Coffee cocktails: from classics to recipes to try out

Coffee mixology is about coffee and cocktails, from the great classics like Irish Coffee and Espresso Martini to cold preparations. Coffee can intermingle with spirits, liqueurs, citrus fruits, spices and other ingredients thanks to its aromatic profile and the various extraction techniques used to brew it. History, pairings and recipes, with a focus on the Cold Brew Gin & Tonic.

In the world of cocktails, coffee features in a wide variety of forms: hot or cold, star of classic recipes or as the ingredient of more contemporary preparations. Coffee mixology explores all these possibilities, bringing the language of mixing into the world of coffee.

From Irish Coffee to coffee mixology

Irish Coffee is one of the first coffee cocktails to gain international renown. Its invention was attributed to chef Joe Sheridan who, in 1943, worked at the Foynes Airport restaurant in Ireland.

To warm up passengers on a transatlantic flight forced back due to bad weather, Sheridan decided to serve a new drink; in the years that followed, that hot and invigorating cocktail would become a popular hit. The recipe was very simple: hot coffee, Irish whiskey and brown sugar with a layer of fresh, lightly whipped cream on top. When passengers asked if it was Brazilian coffee, Sheridan replied: “No, it’s Irish coffee.” Since that time, the use of coffee in drinks has continued to evolve, creating what we call coffee mixology today.

Recipes for two great classics: Irish Coffee and Espresso Martini

Irish Coffee is a renowned drink with a distinctive balance between different temperatures and densities. The recipe by illy recommends doses designed to best enhance the characteristics of the coffee.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 double espresso
• 40 ml Irish whiskey
• 4 g cane sugar (one sachet)
• 40 ml very cold fresh, liquid cream
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 coffee beans for decoration

EQUIPMENT

• Heat-resistant cup

• Cocktail measuring cup (jigger)

• Mixing spoon

• Regular mini shaker

• 170 ml glass

PREPARATION

1. Pour the whiskey and sugar into the cup, heat lightly (microwave or bain-marie) stirring until the sugar dissolves.

2. Add the hot espresso and transfer the mixture obtained into the glass.

3. Lightly whip 40 ml of cold fresh cream (with a whisk or in a shaker), until it reaches a smooth consistency.

4. Gently pour the cream onto the surface by sliding it over the back of the mixing spoon.

5. Finish to taste with a sprinkle of cocoa and two coffee beans.

It’s the perfect cocktail for the winter months and has timeless appeal.

Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini, named after the distinctive glass in which it is served, is a very popular drink based on vodka.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 espresso

• 10 ml of sugar syrup

• 10 ml coffee liqueur

• 20 ml white vodka

• Ice cubes

EQUIPMENT

• 170 ml glass

• Cocktail measuring cup (jigger)

• Shaker 

PREPARATION

1. Shake all ingredients in the shaker with four ice cubes.

2. Pour mixture obtained into the glass together with a few ice cubes.

A distinctive summer recipe: Cold Brew Gin & Tonic by illy

Gin & tonic, the classic all-seasons long drink, is given a summery update in combination with cold-brewed coffee. Gin & Tonic Cold Brew: gin and tonic water unite with illy Cold Brew for an aromatic, fresh and thirst-quenching result.

Here’s how to make the Gin & Tonic Cold Brew. Watch the recipe video here.

INGREDIENTS

• 90 ml illy Cold Brew

• 30 ml gin

• 50 ml tonic water

• Ice cubes

• 4 juniper berries

EQUIPMENT

• 300 ml glass

• Cocktail measuring cup (jigger)

• Mixing spoon

PREPARATION

1. Cool the glass with ice or place it in the freezer for a few minutes.

2. Fill the cup approximately 3⁄4 full with ice cubes

3. Pour in 30 ml of gin, 50 ml of tonic water and 90 ml of Cold Brew coffee.

4. Stir gently with the mixing spoon.

5. Garnish with 4 juniper berries and serve.

From traditional recipes to more contemporary drinks, coffee mixology demonstrates the full versatility of coffee, which can be savoured in a variety of combinations that always express its unmistakable character.