Coffee liqueur is a type of liqueur flavored with coffee beans and, sometimes, other herbs and spices. While coffee liqueur is often homemade, there are many commercial brands, which offer a wide variety of base spirits, bottling proofs, and flavor profiles.
Kahlua, Kamora, and Patron Cafe are common brands of coffee liqueur. Kahlua is [ingredient=rum rum] based and not only makes an "Especial" version which is higher proof and uses better coffee beans, but also flavors such as vanilla, mocha, hazelnut, and peppermint mocha, which mimic popular coffee creamer flavors. Patron Cafe, not surprisingly, is [ingredient=tequila tequila] based.
In smaller, more regional brands, Firelit produces a coffee liqueur with coffee from small, quality oriented roasters, and matches the flavor profile of the coffee to the base spirit, which is often grappa.
Coffee liqueurs add roundness and a roasted depth to cocktails, but they overpower other flavors quickly.
Some popular cocktails containing Coffee liqueur
- Coffee Cobbler — Venezuelan rum, Coffee liqueur, Orange liqueur, Simple syrup, Lemon juice
- Improved Morning Sour — Coffee liqueur, Bergamot liqueur, Lemon juice, Agave syrup, Chinotto, Lemon peel
- Café Negroni — Coffee liqueur, Gin, Campari, Sweet vermouth
- Spanish Coffee Stout — Stout, Añejo rum, Demerara Rum, Orange liqueur, Coffee liqueur, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Licor 43, Whipped cream, Coffee
- Otoño Cocktail — Irish whiskey, Pacharan, Coffee liqueur, Bitters
- Walnut Room — Bourbon, Walnut Liqueur, Amaro, Coffee liqueur, Bitters, Orange peel
- Coffee's For Closers — Coffee liqueur, Averna, Bénédictine, Whole egg, Nutmeg
- The Legend Continues — Dark rum, Coffee liqueur, Whole egg, Orange juice, Orgeat, Coffee bean
- Brawny Man — Amaro dell'Erborista, Gran Classico, Scotch, Coffee liqueur, Orange peel
- Delores del Rio — Cognac, Mezcal, Coffee liqueur, Bénédictine, Absinthe, Coffee bean