Impress your friends and stock up the home bar with your own, homemade Coffee Liqueur.
Mixing coffee and alcohol is nothing new. For example, while the Espresso Martini might feel like it’s a fairly new drink due to current trends, that specific mixture has actually been around since the 1980s. And there’s a plethora of other caffeine-powered cocktails out there, further proving that it’s a combo that works. And, we can potentially trace the origins of booze and beans of the coffee variety being married together to form a perfect union all the way back to the 16th century.
Legend tells of a French monk named Frère David as the forward-thinking genius who first combined spirits with coffee beans and sugar, sometime in the 1500s. Then in the 17th century, the Dutch supposedly crafted their own coffee liqueur, with the French following suit about a century later. And as time marched on, so did the continuing rise in popularity of combining these two magic ingredients together. Merlin himself couldn’t have crafted a more perfect potion. By the time the 1930s and 1940s rolled around, the Mexican brand Kahlúa was fast becoming a staple in bars and in people’s homes.
With so many mixed beverages and shots that use this potent, wonderfully bitter liqueur, you won’t have to do much searching to find a drink to try this recipe out in. Sure, you can easily go out and buy one of the popular brands you usually find at the store, but sometimes it’s more fun experimenting with what we can do with our own hands and mind. And sampling your wares is completely allowed.
Now you can be your own genius spirit maker, crafting your own homemade coffee liqueur.
What Is The Best Alcohol To Use To Make Coffee Liqueur?
There are two ways you can make your coffee liqueur… One is to use vodka. Either a wheat or potato-distilled version will work wonderfully, as the vodka will take on and accentuate many of the flavor notes present in the coffee. For a sweeter, spicier flavor, you can use a dark rum instead. The aged spirit will often have hints of vanilla and caramel, which will complement the richness of the java.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar or brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (50g) coarsely ground coffee (or 4 tablespoons instant coffee)
- 1 vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups vodka or rum for a more caramelized taste
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat the water and sugar over medium heat until fully dissolved.
- Add the ground coffee (or instant coffee) and stir well. Let it simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes, then remove from heat.
- If using a vanilla bean, split it open and add it to the mixture. Let it steep while cooling.
- Once the coffee mixture has cooled to room temperature, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove coffee grounds.
- Stir in the vodka (or rum). If you opted for vanilla extract instead of a bean, add it now.
- Pour the liqueur into a clean glass bottle or jar with a tight seal. Let it sit in a cool, dark place for at least 3 days (ideally a couple of weeks) before using.
Nutrition
WHAT SHOULD I KEEP THE LIQUEUR IN?
The best thing to use to store your coffee liqueur is a glass bottle with a resealable lid or a mason jar with a tight lid. Once your liqueur is poured in, cover and place in your refrigerator.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOMEMADE AND STORE-BOUGHT COFFEE LIQUEUR?
The big difference between the two would be versatility and convenience. You can run around the corner to the store and buy a bottle, which is always reliable, but you don’t have the options that making this recipe at home provides. You can try different varieties of vodka and rum, and different roasts and blends of coffee to customize and find your own flavor when you make coffee liqueur at home.
Cocktails That Feature Coffee Liqueur
You won’t need to look far to find a tipple that’ll tickle that coffee fancy you’ve been having lately. Twist & Toast has a fine collection of recipes that will help you put all that coffee liqueur you made to good use. If you feel a little overwhelmed by what’s out there, try some of these for a start, then explore the site for even more.
- Revolver – Bourbon and coffee liqueur join forces in this tasty drink.
- Dirty Banana – This tropical treat will definitely wake you up with its coffee-flavored goodness.
- Colorado Bulldog – Coffee and cola make for a strong and bubbly mix.
- Mind Eraser – Despite the name, you’ll not soon forget this vodka, club soda and coffee liqueur cocktail.
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