Most of us picture coffee as a warm or cold beverage which we can customize and enjoy drinking. It also serves as the daily caffeine kick for many. For some, only the latter is the most important thing about coffee. However, for the coffee aficionado it is the complex flavors and aromatics that makes coffee coffee!
When new coffee trends or new versions of coffee start to appear, people tend to be divided or have a strong opinion on the matter one way or the other. For example, when Dalgona or “whipped” coffee became more widely recognized in the West, pretty much everyone was making it.
This new coffee style? It seems like more of a mystery to many.
Clear Coffee
While not exactly a trend, clear coffee made its way into the public eye in 2017 in Europe, but no one seems to know why. Does it taste like coffee? Does it have the caffeine kick? Or to put it more simply, what is it?
The Background
Clear Coffee, or as it is on the bottle of their product, CLR CFF was founded by Slovakian brothers David and Adam Nagy. It is made from high quality Arabica coffee beans and pure water. Unfortunately, that’s the only solid information that the internet seems to hold on this coffee.
The process of how it is made and why they wanted to release it remain a question mark in the world of coffee. Wanting to keep the formula a secret is somewhat understandable, in case other people might want to try and make their version of clear coffee.
The question is, why did we need clear coffee in the first place? Maybe we didn’t need it, but it is fun to try new things every once in a while. The Nagy brothers say that they wanted the caffeine but did not want to stain their teeth.
Before this information, there were theories about its existence. These include that it could just be a hit of caffeine for those who don’t like the taste of coffee. This seems to be the most realistic and the least critical of the product.
Teeth Whitening
Since the Nagy brothers wanted to keep their teeth white, most of the marketing behind Clear Coffee seemed to be geared toward this idea. The Instagram page has plenty of hashtags to prove it too.
It doesn’t necessarily say that clear coffee will whiten your teeth, but it does aim to keep them from getting stained, thanks to its color.
The Taste
So here’s the big question, how does it taste? Maybe you don’t care so much about what form your caffeine is in, but the idea of keeping your teeth white sounds great. Or maybe as a coffee connoisseur, you need to try every product on the market.
The verdict is that clear coffee sadly doesn’t taste like much. Many say that it tastes just like water but with a slight hint of coffee or a “coffee aftertaste.” James Hoffman described it as “super dark roast flavors with no good coffee flavor whatsoever”.
Where Is It Available?
Originally the Clear Coffee brand was only available in Europe, having been released in London at stores including Selfridge’s. It seems like it is still exclusive to Europe, but those who are outside of Europe should be able to find it on Amazon or other spots online. Albeit mostly in other currencies such as pound sterling or euros. It comes in two or four packs which cost 8.49 and 15.99 pounds respectively.
Who Would Like This?
If you want to keep your teeth white and want a slight coffee taste with a caffeine kick that’s low-calorie, you might enjoy CLR CFF’s clear coffee. A bonus is that you won’t have any coffee breath after drinking this stuff. However, if you love the deep complex flavors and aromas of coffee this is not for you.
Can It Be Improved?
How else can you drink this? If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a two or four-pack of Clear Coffee, you can customize it a bit as you would your regular coffee.
While you can’t exactly customize the brew, what with its mysterious brewing process and the fact that it comes pre-made, you can do a little. If needed, you can add some cream or milk to the coffee to give a more exciting taste.
The thing is, it may look like a glass of milk. If that doesn’t bother you, you could try the same milk and sugar routine and hope for the best!
Let’s Review
So, is Clear Coffee the right choice for you? Most reviews about its taste haven’t been the most complimentary, but no one has outright called it disgusting either. The color could take some getting used to, but it is a fun concept. It is as clear as a clean fish tank!
To more easily break it down again, read below.
Try it if:
Avoid it if:
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve decided whether or not to try clear coffee, remember these bits of news before you go.
The Good News
The beverage is available in packs on Amazon to those outside of the UK or the rest of Europe. You can enjoy a new experience with coffee or try it just to say that you have.
The Bad News
The Instagram and Facebook of Clear Coffee haven’t had updates since 2019, so the Nagy brothers’ business might have taken a hit when the Covid-19 pandemic began. However, it is still out there to be purchased on varying sites, as mentioned earlier. The fact that their official website is now defunct doesn’t look good, though.
