BREWING UP SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH COFFEE COLLECTIVE
Coffee is a big deal at Vault City. Our team runs on the stuff, so when the chance came up to brew with our pals at Coffee Collective in Copenhagen, we didn’t even hesitate, it was an instant yes.
Based in Copenhagen, Coffee Collective are renowned for their dedication to sustainable sourcing, roasting excellence, and showcasing the unique character of each coffee. Their philosophy is simple: to create truly great coffee, it must start with the people who grow the beans. That’s why they work directly with coffee farmers and pay far above market rates investing not just in beans, but in livelihoods, futures, and a more sustainable coffee industry overall. We’re so excited to have partnered up for a two-part special, infusing Coffee Collective and Vault City in this Coffee Lemonade Sour and an Espresso Martini Imperial Stout.
CUPPING & SLURPING 101
Earlier this year our team were lucky enough to visit Coffee Collectives roastery in Copenhagen and took part in a cupping session. This is a formal, standardised method for evaluating and comparing coffee to assess its flavour, aroma, and overall quality.
This collab kicked off thanks to our mates at Væskebalancen bars (who we’ve collabed with before on Risalamande, Danish Rice Pudding, Kobenhavn Stang – the list goes on!). We got the chance to taste through a line-up of 20/30 coffees and talk through ideas for the brew.
A process known as slurping is also a large part of this process. Believe or not slurping isn’t always rude, it’s actual encouraged when it comes to cupping! The reasoning behind this is to detect the full spectrum of flavours, body, acidity, and aftertaste of the coffee.
The team were able to taste a variety of different beans under the expertise of Klaus Thomsen with experience as a World Barista Champion, Klaus ensures that the coffee experience in these sessions is world-class. And for Angus, our Head of Production (and coffee fanatic), it was like a kid in a… well, coffee shop.
A WORD FROM ANGUS
“We spooned heavily, I saw so many spoons in Copenhagen! Spoons everywhere! Scattered beans and spoons…name of my debut album.”
Anyway, onto the beer!
COFFEE LEMONADE
When life gives you lemons, make coffee lemonade and then turn it into a Vault City sour.
Fresh lemon juice and zest meet the smooth, full-bodied character of Kieni, a Kenyan coffee sourced and roasted by Coffee Collective. We started by adding the coffee with a bulk grinder, then infused whole beans through a hop rocket to pull deep, rich flavours without overwhelming the base beer.
The result is a refreshing blend of soft coffee notes blackcurrant, blackberry, and rhubarb lifted by the zesty brightness of sweet lemonade.
The concept came from Nina at Coffee Collective, who told us about a friend making their own coffee lemonade. It immediately struck us as an idea worth exploring in beer form.
ESPRESSO MARTINI
The second in our Coffee Collective duo, this time at the opposite end of the spectrum.
This full-bodied imperial stout takes inspiration from the iconic cocktail, combining rich coffee character with velvety sweetness. A layered malt bill of Carafa® Special 3, chocolate wheat, oats, and Crystal T50™ creates depth and balance.
Infused with Reshad, an Ethiopian coffee, it offers aromas of milk chocolate and light fruit, followed by flavours of dark chocolate and a smooth, balanced bitterness that allows the coffee to shine.
From fresh lemons to rich espresso, this collaboration with Coffee Collective has been all about exploring the spectrum of flavour coffee can bring to beer.
Whether you’re after something bright and zesty or dark and decadent, these two releases showcase the best of both worlds.
Cheers to coffee, beer, and everything in between.