Catalyzes the hydration of the acyl-CoA thioester of ferulic acid and the subsequent retro-aldol cleavage of the hydrated intermediate to yield vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde) (PubMed:9461612, PubMed:10222033). The enzyme is also active with caffeoyl-CoA and 4-coumaroyl-CoA producing 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenaldehyde, respectively (PubMed:10222033). (E)-caffeoyl-CoA + H2O = 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde + acetyl-CoA (E)-feruloyl-CoA + H2O = acetyl-CoA + vanillin (E)-4-coumaroyl-CoA + H2O = 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde + acetyl-CoA kcat is 3.72 sec(-1) with feruloyl-CoA as substrate. Optimum pH is 8.5-9.5. Homohexamer; dimer of trimers. Belongs to the enoyl-CoA hydratase/isomerase family.