Oh, hello!  Isn’t life better when you combine your favourite things? Yes, it’s time to mix freshly roasted coffee beans and booze…

If you thought Irish Coffee or an Expresso Martini were the only coffee-based drinks out there, think again, welcome to the beginning of our education in your coffee revolution!

(Not a drinker, but still want classy? Try one of our coffee mocktails for something fancy without the alcohol).

 

The Italian – aka ‘THE’ Coffee Gem ;-)

For those of you that have met me, you’ll know we absolutely need to start in Italy - where coffee is taken very seriously and its history runs deep.

The alcohol needed here is Strega, a very specific and unique ingredient, it’s a herbal blend, golden in colour from its infusion with saffron and when mixed with hot coffee, it releases a wild aroma of mint, fennel and juniper, along with over 60 other herbal ingredients. 

BTW…the word Strega is Italian for “witch”, from the alleged witchcraft that dates back centuries in the area. Didn’t we say education!....

What You'll Need

5 oz hot coffee (I suggest our blended Nonna Emma)

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...

 

Over to the good ‘ol USA

The Kentucky

Kentucky is known for its bourbon, America's Native Spirit, so what better alcohol to mix with the best blend of coffee?  We’d recommend our espresso blend Pilgrim

What You'll 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 (washed up of course!) and fill it half full with hot coffee, add an ounce of your favourite 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…

 

Kentucky not south enough for you? Come on a journey with us and lets head cross the border into Mexico for this vibrant drink.

The Mexican

Pull out the tequila and the ice cream, it’s time for a Mexican Coffee...       

Seriously…what could be better? Probably nothing, to be honest.  Oh, actually, wait…has to be one of our single origin speciality coffee!

What You'll 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 (we suggest you try X).  Add the Kahlua and the Tequila and you are good to go!  This is a great cocktail served hot, but we’re sure you’d love the taste just as much cold on a sunny day! (ummm…we do get them sometimes!)

 

The Bavarian

Say what?!  What the heck kind of coffee drink would Bavarian’s make?

So let’s start with the familiar ingredients of hot coffee, Kahlua, sugar and cream. Kahlua definitely our go-to for coffee cocktails, and this one takes Kahlua to the next level with the addition of peppermint schnapps, creating a sweet, minty, creamy coffee that we all dream of – great for Christmas-time…only 6 months away, best get ‘practicing’ now (you have full permission to use this excuse).

What You'll Need

5 oz hot coffee

½ oz peppermint schnapps

½ oz Kahlua

Sugar to taste

Whipped Cream

Just combine the peppermint schnapps and Kahlua in 5 oz hot, black coffee (try our X) and add sugar to taste and top with whipped cream.

Time to get that Christmas tree up!

 

The Carajillo

You’re nailing this, so it’s time to have a go at “Spanish Coffee”, or carajillo - as intense as everything else that this dramatically beautiful culture delivers, a smooth and powerful combination of caffeine and alcohol.

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)

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 cocktail shaker along with the coil of a strainer and dry shake (Tom Cruise style) (no ice) for at least 10 seconds.  Brew the coffee (we recommend you try X), then 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 back side of the spoon to carefully float some cream onto the top of the drink.

 

Cold Brew Mocktails

 

The Coffee Old Fashioned

The coffee in this drink replaces the alcohol, so anyone can enjoy.

What You'll 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 cocktail shaker (oh, wait, hello Tom!).  Shake it well and pour into an old fashioned glass with ice. Top with an orange slice or cherry.

What better way to start a Saturday morning!

 

The Cold Brew Sour

The Cold Brew Sour, a take on the whiskey sour, cool and refreshing as well as bright and tart, but this is pleasantly balanced by the sweetness of the coffee.

What You'll 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 on a sunny afternoon (we do have them occasionally!).

 

The Cold Brew Tonic

Very similar to a G&T, but replacing the gin with cold brew coffee - super easy!

What You'll 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

 

Now you’re ready to make a coffee cocktail for any occasion and even when you shouldn’t be “drinking,” you can still enjoy the mocktails.

Never settle your thirst for ideas…there’s an almost infinite amount of ways you can experience your coffee gems and we’ll be sharing more soon, meantime, have a favourite coffee cocktail? What did we miss this time? C’mon, don’t be shy, share via the comments box below!