5 coffee-based winter cocktails

Christmas is around the corner, and even though it won’t be like other years, we’ll be staying true to our traditions and making sure to create a festive atmosphere. No matter who you’ll be spending the holiday with, alone or in company, in this article we’ve decided to suggest several coffee-based cocktails that will bring some warmth and festivity to your celebrations. Simple cocktails that you can easily prepare at home and that we’ve classified according to our coffee characters.

BLACK RUSSIAN

This is an old Russian cocktail made with vodka and coffee liqueur, like Kahlúa. 

The sweet and creamy taste of the liqueur and the strong vanilla flavor make this the perfect after-dinner drink. But don’t be fooled by its sweetness, because it’s still a vodka-based drink. The Black Russian is, in fact, very alcoholic and this is definitely the best time of year to enjoy it, letting it add an extra touch of warmth and cheer to your festivities! It’s no coincidence that, according to our classification of coffee characters, it falls into the #Cheerful category of cocktails. If you want to prepare it at home, but don’t have Kahlúa, you can use the A Modo Mio Qualità Rossa Ristretto capsules. Fun fact: the Black Russian was invented in 1949 by Gastave Tops, a bartender at Hotel Metropole in Brussels, who prepared it on occasion of the visit of the American ambassador to Luxembourg, Perle Mesta.

IRISH COFFEE

One of the most famous cocktails in history, Irish Coffee is a simple drink made with few ingredients: coffee with a shot of whiskey, topped with a dollop of lightly whipped cream. The spicy and malty taste of the Irish whiskey, combined with the sweetness of the cream and the flavor of the coffee, make this the perfect drink for warming up the atmosphere of a Christmas party and driving the cold out of your bones. With a #Cheerful character, it’s a very simple drink to prepare at home. When it comes to the coffee, we recommend using the Brasile Rio Brilhante by Bugan Coffee or the A Modo Mio Qualità Oro – Sinfonia Perfetta capsules. 

Fun fact: this king of hot drinks was invented in Ireland by Mr. Joe Sheridan, a bartender who, at the airport of Shannon, used to treat the tourists passing through with this fortified and invigorating coffee! Forget about vin brulè!

ESPRESSO MARTINI

If you love sweet and enveloping flavors, then an Espresso Martini is the cocktail for you. Thus named because it’s served in a martini glass, this cocktail is made with vodka, coffee, and coffee liqueur. A sort of shaken coffee, strengthened with alcohol, to be enjoyed after dinner and perfect with dessert. In terms of which coffee to use, we suggest the San Salvador by Hoodeidah, which has a chocolaty aroma and a strong and lingering spicy aftertaste, the Caffè India Monsooned Malabar by Caffè Corisini, which is a bit spicy and pairs perfectly with vodka, or the “Tierra La Habanadi” by Lavazza.

The enveloping flavor of the vodka and the sweetness of the Kahlúa, combined with the coffee, give this cocktail a #Fascinating character.  If you prefer a more bitter flavor, you can replace the vodka with gin. Then you’ll have a cocktail with a #Vigorous character. The Espresso Martini is perfect for warming you up and driving away the cold during the winter season, but you can also enjoy it in the summer served with ice. Fun fact: this cocktail was created somewhat by accident in England in the 1980s by Dick Bradsell, who, when asked by a model to prepare something that would wake her up and give her some energy, responded with a drink made with vodka and coffee. 

COFFEE MARGARITA

The Espresso Martini inspired the Coffee Margarita, a cocktail with an #Adventurous character made with coffee and tequila. The scent of vanilla from the tequila and the toasty hazelnut flavor of the coffee help to create the right atmosphere for livening up after dinner festivities, especially during this season’s holiday parties. If you want to try to make it at home, we recommend using an Ethiopian coffee like Shantewena – Ethiopia by Gardelli Specialty Coffees which gives it a nice acidity and delicious fruity flavor, or the A Modo Mio – Tierra BIO capsules. 

CHAMOMILE COFFEE GIN/VODKA COCKTAIL

If you need to relax, treat yourself to a nice Chamomile Coffee Gin/Vodka cocktail, a chamomile-based drink with a #Chill character. You can use either chamomile tea or chamomile grappa. The addition of lemon or orange gives the drink a sweet and slightly acidic flavor. With regard to the coffee, it’s best to use a light pour-over coffee (V60, Chemex, etc.) like Cascara – Panama by Bugan Coffee. This unusual coffee (it almost seems like drinking a tea) is made with the dried external skin of the coffee cherry, providing a burst of sweetness and floral notes that recall the coffee flower. Or you can use the A Modo Mio – Soave capsules.

So, which of these cocktails do you find most tempting?