There are plenty of ways to jazz up your coffee. One of the best ways is with a bit of liqueur! Coffee cocktails and Irish coffee recipes are an easy way to treat yourself. The best alcoholic coffee drinks can serve as a pre or post-dinner treat. Ranging from hot to cold, bitter to sweet, there really is a boozy coffee drink for everyone. We suggest investing in a proper jigger, or a bartender’s shot glass, as it makes drink measuring a whole lot easier.
So, who is ready for a little extra fun with their coffee? We put together a list of the best alcoholic coffee drinks just for you. They are influenced by coffee drink traditions worldwide. Start your coffee party by trying one of these recipes today! You can also impress your guests with homemade coffee dessert recipes that pair perfectly with those drinks. These delightful treats will enhance the coffee experience and leave everyone wanting more. Experiment with flavors and ingredients to create unique combinations that showcase your creativity. Rich vegan coffee recipes to try can also add a delightful twist to your coffee gatherings. Whether you’re preparing a cozy brunch or an evening get-together, these recipes will satisfy both coffee lovers and those seeking plant-based options. Discover new ways to enjoy your brews while embracing healthy ingredients that don’t compromise on flavor.
More Cocktail than Coffee
Espresso Martini
This is a classic coffee cocktail. We must include it, as knowing the recipe is a staple to know and hold on to. This cocktail fits all occasions. It is really easy too and can help you practice your bartending skills. Get your martini shaking on!
What you’ll need:
- 2 shots of vodka
- A shot of espresso
- ½ ounce of Kahlua
- ½ ounce of simple syrup
- Dark chocolate-covered espresso beans for garnish
- Martini shaker
- Ice
Method:
- Brew espresso. Let cool for a moment,
- Combine all ingredients into the shaker. Cover and shake for a minute until ingredients are well combined.
- Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with dark chocolate espresso beans
Coffee Old Fashioned
If an old fashioned is your usual staple, then you are in for a treat. This drink is for bitters lovers. The combination of orange bitters and coffee is quite magical. They really compliment each other, especially when you use a light to medium roast. In this recipe, we use cold brew coffee, which lends an incredible texture to your cocktail. You can easily use some leftover cold brew for this recipe. Treat yourself and enjoy this drink, either before or after dinner!
What you’ll need:
- 1 jigger (1.5 oz) of bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 tablespoon cold-brew coffee
- A tablespoon of simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 1 dash of coffee bitters
- Orange peel
- Ice
- Tall glass for mixing
Method:
- Combine whiskey, coffee, simple syrup, and bitters into the glass. Stir to combine.
- Fill a short glass with a few cubes of ice. Take orange peel and rub its inner layer on the rim of the glass.
- Pour over the cocktail mixture. Then, place the orange peel gently in the glass. Enjoy!
Espresso Negroni
You probably didn’t think a negroni could get more Italian. The negroni is an awesome cocktail said to be invented in Florence, Italy when Count Camillo Negroni asked for a stronger Americano cocktail. Since then, the negroni evolved into a classic. The espresso negroni has a little caffeine spin that takes the drink to a new level. A bit of espresso goes a long way and tastes fabulous with the bittersweet flavors of Campari!
What you’ll need:
- A ristretto shot of espresso
- 1 oz of gin
- 1 oz of Campari
- 2 tablespoons of sweet vermouth (red works well!)
- Orange peel and espresso beans for garnish
- Tall mixing glass
Method:
- Fill a small cup with ice. Brew espresso. Then, pour over ice to immediately chill it.
- Fill your mixing glass with ice. Add in gin, Campari, and vermouth. Stir well to combine.
- Strain mixture into an old fashioned glass. Then, add in espresso (taste, as you go to make sure espresso, is well combined.)
- Garnish with orange peel and espresso beans as desired!
White Russian
This is a tried and true cocktail you can find at any bar. The funniest part is that a White Russian was not even invented in Russia. It is a take on the Black Russian, a classic cocktail first concocted in Belgium in 1949. By adding cream to this cocktail, it turns into a White Russian. As we all know, the addition of cream to coffee makes for some delicious flavor. This drink is an absolute coffee cocktail staple especially ideal for a winter night by the fire.
What you’ll need:
- 1 jigger of vodka
- 1 oz of coffee liqueur
- 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
- Ice
Method:
- Fill a glass (or old fashioned glass) with ice. Pour over vodka and coffee liqueur. Stir to mix.
- Add in heavy cream on top. Stir quickly then serve immediately.
Post Dinner Delights
Irish Coffee
This famous drink you must learn how to make. It could be the most popular after-dinner drink in the country. This drink did in fact originate in Ireland, back in the 1940s. Today, it is served nearly everywhere. And, it is absolutely delicious. The best part is that Irish Coffee is super easy to make. This bulletproof recipe is fabulous for parties, as it is a lovely pairing for dessert, or even a substitute altogether!
What you’ll need:
- 1 jigger of Irish whiskey
- ¾ cup of hot coffee (dark roast preferably)
- 2 teaspoons of brown sugar or maple syrup
- Fresh whipped cream
- Dark chocolate shavings or cacao nibs
Method:
- Place sugar or maple syrup into your glass. Pour hot coffee on top and stir until sweetener dissolves.
- Continue to stir as you add in the whiskey.
- Carefully spoon in whipped cream on top, adding as much as you like!
- Top with chocolate shavings or cacao nibs.
- Enjoy!
Spicy Mexican Coffee
This is for coffee and chocolate lovers. Mexican coffee is super-rich and comforting. Our recipe spins the typical Mexican coffee with more spice. Introducing cinnamon, clove, and a bit of cayenne make this coffee a perfect replacement for dessert. Not to mention the ample amount of chocolate we included because we always need more chocolate. This recipe gets even more unique with the incorporation of tequila and Kahlua. Talk about a party! Easy coffee cake recipes for beginners are a fantastic way to add a sweet touch to your gatherings. These recipes are simple to follow, ensuring that even novice bakers can create something delicious. With just a few ingredients and straightforward steps, you’ll have a delightful treat to pair with your favorite brew.
What you’ll need:
- 1 jigger of tequila
- 1 jigger of Kahlua
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- ½ cup of coffee (medium or dark roast preferably)
- ⅓ cup of whole milk
- A teaspoon of cinnamon (plus more for garnish)
- ½ teaspoon of clove
- Pinch of cayenne
- Whipped cream
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Method:
- Place milk, honey, and all spices into a small saucepan. Let it reach a boil then reduce to a simmer for a couple of minutes. Keep on stirring! (You can also microwave for a minute, stirring every 15 seconds.)
- Pour coffee into your cup. Mix in tequila and Kahlua. Then, add in your spiced milk.
- Garnish with ample amounts of whipped cream. Dusted a bit of cinnamon on top and add in your cinnamon stick on the side for a nice festive touch.
Salted Caramel Kentucky Coffee
America has its own version of an Irish Coffee. If you are a bourbon lover, this one is for you! Bourbon makes a tasty appearance in this drink. This type of whiskey usually has strong notes of caramel and vanilla, due to its barrel aging process. This recipe highlights these elements by incorporating in some salted caramel along with vanilla creamer. Then, a bit of coffee with chocolate citrus notes, like the Tanzania Peaberry we suggest below, transforms everything into the ultimate dessert drink.
What you’ll need:
- 1 jigger of bourbon
- ½ cup of hot coffee
- 2 tablespoons of vanilla creamer (recipe found here)
- 1 tablespoon of caramel (plus more for garnish)
- Whipped cream
Method:
- Pour coffee into a cup. Add in caramel and mix to dissolve. Then, add in whiskey.
- Continue to stir as you spoon in the creamer.
- Top with ample whipped cream and drizzle with caramel.
Cafe Maria Theresia
This is an Austrian specialty you must try. It is named after an Empress. The brilliant combination of coffee and orange liqueur makes for a refreshing drink. It tastes even better when you include loads of cocoa powder and chocolate shavings on top. This all will definitely make you feel like royalty.
What you’ll need:
- 1 lungo espresso
- 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier (or any orange liqueur will do!)
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder
- Roughly a teaspoon of orange zest
- Hefty pinch of dark chocolate shavings
- Whipped cream
Method:
- Brew espresso. Add in Grand Marnier and honey. Stir until honey dissolves.
- Cover espresso mixture with whipped cream. Garnish with cocoa powder. Then, add orange zest and dark chocolate shavings.
Brazilian Coffee
This tropical beverage is a nice balance between a coffee and a cocktail. The flavors of cachaca, the national spirit of Brazil, lend some vibrant fruity notes to this drink. Fusing it with a floral and fresh coffee roast makes for a super revitalizing drink. You can also use any rum you desire if you cannot find cachaca. If you do use darker rum, try changing up your coffee roast! No matter what, you’ll end up with a new and fun drink.
What you’ll need:
- ½ cup of black coffee
- 1 jigger of cachaca (or rum)
- 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk
- Cinnamon stick
- Ice
Method:
- Chill black coffee in a separate glass with ice.
- Fill a short glass with ice. Pour in cachaca/rum and chilled coffee (without the extra ice.) Stir well.
- Add in sweetened condensed milk. Stir a little bit.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick
Our Irish Coffee Picks
We matched one coffee to each mood and moment below. Tap the image or the coffee name to see it on Amazon. We chose these from each roaster’s published details rather than from brewing them ourselves yet, so both are labeled research-rated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Feeling sophisticated: a before-dinner Coffee Old Fashioned
Our pick: Volcanica Coffee Ethiopian Sidamo, medium-light roast, whole bean, 16 oz.
Why we recommend it: This cocktail is for bitters lovers and works best with a light to medium roast brewed as cold brew. Volcanica lists this Sidamo as a medium/light roast with notes of lemon, citrus, cane sugar, spice and rich chocolate, and those citrus notes echo the orange bitters and orange peel in the glass. Grind it coarse for the cold brew. One honest note: it has only a few dozen Amazon ratings so far, fewer than most of our picks.
How we reached this: We checked Volcanica’s published roast level and tasting notes against this recipe’s light-to-medium cold brew and orange bitters, using the criteria in our coffee rating system. Research-rated, not yet brewed by our team.
Feeling like dessert: an after-dinner Salted Caramel Kentucky Coffee
Our pick: Volcanica Coffee Tanzania Peaberry, Mount Kilimanjaro, medium roast, whole bean, 16 oz.
Why we recommend it: The Kentucky Coffee recipe asks for a coffee with chocolate citrus notes, and this peaberry fits that description. Volcanica lists notes of dried fruit, savory chocolate and orange, with a rich body and intense flavor that holds its own against bourbon, salted caramel and vanilla creamer. One honest note: Volcanica also calls it wonderfully acidic, so it will taste brighter than a classic dark after-dinner roast.
How we reached this: We checked Volcanica’s published tasting notes and roast level against this recipe’s call for chocolate citrus notes, using the criteria in our coffee rating system. Research-rated, not yet brewed by our team.