Coffee Liqueur

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PRESENTATION

Homemade coffee liqueur is rooted in Italian tradition, with old monasteries whipping up all sorts of herbal drinks—monks really had a knack for these tasty digestifs. In central and southern Italy, families love to tweak their own coffee liqueur recipes for special events or just to have something sweet and aromatic on hand. It’s pretty simple. And just strong moka coffee, sugar, alcohol and a pinch of patience. People in Italy often enjoy a small glass after dinner. And the texture? Velvety and rich. It just slows everything down at the table. There’s something festive about sharing homemade coffee liqueur after a meal, especially during Christmas or big family gatherings. It’s a classic example of how Italian kitchens turn basic ingredients into something that feels like a real treat.

And listen, over the years, folks have come up with all kinds of twists—like using mint or basil for a fresh kick, or adding cherries and melons for a summery vibe. Nocino, the walnut liqueur, and idromele, an old-school mead, are also popular homemade drinks in those regions. And honestly, every family seems to have their own secret recipe. What’s cool is that these homemade coffee liqueur traditions go way back but still fit into modern life. Plus, giving a bottle as a gift? That's a big deal—shows you care with no fuss, and people really, really love homemade presents.

A splash works great in coffee liqueur desserts or mixed into coffee liqueur cocktails for something special. With that deep coffee flavor and a little boozy warmth, it’s smooth enough to sip on its own, but also mixes pretty well wherever you want more bold coffee taste. I gotta say, that's probably why folks keep coming back to these old recipes—they are easy, comforting, and always hit the spot. And look, cannot go wrong with that.

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INGREDIENTS
Ingredients for about 1L of liqueur
Coffee 1 lb (450 g) - from moka pot or espresso
Sugar 2 ¼ cups (450 g)
Pure alcohol 1.3 cups (250 g)
Preparation

How to prepare Coffee Liqueur

To prepare the coffee liqueur, start by making the coffee with a moka pot (or if you prefer, with a coffee machine) which you will then pour into a high-sided pan 1; add the sugar (2-3) and turn on the very low heat to make it dissolve 3.

To facilitate the process, you can stir with a spatula 4 or with a wooden spoon. When the sugar is completely dissolved 5, pour the mixture into a bowl to cool down 6.

When it is well cooled, add the alcohol 7 and mix it carefully with the other ingredients 8. Finally, distribute the coffee liqueur into new or well-washed glass bottles, perfectly clean and dried (once washed, it is advisable to let them dry upside down on a clean towel) 9. Screw the cap tightly to ensure no air enters. Let the coffee liqueur rest in the bottles for at least 2 weeks before consuming it.

Storage

If stored properly in a pantry away from light and heat sources, the coffee liqueur lasts for up to 90 days.

Advice

An original coffee liqueur? Flavor the coffee and sugar liquid by infusing the seeds of a vanilla bean: you will get a personalized and absolutely original liqueur!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.