5 Coffee Cocktail Recipes Worth Making at Home
- Kate Carr
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Coffee cocktails are some of our favorite drinks to make, period. There's a richness to them that a lot of cocktails don't have, and there's something about the espresso that makes them feel like more of an occasion no matter when you're pouring one.
We've built a small collection of coffee cocktail recipes we keep coming back to, and we made sure there's a real variety in the lineup. Vodka, tequila, and bourbon all show up here, along with a bubbly, lighter option for when you want something less intense. Whatever spirit you reach for most, there's likely one here for you.
Here are five of our favorites and links to the full recipes when you're ready to build your own at home.
A Note on Making These at Home
All five of these coffee cocktail recipes come down to one thing: real espresso. Cold brew concentrate can stand in for espresso in a pinch, but a fresh shot is what gives each of these its foam and its bite. We use our Breville Barista Pro at home, but a moka pot is an easy and affordable way to get there too.
The Best Coffee Cocktail Recipes for Every Mood
Midnight Spritz
The Bright One
This is where we start when we want a coffee cocktail that still feels light. Vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur get topped with prosecco and a splash of club soda, so it drinks bubbly and effervescent instead of heavy. It's a coffee cocktail with spritz energy, and it's just as easy to make two of.
Vodka · Espresso · Coffee liqueur · Prosecco · Club soda
Vanilla Bean Espresso Martini
The One You'll Always Come Back To
If you only make one coffee cocktail, make this one. Vanilla vodka and fresh espresso shake up into a thick, creamy foam, and a pinch of Himalayan salt keeps the whole thing from tipping into dessert. It's the espresso martini done right, and it never gets old.
Vanilla vodka · Fresh espresso · Coffee liqueur · Vanilla bean paste · Himalayan salt
Espresso Cream Fizz
The Latte Lover Showstopper
This is the one to make when you want something that looks like it came from a cocktail bar. Vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur get dry shaken with egg white and heavy cream until a thick, cappuccino-like foam builds on top, then it's topped with club soda and dusted with cocoa. It drinks a little like a boozy latte, if your latte had a shaker involved and a lot more attitude. It takes a few extra minutes, and it's worth every one of them.
Vodka · Espresso · Coffee liqueur · Vanilla syrup · Heavy cream · Egg white
Carajillo with Tequila
The Unexpected One
Equal parts tequila, Licor 43, and espresso shaken hard until it builds a thick foam, this coffee cocktail skips vodka entirely and comes out richer for it. Licor 43 brings notes of vanilla and warm spice, so the whole drink tastes more complex than three ingredients should. It's silky, bold, and a little unexpected in the best way.
Tequila blanco · Licor 43 · Fresh espresso · Demerara syrup
Smoked Espresso Old Fashioned
The Smoky, Moody One
This is the coffee cocktail for the person who reaches for bourbon first. Espresso and vanilla bean paste layer into a classic old fashioned, and a whisper of smoked salt gives it a deep, savory-sweet edge that lingers. Serve it over one big ice cube and let it slow you down.
Bourbon · Espresso · Simple syrup · Smoked salt · Vanilla bean paste · Angostura bitters
About Kevin & Kate
We're Kevin and Kate, a husband and wife duo who turned a weekly cooking ritual into something we wanted to share. Date Nite is our subscription experience for couples: one complete evening every week with a curated dinner menu, a cocktail pairing, grocery list, playlist, and all the small details that make a night at home feel like something you actually looked forward to.
If any of these coffee cocktails are calling to you, they'd be right at home on a Date Nite table.