've made a standard mocha and added malt extract to it... it's really good if done right! :)

[HogieWan]

Take 1:

I picked up a pound Crystal Malt 40* and an ounce of EKG whole cones. My coffee machine is a one-cup black and decker job. I crushed a palmful of crystal into the filter and then put the coffee on top. The maly just balanced out the coffee bitterness. I'll use a little more next time and try it with cream. Any ideas for a beer-makling-ingredient substitute for cream? Once I get the amount of crystal right, I'll try putting a couple hop cones under the grain in the filter.

[chazwicke]

I think it sounds better with just the Malt. Not sure I would add the hops. But, I am curious to see how it turns out. keep us posted.

[BrewDog]

I think some DME might work better as a "CoffeeMate" sort of replacement.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I think it sounds better with just the Malt. Not sure I would add the hops. But, I am curious to see how it turns out. keep us posted.

It probably won't taste very good with the hops, but this popped in my head the other day and I just got to try it.:p

[HogieWan]

So the conclusion about the crystal is that it doesn't impart enough sweetening before it overtakes the coffee flavor with it's grainy flavor. It does taste good at about a palmful per cup of joe and its enough to cut down the bitterness of the coffee. I drink coffee black from time to time, so its enough for me, but not all the time.

The hops did taste good in the coffee. I put just enough whole hops to cover the bottom of the filter, then the grains and then the ground coffee. Not the best cup of coffee in the world, but tasty and worth a try if you have crystal or similar grains and hops laying around.

Next attempt is using DME - I'll let you know.

[chazwicke]

thanks for the report. I'm still not certain about hops in coffee but I'm willing to try it too.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by chazwicke
thanks for the report. I'm still not certain about hops in coffee but I'm willing to try it too.

I'm not saying it was great, but not bad, either. I'm thinking it would be good in tea - I'll let you know tomorrow

[chazwicke]

I've made Hop tea with my homegrown hops before.

[HogieWan]

Didn't get to try yet - maybe after lunch

[chazwicke]

It'll make you sleepy.