DIY COFFEE LIQUEUR: PERFECT FOR ESPRESSO MARTINIS

Crafting your own allows you to customise the sweetness and flavour, controlling every aspect to suit your taste. Plus, you get to use your favourite coffee beans and vodka. Here’s a guide to make your own, along with other cocktail suggestions to make the most of your creation.

Ingredients

• 100 gm of coffee grounds (we used a local wood fired coffee)
• 100 gm of sugar (For a deeper flavour, we prefer darker, less refined sugar)
• 100 ml of water
• 100 ml of vodka (We used Blackwattle Distilling Co. Australian Grain Vodka)

Instructions

1. Macerate the Coffee Grounds: Mix 100 gm of coffee grounds with 100 grams of sugar. Stir until evenly mixed, then cover and let sit for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Prepare the Coffee Syrup: Add 100 ml of brewed coffee to the coffee-sugar mixture. Stir well and let it sit for another 24 hours.
3. Strain the Mixture: Use a fine mesh sieve and coffee filter to strain the coffee syrup from the grounds.
4. Combine with Vodka: Mix the strained coffee syrup with 100 millilitres of vodka. Bottle and store in the fridge for up to a month.

Making the Espresso Martini

Ingredients

• 60 ml vodka
• 30 ml homemade coffee liqueur
• 30 ml freshly brewed espresso
• Coffee beans for garnish

Directions

1. Chill the Glass: Fill a martini glass with ice.
2. Shake the Ingredients: Shake vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso with ice.
3. Strain and Serve: Strain into the chilled glass.
4. Garnish: Float a few coffee beans on top.

Other Delicious Cocktails Using Coffee Liqueur

White Russian

Ingredients

• 60 ml vodka
• 30 ml homemade coffee liqueur
• 30 ml heavy cream

Directions

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and coffee liqueur.
3. Top with cream and stir gently.

Black Russian

Ingredients

• 60 ml vodka
• 30 ml homemade coffee liqueur

Directions

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and coffee liqueur.
3. Stir gently and serve.

Coffee Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 60 ml bourbon
• 15 ml homemade coffee liqueur
• 1 sugar cube
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange peel for garnish

Directions

1. Muddle the sugar cube and bitters in a glass.
2. Add bourbon and coffee liqueur.
3. Fill the glass with ice and stir.
4. Garnish with an orange peel.

Cold Brew Martini

Ingredients

• 60 ml vodka
• 30 ml homemade coffee liqueur
• 30 ml cold brew coffee
• Simple syrup to taste

Directions

1. Chill a martini glass with ice.
2. Shake vodka, coffee liqueur, cold brew, and simple syrup with ice.
3. Strain into the chilled glass and serve.

Coffee Negroni

Ingredients

• 30 ml gin
• 30 ml Campari
• 30 ml homemade coffee liqueur

Directions

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add gin, Campari, and coffee liqueur.
3. Stir and strain into a rocks glass over ice.
4. Garnish with an orange twist.

Final Thoughts

Making your own coffee liqueur is a rewarding endeavour that enhances the taste and quality of your cocktails. Whether you’re impressing guests or enjoying a quiet evening at home, a homemade coffee liqueur is the perfect pick-me-up. Plus, the ability to customise and experiment with flavours ensures that your cocktails are always uniquely yours.