Coffee Cocktails: 10 Flavored Alcoholic Espresso Drinks You Can Make at Home

 Do you love specialty coffee drinks but not their specialty price tags? Here are ten flavored coffee cocktails you can make at home.

"Insert coffee to begin"

"Life without coffee is scary"

"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy coffee, and that's pretty close"

These are just some of many coffee related memes and quotes trending on social media right now. You probably smirked and silently agreed to them because coffee is essential for getting you through the day.

In fact, according to statistics over 50% of Americans drink coffee every day. This represents over 150 million daily drinkers.

If you're a coffee lover, you've got to try coffee cocktails!

Buying a coffee cocktail in a bar or restaurant can be quite expensive. But you can make them at home if you have the right equipment.

Read on to find out ten of our favorite flavorful coffee cocktails that you can concoct from your very own home!

1. The Classic Irish Coffee

This beverage is something that every coffee lover should taste at least once in their coffee drinking career. It comes from Ireland (obviously) and has been around since the 1940s.

The recipe is simple with a base of rich, strong hot espresso spiked with a shot of Irish whiskey. To sweeten it off add some brown sugar and top it with some freshly whipped cream.

Ingredients:

• Two shots of espresso
• 1 tsp Brown Sugar
• 2 tbsp Irish whiskey
• Whipped cream

If you're in the mood for something a little sweeter, try a "Caramel Irish Coffee". It's the same recipe, but cut back some of the coffee and add a little butterscotch schnapps. On top of the cream, drizzle over some caramel. It's the essential beverage for the sweet tooth!

2. Cafe Caribbean

For a tropical tasting coffee, brew a cup of hot coffee with rum and amaretto. You can add sugar, whipped cream and shaved almonds for a bit of extravagance. Or just add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz rum
• 1/2 oz amaretto
• 8 oz coffee (hot and black)
• Whipped cream, 1 tsp sugar, and shaved almonds or just vanilla ice cream

If you fancy something cooler, try rum iced coffee. Mix coffee with brown sugar and allow it to cool. Add rum, cardamom powder, and ice. Shake it up and strain into glasses.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cooled coffee
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 4 oz dark rum
• Cardamom powder
• Ice

Sweet yet spicy, potent yet mild-mannered, these coffee cocktails are definitely ones to try out with your friends.

3. The Dark Moon

Another iced coffee cocktail is this unique dark mixture of coffee and coca cola. It's delicious yet simple to make.

Combine cold espresso, spiced rum, liqueur and coca cola into a pitcher. Pour into ice-filled glasses and add cream to taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of espresso
• 1/2 cup coffee liqueur
• 1 12 oz of Coca-Cola
• 1/2 cup of spiced rum
• Ice
• Heavy cream

If you're having a party, and want to be prepared beforehand, the coffee, liqueur, and rum can all be mixed up to four hours ahead of drinking time.

4. Flaming Spanish Coffee

This is the equivalent to having one of those fancy flambe pancakes that are set alight. A Spanish coffee is another one of these excuses to play with fire.

It's fun to make, but you need a bit of extra equipment, such as heat-resistant glassware or coffee mug, plates for rimming the glasses, a long match and a fire extinguisher...just in case!

Rim a piece of sturdy glassware using sugar and lemon juice. Pour in some rum and then set the rum on fire. Once the sugar on the rim is caramelized, sprinkle ground nutmeg and cinnamon over the drink. Pour in the espresso and liquor and wait for the fire to go out.

But it's not over yet, you can add a variety of toppings to finish off this bold drink!

Ingredients:

• 3 oz espresso
• 1-2 oz liqueurs
• Lemon juice to rim the glass
• Brown sugar to rim the glass
• 1-2 oz rum
• A few pinches of ground cinnamon and nutmeg
• For a topping, choose between whipped cream, heavy cream, grated citrus zest, chocolate syrup, chocolate shavings or a maraschino cherry on top.

Yes, it's a drink and a show all in one!

5. Mocha Margarita

How about a tasty chocolatey drink? The mocha margarita is like a chocolate milkshake for grownups and is super easy to prepare.

Combine all the ingredients, shake it up until the ice cream is smooth and serve. It really is that easy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chocolate ice cream
• 1/3 cup espresso
• 1/4 cup white tequila
• Crushed ice
• Salt and sugar

Coat the rims of the glasses with salt and sugar to make it a bit more grown up!

6. Iced Orange Cream

For a citrus delight, try this orange dessert in a cup! The bitterness of the orange liqueur brings out the acidity of the coffee. But with the added syrup and cream, the overall taste is zesty and refreshing.

Ingredients:

• 6 oz cold espresso
• 4 oz vodka
• Splash of orange liqueur
• Dash of orange bitters
• 2 tbsp syrup
• Heavy cream
• Ice

This is also easy to make, just mix all the ingredients together and pour over ice. Garnish with orange if you're feeling fancy.

7. Salted Caramel Coffee Martini

For a yummy contrast of tastes try this sickly sweet yet deadly drink.

Firstly prepare your martini glass. Rim the glass with caramel sauce and sprinkle with salt. Then drizzle caramel onto the inside of your glass.

Combine the cool coffee, vodka, Kahlua, and ice into a shaker, shake it up, strain and serve in your well prepared fancy martini glass.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 oz Kahlua
• 1 oz vodka
• 2 oz cool coffee
• Salt
• Caramel sauce
• Ice

The strong flavors of the caramel and coffee can somewhat dull the taste of the alcohol, but don't let that fool you, there's plenty in there!

8. The Nutty Irishman

This nutty hot beverage is perfect for a cold day.

Add the whiskey, liqueur and Irish cream into a warmed coffee mug or glass, then top it with freshly brewed espresso. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and grated nutmeg.

Ingredients:

• Shot of espresso or double for a real kick!
• 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
• 1 oz Irish cream
• 1 oz Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
• Whipped cream and grated nutmeg

Yes, this Irish mixture certainly hits the spot. But the Italians also know their coffee...

9. Italian Coffee Cocktail

It might not have an interesting name, but this simple cocktail is an international taste sensation.

It's also super easy to create, with only two ingredients! Strega is a popular spirit in Italy. Its distinct herbal taste adds hints of saffron and mint to the traditional Italian cup of coffee.

Ingredients:

• Cup of Italian Coffee
• Strega Liqueur
• Whipped cream and nutmeg (optional but, why not?)

This simple cocktail served piping hot is excellent for an after-dinner drink.

10. French Connection

This soothing combination of cognac and amaretto tastes divine when mixed into a steaming hot cup of strong, black coffee.

Just mix it all together for a nightcap. Don't forget, the more amaretto you use, the sweeter it will be.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz cognac
• 3/4 oz amaretto liqueur
• 1/3 cup of hot espresso
• Whipped cream and shaved almonds (optional)

Be sure to pick a good cognac, but you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a tasty one.

Coffee Cocktails -- Yes Please!

If your mouth has been watering as you read this post, you better get down to the store and buy your ingredients!

But the key element to all of these coffee cocktails is the right blend of coffee brewed in the right kind of espresso machine.

With 30 years of experience in the espresso industry, we can provide you with the best equipment to help you make the perfect cup of espresso in your home.

Check out our espresso machine page to find the perfect one for you.