The Ultimate List Of Coffee Cocktails

Life is always better when you combine your favourite things – like adding bacon to a cheeseburger But instead of mixing your favourite foods together, why not mix your favourite drinks?

It’s time to mix coffee and booze.

Do you ever think to yourself while drinking your morning coffee, “I can’t wait until tonight so I can have a cocktail.” Or at night, do you ever get excited to wake up and drink coffee? Well why wait?

Here are 17 of the best coffee cocktail recipes to satisfy your two biggest desires at the same time: alcohol and caffeine.

Not a drinker, but still want to appear classy? Try our 3 coffee mocktails for something fancy without the alcohol (at the end of this list).

Before we get started – make sure you get the right ingredients and don’t choose the cheapest stuff; your cocktails taste will reflect your tightarse-ness. Many of the following recipes require some type of coffee liqueur – here’s a guide on making your own if you don’t want to spend the extra money.

Simple Coffee Cocktails

1. Irish Coffee

When you think of coffee drinks with liquor, this is likely one of the first things to pop into your head.

What makes this cocktail Irish?

Whiskey, of course!

This drink is both smooth and sweet, making it one of the best coffee cocktails – and the most popular!

The first known experience of Irish coffee (1) was in 1943, when chef and bartender Joe Sheridan served the concoction to passengers of a flight that had to make an emergency landing in Foynes, Ireland, due to bad weather.

9 years later, Joe began working for the Buena Vista, a restaurant in San Francisco.

It was here Joe met a journalist, Stanton Delaplace, who was responsible for spreading his drink until it was known and enjoyed across the globe.

The Buena Vista is still open today (2) serving up Irish coffee.

What You Need:

• 2 sugar cubes
• 45 ml whiskey
• 180 ml 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.

Add the Irish Whiskey and top with cream. Here’s a detailed Irish coffee recipe if you really love this drink.

2. Cafe Amore (french connection)

Crossing the Atlantic, we are now in France.

Rather than whiskey, the French prefer Cognac for the alcohol and Amaretto for the flavour.

A typical French Connection is equal parts cognac and Amaretto liqueur. Simply add 30 ml of Cognac and 30 ml of Amaretto to a glass with ice and stir.

The coffee version, however, is served warm and often goes by the name of Cafe Amore.

What You Need:

• Hot coffee
• 30 ml Cognac
• 30 ml Amaretto
• Shaved almonds
• Whipped cream

Fill a hot glass with 30 ml of Cognac and 30 ml of Amaretto, then fill the rest with hot, black coffee.

If you want to add another dimension, top with whipped cream and shaved almonds.

If you’re looking for warm alcoholic drinks for winter, try this one today!

3. Italian Coffee

Next up, Italy – where coffee is taken very seriously and its history runs deep.

The liqueur needed here is Strega (3), a very specific and unique ingredient.

It’s a herbal blend, golden in colour from its infusion with saffron. When mixed with hot coffee, it releases a wild aroma of mint, fennel and juniper, along with over 60 other herbal ingredients.

The recipe of this liqueur has been a secret since 1860 when it was first produced in Campania, Italy.

This is a bright, light-bodied liqueur that packs a punch up to 80 proof. The word Strega is Italian for “witch”, from the alleged witchcraft that dates back centuries in the area.

What You Need:

• 150 ml hot coffee
• 15 ml Strega
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 45 ml 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. While we’re at it, why not try making another Italian coffee cocktail called Caffè Corretto?

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:

• 30 ml bourbon
• 15 ml Kahlua
• Dash of vanilla extract
• Sugar to taste
• Whipped cream
• 180 ml hot coffee

Take that same Irish coffee glass and fill it half full with hot coffee.

Add 30 ml of your favourite bourbon, 15 ml 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

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 (4).

What could be better than coffee, tequila, Kahlua and ice cream? Probably nothing, to be honest.

What You Need:

• ¼ cup vanilla ice cream
• 15 ml Kahlua
• 15 ml tequila
• 180 ml 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?

This coffee cocktail tastes like candy cane! Think Creme de Menthe but less sweet.

What You Need:

• 150 ml hot coffee
• 15 ml peppermint schnapps
• 15 ml Kahlua
• Sugar to taste
• Whipped cream

Try Bavarian Coffee this holiday season by simply combining peppermint schnapps and Kahlua in 150 ml hot, black coffee. Add sugar to taste and top with whipped cream.

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 Need:

• 120 ml coffee
• 20 ml Grand Marnier
• 30 ml rum and coffee liqueur
• 20 ml Jamaican rum
• 7 ml brown sugar syrup
• 120 ml 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 15 ml of Grand Marnier and the 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, the remaining 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.

Here’s a Mexican version of this coffee cocktail: Carajillo Coffee Cocktail recipe. Or you can also try this coffee rum recipe!

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 flavours is spectacular – put them together with coffee and my oh my, what a wonderful day.

What You Need:

• 240 ml freshly brewed coffee
• 30 ml bourbon
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup heavy / whipping cream
• 2 tbsp vanilla

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 cocktail.

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:

• 30 ml espresso or cold brew concentrate
• 45 ml oz gin
• 15 ml simple syrup (5)
• 15 ml 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. You can also try this simpler coffee and gin cocktail.

Interested in another espresso-based cocktail? Try our version of Mustang coffee!

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 coffee cocktail and dream of the next time you get to wake up and drink iced coffee cocktails in Hawaii or Bali.

What You Need:

• 180 ml iced coffee
• 30 ml spiced rum
• 30 ml butterscotch schnapps
• Cream
• Sugar

To make this cold coffee 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:

• 45 ml vodka
• 25 ml 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 a chocolate or chocolate raspberry vodka for an interesting twist.

Check out this Black Russian recipe with an orange twist (6).

13. White Russian

There are 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 colour to white.

Easy!

Another way is to replace the coffee liqueur with actual cold brew coffee.

What You Need:

• 60 ml vodka
• 30 ml milk or cream
• 30 ml 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:

• 45 ml Kahlua
• 30 ml vodka
• 30 ml 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 favourite 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
• 30 ml Frangelico
• 30 ml half and half (or cream, milk, coconut, soy, almond or cashew milk)
• Sugar or other sweetener
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate syrup
• 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
• 45 ml 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)
• 30 ml 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 favourite topping.

You can also try Home Grounds’ classic Kahlua coffee recipe!

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:

• 30 ml cold brew coffee concentrate
• 15 ml 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 into an old fashioned glass with ice. Top with an orange slice or cherry.

What better way to start a Saturday morning!

Here’s our Cold Brew Old Fashioned recipe for more details.

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:

• 60 ml cold brew coffee concentrate
• Juice from half a lemon
• 30 ml 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:

• 60 ml cold brew coffee concentrate
• 240 ml 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 non-alcoholic coffee cocktails.

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. Some of us even like coffee-flavoured beer.

There’s almost an infinite amount of ways you can experience coffee. Never settle.

Do you have a favourite caffeinated cocktail? What did we miss?

Let us know in the comments below – and check out some of our other coffee recipes here!

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