Heads up, Coffee fiends! For those of you who love coffee, … but it doesn’t love you back, there’s a tasty new alternative, one that’s made with figs.

That’s right, figs.

Fig Brew, located on Leeman Ferry in Huntsville has been producing a delightful coffee taste-alike, using roasted figs. Referring to it as “Coffee’s Mellow Mate,” this nutritionally robust brew is quickly capturing the tastebuds of those seeking a coffee replacement; one that’s easy on the tummy as well as the nerves.

“More than anything, I love coffee and I’ve been on a 30-year mission for the perfect cup of coffee,” said co-founder Andy Whitehead. The problem is that coffee doesn’t love me, and I’m just as addicted to the caffeine as I am the coffee culture. I’ve gone through all the coffee alternatives and none of them do it for me.”

In his quest to find a suitable alternative for coffee, one that would mimic the look, smell, and taste of coffee, Whitehead happened across historical basis for using figs.

As part of the ongoing rationing during World War II, coffee was allocated here in the United States, as well as in Great Britain. To cope with the limited amount of coffee allotted, the English found an ideal solution by adding roasted figs to their brew, to stretch their morning cup o’ Joe. Figs were selected because they have a subtle flavor and a rich taste that is very similar to coffee.

Once the war was over, everyone went back to the almighty coffee bean, without even giving it a second thought. Unbeknownst to the Brits, using roasted figs added health benefits to their coffee – antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals – key nutrients not found in regular coffee. Fig Brew endeavors to reintroduce those benefits to the coffee-drinking culture.

Hard core coffee lovers have a lot of expectations when it comes to their daily brew. Taste, texture, and fragrance, along with the overall coffee culture “vibe” that goes with it. “Before you ever taste it or smell it, if you pour milk into coffee, there’s a certain expectation about how it should look,” said Whitehead. “And if it looks that way, then you’re already salivating. If it doesn’t look that way, it’s a big letdown.”

Fig Brew certainly does not disappoint in this department. “In all the experimentation, figs have been the only coffee alternative that resembles the real deal when milk is added,” said co-founder Kevin Deasy. According to Whitehead, it’s the only coffee alternative they have seen that looks just like coffee, with a taste that is very similar.

Whitehead and Deasy both have a background in the world of technology and business startups. They came to this fig-laden endeavor with a strategic mindset, a heaping dose of entrepreneurial passion, and several months’ worth of solid trial and error. They also know which figs work best for the roasting process and have successfully narrowed it down to a variety that is specific to the Mediterranean region.

By using the very best figs, Fig Brew roasts them up and grinds them down into a concoction that looks, smells, and tastes just like regular coffee. Figs are highly versatile and preparing Fig Brew products are as easy as preparing a regular pot of coffee, using any typical brewing method.

As word gets out, demand continues to grow for the fig-based coffee alternative. Fig Brew is gaining traction with coffee shops and gift shops throughout Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Fig Brew currently offers two products, Figgee which is entirely fig-based and Mellow Mix, which is a half-caffeinated combination of coffee and figs. The next new product roll-out will be a K-cup version.

Fig Brew provides an option for those who have had to give up their favorite morning cup of java. It contributes to the continuation of the coffee culture; it even has a taste appeal for those who are not coffee fans. For those who like to enjoy the simple pleasures of a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning or an iced coffee as a summer refreshment to beat the heat, yet don’t want the reflux or jitters that go with it, Fig Brew is an ideal go-to.

“It’s been an interesting ride,” said Whitehead. “We’ve been shipping products since roughly end of January, first of February. We’re really not inventing anything; we’re just reintroducing something that’s been around for decades.”

To learn more, go to: https://figbrew.com/