How to Brew Coffee Cherry Tea at Home

Coffee cherry tea is brewed from the dried fruit that surrounds coffee beans, creating a fruity, naturally sweet beverage with less caffeine than coffee.

Updated 3 Sep 2026 4 min read 7 sections

To brew coffee cherry tea, steep the dried coffee cherry husks (called cascara) in hot water, the way you would a loose leaf tea, then strain and drink. Start with the directions on the pack, adjust the amount and the steeping time to taste, and remember that cascara comes from the coffee plant, so it contains caffeine. This guide covers what coffee cherry tea is, three simple ways to brew it, a few variations, and how to store it.

What is coffee cherry tea?

A coffee bean is the seed of a small red fruit, the coffee cherry. When coffee is processed, the beans are taken out and the fruit around them is often thrown away. Cascara is that fruit, dried. The name comes from the Spanish word for husk or peel. The Coffee cherry tea entry on Wikipedia covers its background, including its long use as a drink in coffee-growing regions such as Yemen and Ethiopia.

Brewed cascara makes a reddish-brown drink that is closer to a fruit tea than to coffee. Taste is personal, and it varies with the farm and the drying, so we do not give a flavor list. The best way to know is to brew a small cup.

Caffeine and who should take care

Because it comes from the coffee plant, cascara contains caffeine. How much ends up in your cup depends on how much you use and how long you steep it, so we do not give a figure. Treat it as a caffeinated drink, not as a caffeine-free herbal tea.

If you are pregnant, sensitive to caffeine, have a heart condition or trouble sleeping, or take medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist how much caffeine is right for you. We also do not make health claims for cascara. Many sellers mention antioxidants or digestion, but we have no source to support those claims here.

How to brew coffee cherry tea: three methods

You need nothing special: a teapot with a strainer, a French press or a jar and a fine sieve will do. The amounts below are a simple starting point. Change them to suit your taste, and follow the pack directions if they differ.

Hot steep

Boil fresh water and let it rest off the boil for a moment.
Put about 2 tablespoons of cascara per 8 oz of water into a teapot or French press.
Pour the water over the cascara and stir gently.
Steep for about 4 to 5 minutes, or longer if you like it stronger.
Strain and drink, or let it cool and pour over ice.

Cold brew

Put the cascara in a jar with cold, filtered water (a little more cascara than for hot tea).
Cover and leave it in the fridge overnight.
Strain through a fine sieve or a paper coffee filter.
Serve over ice, and keep the rest in the fridge.

Stovetop simmer

Add cascara to cold water in a small pot.
Bring it to a gentle boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for a few minutes.
Take it off the heat, let it sit briefly, then strain.

For more ideas, Weathered Hands Coffee has a cascara brewing guide as well.

Variations to try

Spiced cascara. Add a cinnamon stick, a few cloves or a slice of fresh ginger while it steeps.
Citrus cooler. Brew it a little stronger, pour over ice and add a slice of lemon or orange.
Cascara latte. Brew a small, strong cup and top it with steamed milk and a little honey.
Cascara syrup. Simmer brewed cascara with an equal amount of sugar until it dissolves, cool it, and use it in drinks or over desserts.

Adding sugar, honey or milk changes the drink, so count those if you watch your sugar.

How to store cascara

Keep dried cascara in an airtight, opaque container away from heat, light and moisture, like any loose tea. Check the best-before date on the pack and use it within that time. Brewed cascara should go in the fridge in a covered container, and it is best drunk soon after brewing. Throw it away if it smells or looks off.

Is coffee cherry tea right for you?

We suggest trying it if you:

Are curious about coffee-adjacent drinks and like fruit teas.
Like the idea of using a part of the coffee fruit that is often thrown away.
Are happy with a drink that contains some caffeine.

It is not a fit if you need a caffeine-free drink. In that case, a herbal tea without any part of the coffee plant is a safer choice.

Buddha Beans Coffee products

Buddha Beans Coffee coffee cherry tea — Coffee cherry tea$15.00Image from the merchant

Buddha Beans Coffee sells Buddha Beans cascara coffee cherry tea. Check the product page for the origin and any brewing directions.

The brand also sells a cold brew blend and several coffees made with hemp compounds: a Colombia CBD coffee, an Ethiopia CBD coffee and a Colombia CBG coffee. CBD and CBG can affect how some medicines work, so ask a pharmacist before trying those. It even sells a Buddha Beans sticker. If you order, you can see the current Buddha Beans Coffee discount code first.

Questions

How do you brew coffee cherry tea?

Steep dried cascara in hot water like a loose leaf tea, then strain it. Start with the pack directions, and adjust the amount and steeping time to taste. You can also cold brew it overnight in the fridge.

Does coffee cherry tea have caffeine?

Yes. Cascara comes from the coffee plant, so it contains caffeine. The amount depends on how much you use and how long you steep it. If you need to limit caffeine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What does cascara tea taste like?

It is closer to a fruit tea than to coffee, and the taste varies with the farm and the drying. Brew a small cup to find out if you like it.

Do I need special equipment to brew coffee cherry tea?

No. A teapot with a strainer, a French press, or a jar with a fine sieve all work.

How long does brewed cascara tea stay fresh?

Keep brewed cascara covered in the fridge and drink it soon after brewing. Throw it away if it smells or looks off.