Brew Your Way to Tastiness With These 12 Coffee Cocktails

Brew Your Way to Tastiness With These 12 Coffee Cocktails

Caffeine or booze? With coffee cocktails, you don’t have to choose. Previously, these two beverages were reserved for opposite ends of the day. Caffeine to wake up in the morning and alcohol to wind down at night. Caffeinated cocktails combine the two favorite substances for a beverage that’s perfect at any time of day. Watch any bartender or barista work, and it makes sense that these two would come together: coffee and spirits mix seamlessly to make a sweet, bitter, and complex beverage that’s perfect for brunch, a pick-me-up before going out or a relaxing after-dinner digestif. 

The original coffee cocktail was the Irish Coffee, created during World War II in Ireland. Chef Joe Sheridan at the Foynes Airport decided to make a drink to cheer up weary travelers whose flight had been grounded due to a storm. The drink later caught on at the Shannon airport, where many a passenger savored the warm, velvety coffee cocktail.

After the war, the Irish Coffee was brought to the US, but bartenders struggled to get the same results. It wasn’t until bartender Jack Koeppler from San Francisco traveled to Ireland and learned directly from Joe Sheridan that he got the Irish Coffee recipe right. Today, the Irish Coffee is a staple and has inspired a range of other caffeinated cocktail recipes.

These modern takes call for different types of coffee, like a perfectly pulled shot of espresso, a standard cup of joe, or a smooth and sultry cold brew. Whatever the ingredients, coffee cocktails take the best from both coffee and cocktails and combine them to form a luscious drink that will fuel you from the afternoon through the night.

1. Carajillo

Carajillo Cocktail With Espresso And Licor 43
Photo by @Rodrigo Vargas

Carajillo, a celebrated beverage originating from Mexico City, presents a delightful fusion of freshly prepared espresso and the exquisite Spanish liqueur recognized as Licor 43. Anticipated to outshine the popular Espresso Martini as the preferred caffeinated cocktail of the year 2024, Carajillo showcases the tasteful selection of Licor 43, which imparts a delicately spiced richness that impeccably complements the coffee, while also adding a hint of delectable vanilla flavor.

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2. Italian Espresso Martini

Italian Espresso Martini Cocktail
Photo by @bhofack2

Velvety rich and lightly botanical, the Italian Espresso Martini makes a delicious nightcap. It’s made with chilled espresso, Averna Amaro, and Kahlúa for an herbal, bittersweet take on the classic coffee-based cocktail, the Espresso Martini.

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3. Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday Cocktail
Photo by @bhofack2

The Roman Holiday was originally made on a rooftop bar in Chicago, and the complex mix of Amaro Meletti, Campari, cold-brew coffee, pineapple juice, lime juice, demerara syrup, and salt tastes both tropically sweet and invitingly bitter at the same time. Like most caffeinated cocktails, the coffee lends a rich, velvety finish to every sip.

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4. Mexican Coffee

Mexican Coffee Cocktail
Photo by @Bhofack2

Strong, warm, and decadent, Mexican Coffee makes for a delicious after-dinner digestif, nightcap, or an enticing après-ski beverage. Similar to the classic Irish Coffee, the Mexican Coffee is made with coffee liqueur, tequila instead of whiskey, and coffee and topped with whipped cream.

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5. Oaxacan Tail

Oaxacan Tail Cocktail
Photo by @Malik Sheikh

The cocktail for cold brew and mezcal lovers, the Oaxacan Tail, was originally created for brunch, but the refreshing mix of amaro, mezcal, tequila, cold brew and chocolate mole bitters is good at any time of day. You can make the caffeinated cocktail milder with decaffeinated cold-brew and/or top it with cream to complement the beverage’s intensely rich flavors.

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6. Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee
Photo by @Bhofack2

Irish Coffee is the original coffee-based cocktail, created on a cold rainy night in an Irish airport in the 1940s. The drink’s popularity quickly spread as people enjoyed the deep flavor of the coffee, the sweetness from the brown sugar, the warmth from the whiskey and the velvety mouthfeel from the cream. It was traditionally served to travelers after a long day.

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7. Prairie Buzz

Prairie Buzz Cocktail
Photo by @MaximFesenko

Rich, creamy, and herbal, the Prairie Buzz is for those who love their caffeine. The heavily caffeinated cold brew mixes with whiskey, sweet vermouth, amaretto, heavy cream, and cinnamon syrup for a complexly sweet and spiced drink. For those looking to tone down the caffeine, decaffeinated cold brew coffee can be substituted.

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8. Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini
Photo by @Ima is

The classic espresso martini can be found on many a menu, the vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso make for a rich and indulgent cocktail that is deceptively easy to drink. The cold caffeinated alcoholic beverage has earned its place as a modern classic and is therefore a popular evening pick-me-up.

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9. Frangelico Espresso

Frangelico Espresso Cocktail
Photo by @Bhofack2

In this coffee cocktail, Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur, is combined with Irish cream liqueur, espresso, and milk, creates this decadent coffee-based cocktail. Frangelico is a welcome addition that adds cocoa and vanilla notes with a subtle botanical flair to the caffeinated beverage, which can be enjoyed either hot or cold.

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10. Rich Coffee

Rich Coffee Cocktail With Coffee Fernet-Branca Creme De Cacao And Whipped Cream
Photo by @MaximFesenko

Rich Coffee is a delightful beverage that can be savored either to energize your mornings or to unwind after a satisfying dinner. This exquisite blend combines freshly brewed coffee, Fernet-Branca, creme de cacao, and a sumptuous topping of whipped cream. Indulge in this comforting and invigorating treat that is bound to enthrall your senses.

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11. Coffee House

The Coffee House
Photo by @Bhofack2

In the 1930s, a satirical cocktail guide called The Saloon introduced The Coffee House before Irish Coffee and Espresso Martini gained popularity across the United States. Today, Richie Boccato from Fresh Kills has brilliantly reimagined this classic recipe, infusing it with the essence of an Old Fashioned-style cocktail. The result is a perfectly balanced and warmly spiced concoction that pays homage to the original ingredients of The Coffee House.

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12. Codependent

The Codependent Cocktails With Espresso Reposado Tequila Coffee Liqueur And Licor 43
Photo by @theshakencocktailofficial

The Codependent is a one-of-a-kind variation of the traditional Carajillo drink. This captivating libation combines the delightful tastes of Licor 43, espresso, reposado tequila, and coffee liqueur. It is a perfect choice for a post-dinner indulgence, providing a refreshing alternative to the commonly encountered Espresso Martini.

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FAQ

What alcohol mixes best with coffee?

Liqueurs like a coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur, amaretto, and Irish cream are all good options to add to a cup of coffee for a hint of added sweetness. Dark liquors like whiskey, brandy, and rum are popular choices for coffee cocktails.

View the complete collection of coffee cocktails here.

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