A chemical mix of flavor compounds from naturally derived sustainable ingredients can be reverse-engineered to make coffee without the bean.
Atomo Molecular Coffee, a Seattle-based startup, recently announced that Impossible Foods backer Horizon Ventures has invested $3.5 million in the concept, explained by Atomo chief scientist Jarret Stopforth.
“The acceptance of agriculture alternatives has been proven with meatless meats and dairy-free milks. We want to continue that movement in a category we feel passionate about – coffee,” writes Stopforth in a company release.
Atomo has the same taste, aroma, and caffeine without the bitterness or bean, he says. Coffee is made up of hundreds of chemical compounds which can be broken down into categories such as aromatics, flavors, acids, alcohols, and more.
“By evaluating the individual compounds in coffee we were able to map the most significant ones contributing to the characteristic aroma and flavor of coffee,” he said.
Learn more: Atomocoffee.com