In recent years, cold brew coffee has stolen hearts with its smooth, sweet, low acid flavor. No wonder it has broken into happy hour with cold brew cocktails! Why? The rich, mellow taste mingles pretty well with spirits and mixers.
In recent years, cold brew coffee has stolen hearts with its smooth, sweet, low acid flavor. No wonder it has broken into happy hour with cold brew cocktails! Why? The rich, mellow taste mingles pretty well with spirits and mixers.
Wanna know what some of my favorite cold brew cocktail creations are? I’m happy to oblige! Join me as I explore these sumptuous alcoholic coffee drinks.
Table of Contents
- OverviewCold Brew CocktailsBest Way to Make Cold BrewBrewing Methods
- Cocktail Recipes
- Cold Brew ChocotiniIngredientsMethod
- Cold Brew Orange MargaritaIngredientsMethod
- Cascara Cold Brew NegroniIngredientsMethod
- Lavender Honey Cold Brew FizzIngredientsMethod
- Maple Spice Cold Brew White RussianIngredientsMethod
- Final Thoughts
Overview: Cold Brew Cocktails
Cold brew coffee is relatively new on the American beverage scene. Now, it’s making waves with cold brew cocktails. But where did cold coffee originate? Interestingly, cold coffees have ancient Asian origins.
Vietnamese coffee comes to mind, but it uses a hot-brewed coffee base. However, it’s the Japanese that made the first true cold brew. On embracing java from the Dutch and Portuguese in the 16th century, they elevated cold coffee into an art form.
Today, the Japanese have given us innovative coffees like Kyoto-style and flash-brew coffee. These brewing methods eventually hit the US in the early 2000s.
Starbucks and other specialty coffee shops spotted the brew’s potential, and baristas loved it! What’s more, they valued how cold brew highlighted the characteristics of single-origin rare and luxury coffees.
The Rise of Cold Brew Cocktails
What makes cold brew the perfect cocktail ingredient? It’s all in the brewing process! The slow, low-temperature extraction creates a smooth, sweet and less acidic coffee. This coffee has virtually no bitterness and marries well with spirits.
Coast-to-coast, people jumped onto the cold brew cocktail bandwagon. In Seattle, cold brew Negronis rule. The coffee’s enhanced sweetness complements Campari perfectly. Down in French-influenced N’awlins, cold brew spiked with bourbon and chicory liqueur is the business. A popular grown-up twist on the city’s famous chicory coffee.
But you don’t need to be a mixologist to get in on the action. We are, after all, in the middle of a fourth coffee wave, where making specialty brews at home is very much on-trend. As such, these cold brew cocktails make excellent brunch accompaniments. But where they truly shine is at evening happy hour or after-dinner soirees!
What’s the Best Way to Make Cold Brew?
What exactly makes for the perfect cold brew? For starters, you must use the right coffee beans. While personal preference plays a massive role, certain characteristics rule:
Single-origin beans provide unique flavor profiles that come through in the finished brew.
Medium to dark roast profiles stand up well to the slow brewing process.Â
Low-acidity beans yield an even smoother cold brew. Indonesian and Brazilian beans rule this category.
A coarse grind setting prevents over-extraction and bitterness.
My top coffee bean recommendations are Colombian, Brazilian, Sumatran or Ethiopian. These beans add perfectly balanced chocolate, nut and sometimes fruit notes. Depending on the coffee origin, of course!
Lastly, remember to use the right coffee water (fresh, cold and filtered) to get the best results.
Brewing Methods
How do you make cold brew concentrate for cold brew cocktails? In essence, there are three cold brew brewing methods.
The first, traditional immersion, involves steeping coarse-ground coffee in a large container. This method (as do the other two) requires using a 1:4 coffee-to-water ratio.
Gently stir, before steeping the mixture for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator. Then, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth. This method is simple, requiring only basic kitchen items. Plus, it suits cold brew lovers who prefer hands-on brewing.
The next method uses a cold brew maker. This coffee maker trumps traditional immersion for its consistent results. In addition, some cold brew makers have rainmakers, which ensure even saturation of coffee grounds and optimal extraction.
The third method uses a French press. This method is perfect for coffee enthusiasts who often make coffee on the go. It also suits those who enjoy the full-bodied flavor of French press coffee.
While each method has merits, I prefer using a dedicated cold brew maker for cold brew cocktails. It’s easy, consistent and guarantees precise results.
5 Refreshing Cold Brew Cocktail Recipes
We’ve now come to my favorite part – the recipes! I’ll let you in on my top 5 favorite cocktail riffs to get you going.
Full disclosure: I’ve personalized these recipes. As such, I’ve subbed for some classic ingredients. Hope you enjoy them!
Cold Brew Chocotini
This espresso martini twist marries smooth, rich cold brew flavors with classic martini ingredients. Cold brew replaces espresso, delivering a mellow, smoother coffee taste.
My preference, chocolate vodka, provides a clean, crisp, sweet backdrop. The coffee liqueur adds warmth, sweetness and intense coffee notes, too.
To make this cocktail you’ll need:
Ingredients
2 ounces (60 milliliters) cold brew coffee concentrate
1.5 ounces (45 milliliters) chocolate vodka (e.g. Absolut or 360 Double Chocolate)
0.5 ounces (15 milliliters) coffee liqueur (e.g. Kahlúa or Tia Maria)
0.5 ounces (15 milliliters) simple syrup
Ice (for shaking)
0.5 ounces (15 milliliters) cream, milk or plant milk (optional)
3 whole coffee beans, cocoa powder/finely ground coffee and chocolate shavings, for garnish (optional)
Method
Chill a martini glass in the freezer. Then, fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add cold brew coffee concentrate, vodka, coffee liqueur, simple syrup and cream or milk, if using, to the shaker. The classic recipe uses plain vodka, but I sub with chocolate vodka for my cold brew cocktails.
Shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to chill and combine the ingredients.Â
Remove your martini glass from the chiller. If you desire, you may rim the glass with extra-fine ground coffee or cocoa powder for that extra touch.
Then, strain the cocktail shaker mixture into your chilled martini glass.
Garnish with three coffee beans. And although not traditional, amp things up with some chocolate shavings.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Cold Brew Orange Margarita
Cold brew margaritas are a bold coffee-citrus twist, akin to the Portuguese mazagran. The coffee imparts a deep chocolatey, nut or mellow fruit vibe, depending on origin.
Tequila (or mezcal) introduces earthy, slightly bitter undertones. And, the sweetness of agave syrup and orange, ties it all together.
Here’s how to make this margarita riff:
Ingredients
2 ounces (60 milliliters) cold brew coffee concentrate
1.5 ounces (45 milliliters) silver tequila (e.g. Patrón or Don Julio) or mezcal (e.g. Mezcales de Leyenda or Dos Hombres)
1 ounce (30 milliliters) orange liqueur (e.g. McCormick Triple Sec or Cointreau)
0.75 ounces (22 milliliters) fresh orange juice (half an orange)
0.5 ounces (15 milliliters) fresh lime juice
0.5 ounces (15 milliliters) agave syrup, to taste
Ice, for shaking and serving
Pinch of fine saltÂ
Orange peel and whole coffee beans, for garnish (optional)
Coarse salt, to rim the glass (optional)
Method
Chill your margarita glass by placing it in a freezer.
In a cocktail shaker, add the cold brew concentrate, tequila, orange liqueur, fresh orange juice, lime juice, agave syrup and a pinch of salt. Salt brightens the sweet and sour citrus and tequila notes.
Fill the cocktail shaker with lots of ice and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds.Â
Remove the margarita glass from the chiller and rim with coarse salt.
Fill your glass with ice and strain the cocktail mixture into it.
Add an orange peel twist on the side of the glass. You may, if desired, place a few whole coffee beans on top of your drink for that extra coffee kick.
As summer cold brew cocktails go, this one’s a winner. Enjoy!
Cascara Cold Brew Negroni
This cocktail is a fusion of Italian aperitif culture with modern coffee trends. The result is a bold coffee drink with bitter, herbal notes. Then again, the bitterness is tempered by the cold brew’s smooth, mellow profile.
In addition, cascara gin adds a subtle tea-like flavor, and orange peel, a bright, citrusy aroma.
To make this cocktail you’ll need:
Ingredients
1 ounce (30 milliliters) cold brew coffee concentrate
1 ounce (30 milliliters) cascara-infused gin (e.g. D’Urban Scarlet Gin or Ironbark)
1 ounce (30 milliliters) Campari
1 oz (30 milliliters) sweet vermouth (e.g. Cinzano Rosso or Dolin Vermouth Rouge)
Orange peel, for garnish
Large ice cube, for serving
Method
Chill an old-fashioned glass in the freezer.
Then, in a mixing glass, combine the cold brew coffee concentrate, cascara-infused gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, that classic Italian bitter.
Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir for 30 seconds until well-chilled.
Remove the old-fashioned cocktail glass from the chiller and place a large ice cube in an old-fashioned cocktail glass. The large ice cube melts slowly, maintaining the drink’s integrity.
Strain the mixture over the ice cube.
Express the oils from an orange peel by gently squeezing the peel over the drink. Then, use it as a garnish.
Serve and enjoy!
Lavender Honey Cold Brew Fizz
Like an espresso tonic, this mocktail strikes a fine balance between indulgence and sparkle. Cold brew adds a mellow coffee taste, while lavender honey adds a subtle floral note.
And to top it all off, the carbonated water makes for a bubbly, crisp finish. Oh, and let’s not forget the citrusy aroma of lemon peel!
To make this alcohol-free cocktail, you’ll need:
Ingredients
4 ounces (118 milliliters) cold brew coffee concentrate
2 ounces (60 milliliters) chilled sparkling water
1 ounce (30 milliliters) lavender honey syrupÂ
Ice cubes, for shaking
Dried, edible lavender buds, white sugar and a lemon peel twist, for garnish
Method
Chill a highball glass for 5-10 minutes in the freezer.
Then rim the mouth of the glass with sugar.
To do this, dip the mouth of the glass into the egg white and then again in sugar. Twist the glass well to ensure full coverage.
Now, add cold brew concentrate and lavender honey syrup to your cocktail glass. Stir well to combine.
Next, add plenty of ice cubes to fill the glass about two-thirds full. Top these ingredients with chilled sparkling water.
Garnish with a sprinkle of dried edible lavender buds and a twist of lemon peel.Â
Serve immediately.
Maple Spice Cold Brew White Russian
The last of my top 5 cold brew cocktails is the Maple Spice Cold Brew White Russian. This creamy drink is a creative evolution of a classic White Russian, incorporating new coffee trends.
It offers a more nuanced experience, while still maintaining the original’s indulgent nature. The boldness of coffee, the sweetness of the cream and pumpkin spice latte notes of cinnamon and nutmeg intrigue the palate.
Crucially, vodka’s neutrality allows the cold brew to shine without altering its flavor.
To make this brew, you need:
Ingredients
2 ounces (60 milliliters) cold brew coffee concentrate
1.5 ounces (45 milliliters) vodka
1 ounce (30 milliliters) coffee liqueur (e.g. Kahlúa, Tia Maria)
1 ounce (30 milliliters) cinnamon maple cream
4 ounces (120 milliliters) heavy cream
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of ground nutmeg
Ice cubes
Cinnamon stick and whole coffee beans, for garnish
Method
To make this cold brew cocktail, first, whip up some spiced maple cream.
Mix heavy cream, maple syrup, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg until the cream forms soft peaks. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Then, take a rocks glass and chill it for 5-10 minutes.
In a cocktail shaker, combine cold brew concentrate, vodka and coffee liqueur with a handful of ice cubes.
Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds to chill and combine the ingredients well.
Remove your cocktail glass from the freezer and fill it with fresh ice cubes.
Strain the coffee mixture over the ice.
Slowly spoon the maple cream over the back of a spoon onto the surface of the drink, creating a layered effect.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and 2-3 whole coffee beans, if desired.
Serve immediately. Perfect for Thanksgiving and the festive season!
Final Thoughts: Cold Brew Coffee Meets Mixology
Hope you’ve enjoyed reading my cold brew cocktail exploration. I expect you’ll shake things up with my delicious recipes. These boozy brews prove that the world of coffee isn’t just espresso and drip. In fact, these cold coffees are the perfect way to beat the summer heat or energize colder evenings.
If you prefer to keep things alcohol-free, by all means, make these recipes as mocktails. Here’s to your inner barista meeting your inner mixologist! Save water, drink cold brew cocktails!
Now, onto you! Have you tried any of these cold brew cocktails? Or do you have a secret up your sleeve? Share your favorite cold brew cocktail recipes and tips in the comments section below!
