One of the most certain methods to bring more pleasure into your life is to create a dish that combines two of your favourite meals, such as bacon and cheeseburger. But rather than merging elements of your favourite food, why not try blending elements of some of your favourite drinks?
It is high time that coffee and alcoholic drinks were mixed together.
While you’re enjoying your cup of coffee in the morning, do you ever find yourself thinking, “I can’t wait till evening so I can have a drink,” or anything similar? In such case, you are not the only one. Or, do you ever find yourself eagerly anticipating the start of the day so that you might indulge in a steaming mug of coffee? Well, why wait?
The following are 11 of the best recipes for coffee cocktails, which will both slake your thirst for alcohol and your need for caffeine at the same time.
Do you want people to think that you are intelligent even if you don’t consume alcohol? If you’re looking for a sophisticated beverage that does not include alcohol, try one of our three mocktails that is based on coffee (at the end of this list).
Make sure you have all of the essential components before we start, and don’t go for the cheapest alternatives; the flavour of your beverages will be a direct reflection of how cheap you are being. Before we get started, make sure you have all of the necessary components. This is a guide for manufacturing your own coffee liqueur, which is necessary for many of the recipes that are included below. If you do not want to spend the extra money on buying coffee liqueur, here is a method for producing your own.
Simple Coffee Cocktails
1. Irish Coffee
It’s possible that when you think about coffee drinks that include liquor, this is one of the first things that comes to mind for you.
What gives this drink its Irish flavour?
Whiskey, without a doubt!
Because of its silky texture and delectable flavour, this cocktail is often considered to be among the very finest coffee drinks available.
Irish coffee was initially presented to the public for the first time in 1943, when it was provided by chef and bartender Joe Sheridan to the passengers of an aircraft that was forced to make an emergency landing in Foynes, Ireland, owing to heavy weather. The flight was diverted to Foynes because of the storm.
After waiting for another 9 years, Joe finally got a job at the Buena Vista, a popular restaurant in San Francisco.
It was here that Joe made the acquaintance of the journalist Stanton Delaplace, who was instrumental in the propagation of Joe’s drink to the point that it was renowned and appreciated all over the world.
Irish coffee is still available at the Buena Vista, which is still operating to this day.
What You’ll Need
- 2 sugar cubes
- 1 ½ oz whiskey
- 6 oz hot coffee
- Whipped cream
Preheat an Irish coffee glass, then add hot coffee until it’s about ¾ full. Add 2 cocktail sugar cubes and stir.
After adding the cream, finish with the Irish whiskey. If you truly like this beverage, you will enjoy the following in-depth recipe for Irish coffee.
2. Cafe Amore (french connection)
Crossing the Atlantic, we are now in France.
Cognac is the alcohol of choice for the French, while Amaretto is preferred for its taste. Whiskey is not a popular choice in France.
A classic French Connection contains equal parts cognac and Amaretto liqueur. After filling a glass with ice, pour in one ounce of Cognac and one ounce of Amaretto, then swirl the mixture.
The coffee-based variant, on the other hand, is often served hot and is known by the moniker Cafe Amore.
What You Need
- Hot coffee
- 1 oz Cognac
- 1 oz Amaretto
- Shaved almonds
- Whipped cream
Pour one ounce each of Cognac and Amaretto into a hot glass, then fill the remainder of the glass with hot, black coffee. Serve immediately.
Add whipped cream and sliced almonds on the top if you want to give the dish an additional depth.
Try this one out today if you’re seeking for some warm alcoholic cocktails to sip on this winter.
3. The Coffee of Italy
The next stop on our tour is Italy, a country renowned for its coffee culture and rich in coffee history.
In this situation, the Strega liqueur, which is a highly particular and one-of-a-kind component, is required.
It is a mixture of herbs that have been infused with saffron, which gives it a golden hue. When it is combined with hot coffee, it gives out a wild perfume that includes juniper, mint, and fennel, in addition to over 60 other types of herbal components.
Since its inaugural production in the year 1860 in Campania, Italy, the formula for this liqueur has been kept a well guarded secret.
This liqueur has a lively flavour and a light body, although it has an alcohol content of up to 80 %. The word “witch” originates from the Italian language and derives its meaning from the alleged practise of witchcraft that dates back hundreds of years in the region.
What You Need
- 5 oz hot coffee
- ½ oz Strega
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 ½ oz whipped cream
Pour coffee and Strega into a hot, Irish coffee glass and add about a teaspoon of sugar. Float some cream on top and sprinkle with nutmeg.
Now imagine watching the sunset over Tuscany while you sip your coffee…
4. Kentucky Coffee
Think Irish coffee, but straight out of the American South.
Kentucky is known for its bourbon, so what better alcohol to mix with coffee could there be?
Give Kentucky Coffee a try for the best blend of coffee and bourbon.
What You Need:
- 1 oz bourbon
- ½ oz Kahlua
- Dash of vanilla extract
- Sugar to taste
- Whipped cream
- 6 oz hot coffee
Take that same Irish coffee glass and fill it half full with hot coffee.
Add an ounce of your favorite bourbon, half an ounce of coffee liqueur and a dash of vanilla extract.
Sweeten with sugar to taste, and slowly pour some cream so that it rests on top.
Sit back and enjoy the taste of the South.
5. Mexican Coffee
Is Kentucky not southern enough for you? Go ahead and cross the border into Mexico for this vibrant take on coffee.
Pull out the tequila and the ice cream, it’s time for Mexican Coffee.
What could be better than coffee, tequila, Kahlua, and ice cream? Probably nothing, to be honest.
What You Need:
- ¼ cup vanilla ice cream
- ½ oz Kahlua
- ½ oz tequila
- 6 oz hot coffee
Simply melt the vanilla ice cream in the microwave and add it to a cup of strong, full-bodied coffee.
Add the Kahlua and the Tequila and you are good to go!
This is a great cocktail served hot, but we’re sure it would taste just as wonderful cold!
6. Bavarian Coffee
Where the heck is Bavaria and what kind of coffee do they drink?
Well, for starters, Bavaria, also known as Bayern, is Germany’s largest land state and is well known for its beautiful, old-world charm.
So what type of cocktail would Bavarians make with coffee?
It starts with the familiar ingredients of hot coffee, Kahlua, sugar, and cream. Kahlua is definitely the go-to for coffee liqueur drinks – and this drink takes Kahlua to the next level.
The kicker is the addition of peppermint schnapps. This creates that sweet, minty, creamy coffee that we all dream of during the holidays.
Never had peppermint schnapps before?
It tastes like a candy cane! Think Creme de Menthe but less sweet.
What You Need:
- 5 oz hot coffee
- ½ oz peppermint schnapps
- ½ oz Kahlua
- Sugar to taste
- Whipped Cream
Try Bavarian Coffee this holiday season by simply combining peppermint schnapps and Kahlua in 5 oz hot, black coffee. Add sugar to taste and top with whipped cream.
Try Bavarian Coffee this holiday season by simply combining peppermint schnapps and Kahlua in 5 oz hot, black coffee.
7. The Spanish Carajillo
Spanish culture is loaded with drama. So it should come as no surprise that “Spanish Coffee”, or carajillo, is as intense as everything else that this dramatically beautiful culture delivers. Here’s how to make a classic Carajillo, but you should also have a go at creating a dazzling flaming Spanish coffee too.
A smooth and powerful combination of caffeine and alcohol, this carajillo recipe is sure to leave you coming back for more.
What You’ll Need:
- 4 oz coffee
- 3/4 oz Grand Marnier
- 1 oz rum and coffee liqueur
- 3/4 oz Jamaican rum
- 1/4 oz brown sugar syrup
- 4 oz heavy cream
- fine sugar (optional)
- orange slice (optional)
Add the shaker contents to the coffee along with the Jamaican rum, ¼ oz Grand Marnier, coffee liqueur, and brown sugar syrup. Stir. Use the backside of the spoon to carefully float some cream onto the top of the drink.
Start by wetting the rim of a glass with the orange slice. Then, pour sugar onto the plate and dip the glass upside down into the sugar.
Add ½ oz of Grand Marnier and heavy cream to a shaker along with the coil of a Hawthorne strainer and dry shake (no ice) for at least 10 seconds.
Brew the coffee.
Add the shaker contents to the coffee along with the Jamaican rum, ¼ oz Grand Marnier, coffee liqueur, and brown sugar syrup. Stir.
Use the backside of the spoon to carefully float some cream onto the top of the drink.
8. Maple Bourbon
Mention the words maple and bourbon to most people and they get an ear-to-ear grin. Seriously. You’re probably grinning right now. On their own, each of these flavors is spectacular – put them together with coffee and my oh my, what a wonderful day.
Mention the words maple and bourbon to most people and they get an ear-to-ear grin. Seriously. You’re probably grinning right now.
What You Need:
- 8 oz freshly brewed coffee
- 1 oz bourbon
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 2 tbsp vanilla
You can also make your whipped cream and plop it on top of your coffee drink.
Brew the coffee. In a mixing bowl, combine the whipping cream, maple syrup, vanilla, and brown sugar. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Add in the bourbon.
Add about 1/8th of a cup of the combined whipping cream, maple syrup, vanilla, and brown sugar to a coffee mug at first. Stir it up and take a taste.
You can also make your whipped cream and plop it on top of your coffee drink.
Cold Caffeinated Cocktails
10. Espresso Summer
Some people like their coffee just how they like their booze – ice cold.
The Espresso Summer is a cocktail made with espresso and served over ice.
This will carry you through those long, hot summer days and keep you going long into the night.
What You Need:
- 1 oz espresso or cold brew concentrate
- 1 ½ oz gin
- ½ oz simple syrup
- ½ oz orange juice
- Blackberries
- Orange Slice
Take a shot of espresso and shake over ice to chill (or use a cold brew concentrate, as most people don’t have their own espresso machine at home).
Add the gin, simple syrup, and orange juice. Then, shake it all together and top with blackberries and an orange slice.
Then take off your shoes, sit outside, and enjoy.
11. Paradise Found
I know what you’re thinking: palm trees, sand beneath your feet, and an ice-cold cocktail in your hand as you watch wave after wave roll in along the tropical shore.
If you are not currently sitting on the beach, the least you can do is make this cocktail and dream of the next time you get to wake up and drink iced coffee cocktails in Hawaii or Bali.
What You Need:
- 6 oz Iced coffee
- 1 oz spiced rum
- 1 oz butterscotch schnapps
- Cream
- Sugar
To make this cold cocktail, add the rum and butterscotch schnapps to the iced coffee. Mix in a little cream and sugar to taste.
Stir everything together in a tall glass with ice, put your bathing suit on, and set up the lawn chair in the backyard for the greatest escape.
12. Black Russian
This is one of the easiest cocktails you can make with a delicious coffee twist.
This drink is popular all over the world. It’s vodka and coffee liqueur, who can resist that?
To make the Black Russian:
What You Need:
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- ¾ oz Kahlua
- Ice
Simply fill an old fashioned glass with ice and top with the vodka and liqueur. Give it a good stir and enjoy.
Yes, it’s as simple as that.
What’s stopping you from giving it a try today? Want to spice it up a bit?
Try finding a different type of coffee liqueur, or explore different vodka options (hint, there are many). You can even try chocolate or chocolate raspberry vodka for an interesting twist.
Check out this Black Russian recipe with an orange twist.
13. White Russian
There a few different ways to make the White Russian cocktail. The first way is to make a Black Russian, as listed above, and simply add cream to it, thus turning it from a dark color to white.
Easy!
Another way is to replace the coffee liqueur with actual cold brew coffee.
What You Need:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz milk or cream
- 1 oz cold brew coffee concentrate
For this White Russian, you fill a rocks glass with ice and add the vodka, milk or cream, and cold brew coffee concentrate.
Give it all a good stir and you have a white, caffeinated beverage that will also put your mind at ease.
So if you would like to add some actual coffee to your cocktail (to keep it consistent with our other coffee with liquor recipes!), just go with the second option.
This beverage could also be made hot quite easily.
Add the vodka and milk to a cup of hot, black coffee and you can enjoy it regardless of the weather outside.
14. Espresso Martini
We all need a good martini every now and then, and what could be better than this delicious iced coffee martini?
This one is pretty similar to the Black Russian, yet different enough for you to try both. Plus, this one will make you feel extremely classy.
So do your hair and put on your best outfit, because you need to dress the part to fully enjoy this classy concoction.
What You Need:
- 1 ½ oz Kahlua
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz espresso
- Ice
In a cocktail shaker add ice, Kahlua, Vodka, and espresso. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass.
Now sit back and enjoy life on top of the world.
You may have noticed that Kahlua is a common theme between all these cocktails. And it’s no wonder why – it’s the perfect pairing with your favorite cup of joe. We’ve got more coffee martini recipes here.
15. Creamy Boozy Iced Coffee
The Creamy Boozy Iced Coffee is a great brunch accompaniment, a sitting on the deck in the sunshine drink or an after-dinner treat (maybe go decaf there).
This drink is perfect just about any time that a non-boozy, non-creamy iced coffee just won’t do.
What You Need:
- 2 cups strong cold-brewed coffee
- 4-6 ice cubes
- 1 oz Frangelico
- 1 oz half and a half (or cream, milk, coconut, soy, almond or cashew milk)
- sugar or other sweeteners
- whipped cream
- chocolate syrup
- a chocolate bar for shavings
Add ice to a glass, and pour the cold coffee over it. Pour in the Frangelico first, then the cream, and stir it up. Lastly, add the sweetener of your choice, to taste.
Garnish with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and chocolate shavings.
16. Kahlua Coffee Soda
Is there anything better than watching cream swirling into coffee? This Kahlua coffee soda could not be easier, too! It’s a quick drink to prepare, with just a few ingredients, that acts as a refresher and a pick-me-up.
What You Need:
- 1 shot espresso
- 1.5 oz kahlua
- 2-4 dashes aromatic bitters or black walnut bitters
- soda water
- 1/4 cup half & half cream
- 1 cup ice
Make the espresso, and pour it over the ice. Next, pour in the Kahlua. Add a few dashes of the bitters. Put in a splash of soda. Add the half & half cream.
17. Kahlua Iced Coffee
The ingredients for Kahlua iced coffee are largely what you would expect: Kahlua and iced coffee. It’s not much more complicated than grabbing your ingredients and mixing them all together.
For something so utterly delicious, Kahlua iced coffee is remarkably easy to make.
What You Need:
- 1 shot espresso (or a large mug of brewed coffee)
- 1 oz Kahlua
- 1 cup milk
- 0-3 tsp white sugar (to taste)
- ice cubes
Make the coffee and let it cool down a bit. Add sweetener to taste. Add cream (or milk), and Kahlua to the coffee. Stir it up well. Add enough ice cubes to fill the glass, give it one last good stir.
Optional: add your favorite topping.
Non-Alcoholic Cold Brew Coffee Cocktails
18. “C’Old” Fashioned
The Coffee Old Fashioned – A delicious take on a classic cocktail.
Again, the coffee in this drink replaces the alcohol, so anyone can enjoy this beverage.
You may even see these being served in coffee shops through the summer, as baristas are getting more creative with their cold coffee drinks.
What You Need:
- 1 oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Orange bitters
- Ice
Add the cold brew coffee concentrate, simple syrup, orange bitters, and ice to a shaker.
Shake it well and pour it into an old fashioned glass with ice. Top with an orange slice or cherry.
What better way to start a Saturday morning!
19. Cold Brew Sour
The Cold Brew Sour is a take on the whiskey sour.
It’s cool and refreshing as well as bright and tart.
The tart/sour taste is pleasantly balanced by the sweetness of the coffee, creating a beverage that many people can enjoy.
To brew up a Cold Brew Sour, gather these ingredients:
What You Need:
- 2 oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- Juice from half a lemon
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1 lemon wedge
Add all of the ingredients to a rocks glass full of ice: stir it up and enjoy it on a sunny afternoon for best results.
20. Cold Brew Tonic
Last but certainly not least, we have the Cold Brew Tonic.
Very similar to a gin and tonic, but replacing the gin with cold brew coffee.
It’s super easy to make. Of course, you can head to a specialty coffee shop to have them whip one up for you, but you can make this one for yourself no problem.
What You Need:
- 2 oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- 8 oz tonic water
- Ice
Simply add the cold brew coffee concentrate to the tonic water and top with ice.
Not only will the cold brew perk you up, but the bubbly tonic water should quickly bring a sparkling smile to your face.
This is a great way to start your next road trip.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Now you are equipped to make a coffee cocktail for any occasion. Even when you shouldn’t be “drinking,” you can still enjoy the cocktail-inspired coffee drinks without the alcohol.
We live in a day and age when drinking coffee can mean a million different things. How exciting is that!
Sure, we all like our basic coffee.
But there’s almost an infinite amount of ways you can experience coffee. Never settle.
Do you have a favorite caffeinated cocktail? What did we miss?
Let us know in the comments below – and check out some of the other coffee recipes!
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