Spaghetti Western — Coffee Stout Guide

25 septembre 2025

Spaghetti Western: A Short Guide to Coffee Stouts

Dark, dense and aromatic, coffee stouts have become a favorite among craft-beer fans who want bold coffee and chocolate notes in a beer. This guide explains what a coffee stout is, how brewers make them, quick homebrew tips (coffee stout receptura), and how Spaghetti Western fits into the landscape of similar beers.

What is a coffee stout?

A coffee stout is a stout-style beer where coffee is an intentional, pronounced flavor component. Brewers pair dark malts with real coffee or cold-brew additions to amplify roasted, bitter, and chocolatey notes. Varieties range from light-bodied, espresso-forward stouts to big imperial stouts loaded with cocoa and lactose.

How are coffee stouts brewed? (coffee stout receptura)

There are several approaches — each gives a different coffee character:

Adding roasted coffee beans or grounds to the fermenter or conditioning tank (hot- or cold-steeped).
Using cold-brew coffee to add smooth, rounded coffee flavor without extra bitterness.
Adding espresso or concentrated coffee for an intense, bright espresso note.
Complementing coffee with chocolate, cocoa nibs, or roasted malts for balance.

Simple homebrew recipe outline:

Malt bill: Maris Otter or pale base + 10–20% roasted barley, black malt, chocolate malt.
Hops: Minimal — use low-bitterness hops so coffee and roast shine (IBU 20–35).
Fermentation: Ale yeast, moderate attenuation for body retention.
Coffee addition: Cold-brew 100–200 g per 20 L, add in secondary to taste (usually 3–7 days contact).
Optional: Lactose or cocoa nibs for sweetness and chocolate depth.

What are popular variations and related beers?

Coffee stouts overlap with other dark styles. Examples you might see in searches include:

Brewery-specific takes — smaller breweries like Browar Staropolski experiment with coffee and adjuncts in their stouts.
Smoked dark beers — Rauchbock (like some offerings from Kormoran) pair smoke and roast rather than coffee, but offer a robust, bold profile for fans of heavy roast flavors.
Irish-style stouts — smoother, drier bases that can be accented with coffee for a more restrained cup-of-coffee character.

Knowing these variations helps you pick a coffee-forward beer that fits your taste: more espresso-like, more chocolatey, or leaning into smoked/roasted complexity.

Tasting notes: what to expect

A coffee stout often opens with fresh coffee aroma (sometimes green/fresh beans if lightly processed), followed by chocolate, nutty or toasted malt, and a coffee-derived bitterness. If chocolate or cocoa nibs are used, you’ll notice sweeter, dessert-like elements.

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An imperial chocolate coffee stout will be higher in body and alcohol, adding warmth and richness.

Pairing and serving tips

Serving temperature: Slightly cool — 10–13°C (50–55°F) highlights aroma without muting flavors.
Glassware: Use a tulip or snifter to concentrate the aroma.
Food pairings: Dark chocolate, espresso desserts, nutty cheeses, roasted meats, and breakfast dishes (think: the beer’s own “colazione dei campioni”).

How does Spaghetti Western compare?

Spaghetti Western is an imperial chocolate coffee stout crafted with Prairie (Tulsa, Oklahoma). Expect dense, very dark color, a pronounced coffee aroma (fresh, green-not-toasted coffee character), then sweet cocoa, walnut kernel notes, and a coffee-espresso bitter-acid finish. It’s a dessert-sized stout that still keeps a lively coffee edge.

If you want to try a well-balanced, big coffee-and-chocolate experience, consider

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