PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteSingapore food-tech startup Prefer makes coffee-like ingredients and drinks without using coffee beans. Its product, PreferRoast, is now described as a coffee extender for food manufacturers, though the company also says consumers can buy its products online and find them on menus in Singapore. It is not conventional coffee: the ingredients and caffeine can differ, and its environmental claims should be read as company-reported comparisons.
What Prefer makes—and what “bean-free coffee” means
Prefer uses fermentation and roasting to create coffee-like flavour from ingredients other than coffee beans. Its current product page describes PreferRoast as a coffee extender made from rice and chickpeas. The soluble or roasted-and-ground ingredient can be used in food manufacturing, and Prefer says it can be blended with coffee at up to 40% without changing the flavour. That blend limit and flavour statement are the company’s product claims, not independently verified results in the sources reviewed. Prefer’s PreferRoast product page
“Coffee without coffee beans” is a useful shorthand, but it does not mean every product is identical to brewed coffee. PreferRoast is an ingredient that can be prepared or blended in different ways; the company’s broader portfolio also includes consumer-facing offerings. The exact retail products, prices, and shipping destinations currently available are not established by the company pages reviewed.
How fermentation and roasting build coffee-like flavour
Prefer’s current description says food-grade microorganisms ferment rice and chickpeas, then roasting develops flavours through Maillard reactions. The company says it extracts and processes the result into formats suitable for food-industry applications. Fermentation helps create flavour precursors; roasting develops the roasted notes associated with coffee.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- 12-CUP DURALIFE GLASS CARAFE: The sturdy 12-cup* carafe has measurement markings for accurate filling and an easy-grip handle for comfortable pouring. *Cup equals approximately 5 ounces (varies by brewing technique).
- SNEAK-A-CUP FEATURE TO PREVENT DRIPS: This feature temporarily stops the flow of coffee so you can pour your first cup before brewing ends without making a mess.
- EASY-VIEW WATER WINDOW: The front-facing window shows you the exact amount of water that will turn into coffee, and the brew basket requires a standard paper coffee filter for proper operation.
- DIGITAL CONTROLS WITH RUBBERIZED FEEL: Large, rubberized buttons give you full control of the coffeemaker, and the easy-read screen displays the clock, brew time, and programming options.
- QUICKTOUCH PROGRAMMING WITH AUTO SHUTOFF: Easily program the 24-hour auto brew feature so you can wake up to a fresh pot of coffee or whenever you desire. 2-Hour Auto Shutoff for added safety and peace of mind with every use.
The formulation has changed over time. MIT Technology Review’s 2024 account described an early recipe made from roughly equal amounts of stale bread, soy pulp (okara), and spent barley. Prefer’s founders tested hundreds of ratios and processing methods and used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to examine compounds associated with target flavours. That historical account said the mixture fermented for 24 hours before roasting; it should not be treated as the current PreferRoast recipe or as a universal process time. MIT Technology Review’s 2024 report
How it compares with conventional coffee
| Question | Conventional coffee | PreferRoast and related Prefer products |
|---|---|---|
| Are coffee beans used? | Yes; conventional coffee is made from coffee beans. | No coffee beans in Prefer’s bean-free ingredient. Prefer’s current PreferRoast page lists rice and chickpeas. |
| What is it for? | Usually brewed as a drink; coffee can also be used as an ingredient. | Prefer positions PreferRoast as a coffee extender for food manufacturers, available in soluble and roasted-and-ground formats; the company also describes consumer products and menu use. |
| Does it contain caffeine? | Caffeine content varies by coffee and serving. | Prefer says caffeine levels can be customized for business applications. Its 2024 product account said some caffeinated versions used tea-derived caffeine powder. Check the specific consumer product label rather than assuming it is caffeinated or caffeine-free. |
| What does it taste like? | Flavour varies with the coffee and preparation. | MIT Technology Review’s 2024 report described the early drink as lightly chocolate-like with lingering herbal bitterness, based on a founder explanation. That is not a guarantee for every formulation or consumer. |
| What sustainability evidence is available? | No like-for-like figure is established here. | Prefer reports that a recent life-cycle assessment found PreferRoast 8.8 times less carbon-intensive than traditional coffee cultivation. The underlying assessment and methodological detail are not available in the cited materials, so this is a company-reported comparison—not a conclusion about every environmental impact or alternative product. |
What consumers and food businesses can do with it
For consumers
Prefer says consumers can order online and that PreferRoast appears on menus in Singapore. MIT Technology Review’s 2024 report described powder brewed like coffee as well as bottled cold brew and bottled latte, but that report does not establish today’s available product lineup. For current ingredients and caffeine, rely on the label for the exact product being sold.
Rank #2
- 2 BREW STYLES: Classic or Rich, each brew is flavorful and never bitter with custom brew strengths.
- 12-CUP GLASS CARAFE: Brew small or large batches of coffee – perfect for day to day or entertaining.
- HOTTER BREWING TECHNOLOGY: Delivers even saturation and temperature control for ultra-flavorful coffee.
- SMALL BATCH FUNCTION: Ensure your coffee is never diluted when brewing a small batch (1-4 cups).
- WAKE UP TO HOT COFFEE: 24-hour programmable delay brew allows you to prepare your brew up to a day in advance.
For manufacturers and food-service businesses
Prefer targets food manufacturers, FMCG and CPG brands, flavour houses, distributors, and food-and-beverage innovators. Its technology page lists examples of routes to market, including an ice-cream collaboration with Melvados, corporate pantry distribution in Singapore, a licensing and manufacturing relationship with The Coffee Ferm for Australia and New Zealand, and expansion into the Philippines with Pick Up Coffee. These are partnership and distribution examples, not consumer referral offers. Prefer’s technology page
The company identifies Singapore as its base and says PreferRoast launched in 2024 as a coffee extender for manufacturers. Its portfolio is expanding beyond coffee: Prefer says PreferChoc, a cocoa extender, is in development. Businesses can request samples through the company’s site. Prefer’s official site
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #3
- EASILY FILL FROM THE FRONT: In this 12 cup drip coffee machine, it's easy to add water and coffee grounds using the FrontFill water reservoir with a swing-open brew basket thatswings open from the front, making it easy to access under cabinets
- PROGRAMMABLE COFFEE MAKER WITH CLEANING CYCLE REMINDERS: This drip coffee maker can be easily programmed up to 24 hours in advance for hot, wake-up ready coffee. When "CLEAN" appears on the display, it's time to run the self-cleaning cycle.
- GET YOUR FIRST CUP FAST: With Auto Pause & Pour on this programmable Hamilton Beach coffee maker, you can pour yourself a cup while coffee is still brewing.
- COFFEE YOUR WAY: Use the Select-a-Brew brew strength selector on this coffee machine to customize your coffee. Choose from regular, bold, or 1–4 cup options to match your taste or mood.
- EASY-VIEW WATER WINDOW: The window with clear measurement marks lets you see the water level as you fill the 12 cup coffee maker.
What the sustainability claim does—and does not—show
Prefer’s reported 8.8-times comparison concerns the carbon intensity of PreferRoast versus traditional coffee cultivation, according to the company’s homepage. FoodNavigator reported in 2025 that the analysis was a third-party life-cycle assessment, but the assessment itself and enough detail about its boundaries were not available in the cited materials to independently evaluate the result. The number should not be read as a claim that every Prefer product is 8.8 times better for the climate, or that it has lower impacts across water use, land use, packaging, or every other measure. FoodNavigator’s 2025 report
Prefer’s co-founder Jake Berber has characterized the process as “entirely natural” in a 2024 Foodie Singapore interview. That is his description of the company’s process, not an independent assessment of the finished product. Foodie Singapore’s interview with Jake Berber
Rank #4
- STRONG BREW: Increases the strength and bold taste of your coffee’s flavor.
- 3 CUP SIZES: Brew an 8, 10, or 12 oz. cup at the push of a button.
- MULTIPLE CUP WATER RESERVOIR: 42oz. removable reservoir lets you brew up to 4 cups before refilling. 8 oz. cup size
- FAST & FRESH BREWED: Delicious coffee made in minutes.
- TRAVEL MUG FRIENDLY: Removable drip tray accommodates travel mugs up to 7.4” tall.
Why the startup is pursuing bean-free coffee
Prefer’s approach turns fermentation and roasting into a way to make coffee-like flavour from other plant ingredients and food by-products. For food businesses, an extender offers a way to incorporate that flavour while using less conventional coffee in a blend; for consumers, it offers a different kind of coffee-like drink. Whether it suits an individual depends on the specific formulation, taste, and caffeine needs—not simply on the word “coffee” in the product description.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- VORTEX TECHNOLOGY: The exclusive showerhead design evenly saturates coffee grounds, resulting in rich flavor extraction for maximum flavor.
- SNEAK-A-CUP: This feature temporarily stops the flow of coffee, allowing you to pour your first cup before brewing ends without making a mess. Be sure to return carafe to the “Keep Hot” plate within 30 seconds to avoid overflow, and brewing will resume.
- NO-DRIP PERFECT POUR SPOUT: Don’t put up with annoying spills. The carafe spout on this coffee maker is designed to prevent spills and drips while pouring.
- REMOVABLE FILTER BASKET: Cleanup is easy with the dishwasher-safe brew basket, which is compatible with basket-style paper filters.
- KEEP HOT CARAFE PLATE: The heated carafe plate keeps coffee in the 12-cup carafe at the ideal drinking temperature after brewing. Refer to your user guide for more brewing techniques.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
