Coffee Liqueur

As a digestif, in a cocktail or added to desserts, coffee liqueurs are a versatile drink enjoyed all over the world. From Kahlua to Conker, we stock some of the most popular on the market.

The history of coffee liqueurs dates back to the early 1600s, when records suggest that the first recipe was invented by French monk, Frere David. As the popularity of coffee grew over the following centuries, so did the popularity of coffee liqueurs – especially across Europe. France and Italy were some of the first countries to bottle their own expressions, but by the mid-20th Century, coffee liqueurs we being made everywhere from Jamaica to Mexico. 

Coffee liqueurs are made by combining coffee beans or extract with a distilled spirit such as gin, vodka or even rum. Sugar or syrup will also likely be added for sweetness. The resulting flavour will depend on the coffee and spirit used, but additional flavourings like vanilla or chocolate may be used to create a specific profile. They usually have a thick and creamy mouth feel.

Kahlua and Tia Maria are perhaps the most well-known coffee liqueurs. Both originating from the 1930s, and both using rum as their base, they go perfect in cocktails such as a White Russian or Espresso Martini. 

Explore our range of coffee liqueurs at House of Malt.