Millennials are turning out to be the pioneers of weird combinations, and proudly so. From Flamin’ Hot Cheeto’s crispy treats to Jell-O cupcakes, there really is no limit to what foods and drinks we can fuse to make something deliciously unique. Merlot-infused coffee is no exception. This combo of red wine and coffee is like night and day in a cup, but somehow, it works.
The magic happens when coffee beans are aged in oak wine barrels. As they age, the beans pick up flavors of the merlot, resulting in a medium-dark roast coffee with hints of blackberry and currants. Basically, it’s the best thing that could ever happened to your morning.
Photo by Christina Robinson
When I first opened the package, I could immediately smell the merlot. It was so strong, I almost lost hope that an idea this good could be true. Thankfully, I was so wrong. This stuff tastes like a full-bodied coffee at first, but with the aftertaste of red wine.
It’s best if taken black or with a little sugar. I tried it with cream for experimental purposes, but it mellowed out the flavors of merlot to the point where it tasted like fruity coffee more than anything else. Even a friend of mine who drinks her coffee loaded with cream and sugar enjoyed this coffee black.
Photo by Christina Robinson
Merlot-infused coffee was actually created to be a classy after-dinner drink. It would be even better paired with some ice cream. Personally, it gave me life during a seriously stressful morning. Even though I knew I wasn’t actually drinking wine, the taste and smell of merlot made me feel like I was getting away with something. Just think of it as mixing cream into your coffee, except instead of cream you’re pouring wine and it feels so wrong in all the right ways.
If you are as curious to try merlot-infused coffee as I was, you can purchase it here.