We actually taste tested it last night. Real alcohol smell, bitter yet tasted watered down. I made a point of pulling each pot as soon as it was done, so there wouldn't be that sitting on a burner bitterness. I like your idea of breaking down whole beans. I drink a roasted barley tea that I cold steep overnight in the fridge. I think I may try that with crushed beans. I think it'll give the roasted flavor without the bitterness. I was going to do a gallon of juice at the same time, so if the coffee thing went bad, we'd at least have something tasty that I created. I'll definitely do that this time. I'm thinking apple juice.

Originally Posted By: J.B.
Okay, Gotcha. Beyond my experience, but, as a start, maybe instead of ground, use some whole beans, sorta crushed (rolling pin, back of a skillet...) and instead of brewing, bring the lot to a boil and turn it to a simmer, leaving it there. It'll impart a better taste and help prevent grinds from getting into the mix.

Not claiming expertise. Just a thought.

Originally Posted By: Barry the Pirate
I'm not shooting for beer, because she doesn't much care for it. But she likes the coffee energy drinks and the hard teas. I think I'm shooting more for a coffee wine, for lack of a better term. It's nothing but coffee and brown sugar. The yeast I'm using is a dry champagne yeast that will eat all the sugar. At some point, around 11%ish, the alcohol will start killing the yeast. The champagne yeast is a bit more hearty and doesn't get killed so easily. I was looking at a potential of about 17% alcohol. Once it was done, I would've frozen it to finish off the yeast, then backfilled with brown sugar, cinnamon and pumpkin coffee syrup to her taste.
_________________________
Having killed someone doesn't make you a killer- @KINGROCHE