Coffee cocktails have become quite trendy in recent years. All across the country, cocktail bars are offering a wide array of caffeinated alcoholic beverages with complex flavors. The bold, robust flavors of coffee pair well with a variety of spirits and other flavors. Here is a look at the history of these coffee cocktails and some of the best to try on your next night out or happy hour.
The History of Coffee Cocktails
Coffee-based cocktails date back to mid-19th century Europe. The Pharisäer was a popular rum-coffee cocktail served at cafes in Vienna, Northern Germany, and Denmark. Cocktails made with coffee and spirits, called Glorias, also became popular in France during this period.
Irish Coffee
The Irish coffee, perhaps the most famous coffee-based cocktail, was developed sometime in the mid-20th century. Several different establishments have claimed to be the inventor of this iconic caffeinated cocktail.
Joe Sheridan, the head chef at a restaurant and cafe at Foynes Air Base in Ireland, claims to have invented the combination in the early 1940s. According to him, he simply added whiskey and a little cream to the coffee of disembarking passengers.
American travel writer Stanton Delaplane claims that he introduced Irish coffee to the United States after ordering one at Shannon Airport. He reportedly collaborated with San Francisco’s Buena Vista Cafe and introduced the drink to Bay Area residents in 1952. Sheridan eventually emigrated to San Francisco to work at this cafe.
There are several variations of Irish coffee, but the main ingredients are whiskey, coffee, and cream.
Espresso Martini
The espresso martini is technically not a martini, as it is not made with gin or vermouth. Instead, it’s made with espresso, coffee liqueur (often Kahlua or Tia Maria), and vodka. Originating in the late 1980s, the espresso martini is one of the best-known cocktails today. Like Irish coffee, several parties have claimed to have invented it.
Recipes and methods of preparation vary, but one of the most common ways to prepare an espresso martini involves adding 1.5 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of hot espresso, and ⅔ of an ounce of coffee liqueur to a shaker filled with ice. This mixture is shaken, fine-strained, and poured into a chilled martini glass, then garnished with coffee beans and served.
Carajillo
The carajillo is the most popular coffee-based cocktail in Spain and many countries in Latin America. Recipes vary depending on the country, but it is always made with hot coffee and hard liquor.
In Colombia, it is most commonly made with brandy. The Cuban version usually uses rum. In Mexico, it is typically made with espresso and Licor 43—a sweet vanilla-citrus liqueur—and poured over ice. In most countries, it is served in a small glass and is often ordered as an after-dinner digestive.
The method of preparation also varies from region to region. However, a typical recipe involves mixing three parts coffee with one part liquor. First, the liquor is heated, and coffee beans, sugar, and a lemon rind are added to it. Many recipes also include a small cinnamon stick. The concoction is then set alight and stirred until the alcohol reduces and the aromas blend. The flame is then put out by covering the glass with a small saucer. Finally, brewed coffee is poured over the back of a spoon into the drink before serving. This is done because the liquids have different densities, and pouring over a spoon allows them to mix well.
Long Island Iced Coffee
The Long Island iced tea is one of the world’s most famous cocktails, but did you know that you can also enjoy this iconic drink with coffee instead of tea? The preparation is essentially the same, as it’s made with a combination of vodka, rum, tequila, and cola, but with the addition of a coffee liqueur and a healthy portion of either cold brew or iced coffee. The result is a delicious combination of sweetness, bitterness, and a strong kick that will give you a nice buzz with the added caffeine pick-me-up.
White Russian
Perhaps best known from the 1998 cult classic film The Big Lebowski, the White Russian is one of the most iconic coffee-based cocktails in the world. It is made with vodka, a coffee liqueur (most commonly Kahlua), and cream and served with ice in an old-fashioned glass.
While the exact origin is unknown, the first written record of the White Russian was in the Oakland Tribune newspaper, which published a White Russian recipe in 1965. The drink’s popularity surged after the release of The Big Lebowski, and it has been one of the most popular coffee-based cocktails in the world for 25 years.
While it has no actual link to Russia, the cocktail is only named as such because vodka, Russia’s most popular spirit is the main ingredient. The Black Russian is a similar drink, but it lacks cream.