It’s called Black Blood of the Earth (BBoTE), and it’s the brainchild of Phil Broughton, radiation safety specialist at the University of California-Berkeley who once had a side gig whipping up cocktails with liquid nitrogen in Antarctica’s lone bar—yes, really. My boyfriend Evan initially introduced me to BBoTE. He’s a bit of a caffeine addict (and also super nerdy, but don’t tell him I said that), so it’s no surprise he stumbled upon Broughton’s website, which describes this ultra-concentrated, uber-smooth brew. Surprisingly, Broughton’s inspiration for this coffee was his own health, not some weird scheme to take over the world, one Starbucks addict at a time. He’d been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and needed a way to satisfy his sweet tooth and love of caffeine without his daily 6-pack of Coke. So he tinkered around in his lab for a few weeks and the end result was BBoTE. MORE: Six New Ways to Get More Coffee Without Drinking It What exactly is this stuff? In a process that takes about two days, Broughton first soaks coffee beans in cold water, and then uses a technique called cold vacuum extraction to suck all of the flavors, caffeine, and oils from the coffee. The result is a brew with about 40 times the caffeine content of hot brewed coffee that’s also far less acidic (i.e. less damaging to tooth enamel and easier on your stomach) and has a subtle sweetness due to its higher concentration of oils. Apparently, the process also results in coffee with less theophylline, a substance partially responsible for the classic coffee jitters. Intrigued, we ordered a $40 bottle (750 mL) to see if it lived up to the hype and price tag. MORE: How Science Is Messing with Your Morning Coffee My boyfriend’s first impression: “Everything seemed a lot faster. Nothing was vibrating or shaky, but I did the dishes in about 5 minutes, and I built a website in a half hour. No caffeine crash, just a slow taper back to ’normal.’ I had three 2-ounce pours. I normally drink a Venti from Starbucks every day.” Apparently, he didn’t read the label, which recommends consuming no more than 3.5 ounces per day. Glad he didn’t die. My first impression: Hmm, tastes like a really strong, smoother cold brew. I wouldn’t add sugar. Kinda bummed I don’t get to drink more of it, but it certainly woke me up. I just don’t want to have heart palpitations. I can see how it would be good if you don’t have a lot of time and just need a quick hit of caffeine in the morning. MORE: Is Nitro Coffee the New Cold Brew? Essentially, BBoTE is to regular coffee what a good whiskey is to a mediocre beer—both get the job done, but one is more efficient and enjoyable. If you’re like me, and want quantity along with your quality, consider adding water or some type of milk (almond was tasty) to create a drink similar to an Americano or a latte. Bottom line: If you’re into coffee (or on deadline…like me, right now), it’s a nice once-in-a-while indulgence. But if you ever want to truly enjoy your blonde roast again, don’t make it a habit.
