When there's a chill in the air, and you're cozied indoors, nothing fits the moment better than a hot coffee cocktail. And the Italian coffee cocktail is the nutty, rich coffee drink that we're the most likely to reach for when we want to share a cozy moment with someone we love (or with ourselves and a book).
How to Make a Hot Italian Coffee Cocktail
You're going to go nuts for this fragrant coffee cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce almond liqueur
- ¾ ounce hazelnut liqueur
- Fresh, hot coffee, for garnish and to top off
- Coffee foam or frothed milk for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice and 4-6 ounces of hot coffee.
- Shake vigorously for approximately three to four minutes, until a thick foam forms.
- After the mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the warm mug, add almond liqueur and hazelnut liqueur.
- Top off with hot coffee.
- Garnish with the coffee foam from the shaker.
Variations of the Italian Coffee Cocktail
There are plenty of different types of Italian coffee cocktails out there and several ingredients you can explore this drink with.
- Add a splash of bourbon for a bite with notes of caramel.
- A flavored coffee easily adds a yummy twist. Hazelnut would go incredibly well with the ingredients, but play around with using a light or dark roast and other flavors.
- Give your hot Italian cocktail a creamy touch with a splash of cream, either traditional coffee creamer or Irish cream.
- Sweeten your coffee with simple syrups, such as cinnamon or vanilla.
- You can add a bit of booze with a little coffee liqueur without losing any coffee flavor.
Garnishes
No one will blame you if you're not into shaking coffee for several minutes to make the foam. These garnishes will still complete the look.
- Use store-bought whipped cream. Feel free to opt for the spray can or tub type. Both will yield different results but add a thick and delicious creaminess to the cocktail.
- Sprinkle three whole coffee beans on top of the whipped cream.
- Add a touch of spiced flavor with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Give your drink a little extra sweetness with roughly chopped chocolate, or use delicate chocolate shavings.
Some Italian coffee cocktails call for a chocolate liqueur, Averna amaro, or Strega. Averna amaro is an Italian digestif, similar to Montenegro, and it's bitter yet sweet. Strega is an Italian herbal liqueur; think yellow chartreuse, Galliano, or Benedictine. No matter which way you go, it's all delicious.
Salute! To the Italian Coffee
Make a toast to a delicious cousin of the Irish coffee: the Italian coffee cocktail. When you're looking for something with a bit more flavor and perhaps something a little less boozy for your morning brunch drink, the hot Italian cocktail will swoop in to make the decision an easy one.
