It may be a blasphemous idea to coffee experts, but a group of Finnish scientists recently succeeded in producing artificial coffee through cell culture. According to Finland's VTT Technical Research Center, the resulting beans reproduce the taste and aroma of natural coffee, a claim that will no doubt raise the eyebrows of roasters around the world.

However, in the process of reducing the harmful deforestation required for large-scale coffee farming, many are taking a slightly harder look at the Finnish invention. The issue of maintaining sustainable agriculture threatens to drive up coffee prices around the world (not counting the impact on carbon emissions).

Dr. Heiko Rischer of VTT admits that "coffee making is an art," but the group has found that "trained sensory panels and analytical testing have found that the profile of the extracted coffee is similar to regular coffee," and that science has been able to replicate the taste of organic The group reported that science has succeeded in reproducing the taste of organic coffee.

The process of making artificial coffee begins with the cultivation of coffee cells, which are then placed in a bioreactor and continued with the development of another biomass The VTT is well-versed in developing artificial alternatives to unsustainable products. The state-run research facility specializes in carbon-neutral commercial solutions, developing everything from dental implants made of cellulose nanocomposites to new synthetic leather.

Coffee farming is currently a particularly toxic business. The climate required to grow the world's most popular coffee bean is also the climate most prone to deforestation. As demand for coffee continues to grow, more and more acreage is being cleared to grow coffee beans.

However, it may be some time before synthetic coffee is used in our homes; not only does VTT need to improve the taste and process before it can be produced on a large scale, but currently all food produced in the laboratory is subject to additional regulation by the FDA before it can be sold in the United States approval is required. After that, a battle with coffee purists awaits.

While it may be a few years before we start drinking synthetic coffee every morning, we can increase our caffeine intake with Cuisinart's Best Coffee Maker. Or, for something a little more convenient, take a look at the best Keurigs on the market right now.