Ignis and Ebony Coffee in Final Fantasy XV

Ebony is the fictional canned coffee brand in Final Fantasy XV, and it is the favorite drink of Ignis Scientia, the party's advisor, chef and designated driver. The Ebony coffee Final Fantasy fans remember comes with an image: Ignis sipping a can behind the wheel of the Regalia and defending it when Noctis asks whether it is really that good. The brand is a loving nod to Japan's huge canned coffee culture, and you can make a strong, chilled, can-style coffee at home in minutes.

Final Fantasy XV and Its Road Trip

Final Fantasy XV is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. It was released on November 29, 2016 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with a Windows edition following in 2018.

The story follows Prince Noctis and his three friends, Gladiolus, Prompto and Ignis, on a road trip across the kingdom of Lucis in the Regalia, a royal convertible. Much of the game's charm comes from small daily rituals: camping under the stars, Prompto's photos, and Ignis cooking dinner from ingredients you collect along the way.

Ignis and His Love of Ebony Coffee

Ignis is the most composed member of the group: strategist, cook and the one who usually drives. His one indulgence is Ebony. He is often seen drinking a can while driving the Regalia and during some campsite scenes, and his loyalty to the brand became a running fan favorite.

• The brand: Ebony is a coffee company that exists only in the world of Eos, the game's setting.
• The decal: players can get an Ebony decal for the Regalia in the market of Lestallum, the bustling city of the game's eastern region.
• The banter: Noctis teases Ignis about it, and Ignis stands by his drink without hesitation.

It is a small detail, but it makes Ignis feel real. Plenty of people have a go-to can or bottle that gets them through a long drive, and in Japan that drink is very often canned coffee.

Canned Coffee Culture in Japan

Ebony makes perfect sense in a game made in Japan, a country where canned coffee is everywhere: in convenience stores, train stations and the vending machines that line nearly every street.

A Short History

What Japanese Canned Coffee Tastes Like

The range is huge, but a few styles dominate:

• Milk coffee: the classic, usually quite sweet and creamy.
• Black coffee: unsweetened and popular with people who drink several a day.
• Low sugar: a middle ground between the two.
• Café au lait: milkier and softer.

Many cans are sold both hot and cold, sometimes from the same vending machine. That convenience, a ready-to-drink coffee at the right temperature at any hour, is exactly what a busy road-tripper like Ignis would appreciate.

How to Make a Strong Ebony-Style Iced Coffee at Home

The game never describes Ebony's exact flavor, but its name suggests something dark and intense. Here is how to make a bold, chilled coffee in the spirit of a canned black coffee, plus a sweet milk version.

Ebony Black: Japanese Flash-Brew Method

Brewing hot coffee directly over ice locks in aroma and gives a crisp, strong iced coffee. For one large glass or bottle:

• 25 g (about 4 tablespoons) of medium-fine ground dark roast coffee
• 200 ml (6.8 fl oz) of water at about 93°C (200°F)
• 150 g (5.3 oz) of ice

1. Put the ice in a carafe or jug and set a pour-over cone with a rinsed paper filter on top.
2. Add the coffee and pour about 40 ml (1.4 fl oz) of hot water to bloom it for 30 seconds.
3. Pour the rest slowly in circles, finishing in about 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Swirl until the ice has mostly melted, then pour into a bottle or a glass with fresh ice.
5. Chill in the fridge and drink within a day for the best flavor.

For an Ebony-worthy cup, use a deep, smoky roast like our Italian Roast or French Roast. Our full guide to Japanese iced coffee explains the method in more detail.

Ebony Milk: Sweet Vending-Machine Style

1. Make the flash-brew coffee above.
2. Stir 1 to 2 teaspoons (4 to 8 g) of sugar into the coffee while it is still slightly warm, so it dissolves.
3. Add 60 to 90 ml (2 to 3 fl oz) of whole milk.
4. Shake in a sealed bottle and chill. Serve cold, straight from the bottle, road-trip style.

Shortcuts for Busy Days

• Cold brew concentrate: make a batch on Sunday with our Cold Brew Coffee blend, then dilute and bottle it for the week. See how to make cold brew.
• Instant: dissolve our Premium Instant Coffee in a splash of hot water, then top with cold water and ice for a can-style coffee in one minute.
• Extra kick: for very long days, our Max Caf Blend mixes Tanzanian coffee with Indian Robusta for a higher-caffeine cup. Keep your total under the FDA's general guideline of 400 mg of caffeine a day for most healthy adults, and ask your doctor if you are pregnant, have a medical condition or take medication.

Ebony Coffee Final Fantasy FAQ

What is Ebony in Final Fantasy XV?

Ebony is a fictional canned coffee brand in Final Fantasy XV. It is Ignis Scientia's favorite drink, and you can also find an Ebony decal for the Regalia in the Lestallum market.

Why does Ignis drink Ebony coffee?

The game presents it simply as his favorite. It fits his role as the group's driver and planner, and it reflects Japan's strong canned coffee culture, where a can of coffee is a common companion on long drives.

Can you buy real Ebony coffee?

Ebony is a brand that exists inside the game's world. To recreate the idea, brew a strong dark roast as Japanese-style iced coffee and keep it chilled in a bottle.

When did canned coffee start in Japan?

A short-lived canned coffee appeared in Shimane in 1965, and UCC launched its canned coffee with milk in 1969. Hot-and-cold vending machines in the 1970s helped turn it into an everyday habit.

Fuel for Your Own Road Trip

Ignis would approve of a coffee that is strong, dependable and ready when you are. Brew your Ebony-style iced coffee with our Italian Roast, prep a week of bottles with Cold Brew Coffee, or keep Premium Instant Coffee in the glovebox for camp. Every Feel Espresso coffee is roasted 1 to 5 days before delivery, so your road trip starts with fresh beans.