If you’ve ever winced at a Stout that leans too hard into burnt bitterness, you’ll understand exactly why we built this malt. Coffee and chocolate flavours are some of the most beloved notes in dark beer. But getting them right, without dragging astringency along for the ride, has always been a balancing act. Meet Platinum Swaen© Cappu: our answer to that challenge and the world’s first-ever Cappuccino malt.
Where it comes from
Roasted malts have a long history in brewing, prized for the colour and character they bring to Porters, Stouts, and dark Belgian Ales. But traditional roasting often comes with a trade-off: push the roast far enough to get deep coffee and chocolate flavours, and you risk picking up a dry, tannic harshness along the way.
At The Swaen, we set out to break that trade-off. Starting with thoroughly selected barley, we developed a roasting profile specifically tuned to draw out coffee and chocolate character while keeping the mouthfeel soft and rounded. The result is a malt that lets brewers chase bold, espresso-like flavour without asking their drinkers to put up with astringency in return.
What to expect: colour and flavour
Platinum Swaen© Cappu has an EBC of 600–800 (225–300 °L). That’s a deep, near-black colour – the kind that turns a beer inky in the glass and signals rich roast character before you’ve even taken a sip. On the palate, it delivers exactly what its name promises: coffee and chocolate undertones, layered and smooth rather than sharp. Where many heavily roasted malts can taste a little rough around the edges, Cappu’s defining trait is that soft, rounded mouthfeel.
Cappu is built for beer styles that already have a natural affinity for dark, roasty flavours: Stout, Porter, Scottish Ale, dark Belgian beers, and Brown Ale. Used at up to 10% of the grist, it’s potent enough to make its presence felt without overwhelming the rest of the recipe – a little goes a long way toward that signature coffeehouse character.
Try it for yourself
Meet Platinum Swaen© Cappu. Whether you’re chasing a bolder Stout, a more complex Porter, or simply want to explore what a cappuccino-inspired malt can bring to your grist, this malt opens up a flavour dimension that’s genuinely new. Request a sample and taste the coffee and chocolate undertones for yourself – or dive into the full Cappuccino Milk Stout recipe and start planning your next brew day.
