
An MP has praised a distillery for creating the world’s first alcoholic beverage made from upcycled coffee grounds.
Murray & Yeatman is an innovative distillery near Hailsham, which produces a range of alcoholic spirits using unique methods.
The distillery near Hailsham has produced the first alcoholic beverage using upcycled coffee grounds. (Image: Nusrat Ghani) Earlier this year, the company launched a coffee liqueur, Realizzato, with alcohol distilled exclusively from used coffee grounds.
According to the firm, Realizzato is one of the "world’s most environmentally friendly and sustainable alcoholic beverages".
According to Murray & Yeatman, the beverage is one of the world’s most environmentally friendly and sustainable alcoholic drinks. (Image: Nusrat Ghani MP) It is estimated that a single UK high street coffee chain discards more than 240 tonnes of coffee grounds each day, which end up in landfills and contribute to CO2 emissions.
Over a decade of research led Murray & Yeatman to develop a proprietary method of distilling alcohol from used coffee grounds, which they have now industrially scaled for Realizzato production.
Murray & Yeatman spent 10 years researching a method to distill alcohol from coffee grounds. (Image: Nusrat Ghani MP) Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, visited the distillery to celebrate this achievement.
Nusrat said: "I am always amazed by the expertise of our local businesses, and I am proud that Sussex Weald is the home to the world’s first alcoholic beverage to be made from upcycled coffee grounds.
"I know that looking after our environment is one of the top issues for residents, so it is fantastic to have so many local companies focussed on environmental impact across so many different industries from advanced manufacturing to hospitality.
"I am pleased that the launch by Murray & Yeatman of Realizzato has been successful in the UK, and I look forward to seeing this unique product representing Sussex Weald across the world."
Rob Murray, CEO of Murray & Yeatman, said: "Murray & Yeatman has achieved for the UK a world-first product with multiple implications.
"Realizzato is the only real coffee liqueur that is actually distilled from spent coffee grounds, rather than rum or vodka-based flavoured alternatives, and at the same time it provides a solution to the tonnes of spent coffee grounds heading to landfill each day.
"The product will play a considerable part in helping the UK meet its environmental objectives, as well as globally contributing to environmental and atmospheric changes.
"We are very proud to play a part in the UK’s innovative, world-first products and being able to demonstrate these achievements in a visit by Nusrat Ghani MP is a significant milestone in our global launch."
The original article is available here.