Coffee is amazing, and vodka is amazing. However, the combination of the two is downright magical – you get to satisfy your craving for caffeine and alcohol in a single drink. Coffee vodka is pretty easy to make. You’ll also need a few ingredients to make the coffee liqueur.

Equally important, there are a variety of cocktails that you can make from coffee vodka. Therefore, for people who love coffee liqueurs, you’ll have several ways to spike up your drink. This article discusses the different coffee and vodka cocktails that are great for a morning pick-me-up and late-night libations. Read on!

Coffee Vodka

Before jumping into the different coffee-vodka cocktails, let’s look at how to make coffee vodka.

As mentioned earlier, coffee vodka is easy to make, plus you’ll only need a few ingredients. The coffee-to-vodka ratio depends on your personal preferences. However, the quality of ingredients is a big deal when making coffee liqueur. Cheap versions of vodka or coffee will take you from the coffee vodka experience. Avoid cheap ingredients. Additionally, don’t waste good coffee on cheap vodka and vice versa. Here’s how to make coffee vodka:

Ingredients

• Freshly brewed coffee – 6 ounces
• Vodka or coffee-infused vodka – 11/2 ounces

Instructions

1. In a glass, pour the freshly brewed coffee
2. Add vodka into the glass and stir

 

Coffee Vodka Cocktails

     1. White Russian

White Russian is among the most popular coffee vodka cocktails you’ll find. The cocktail is made using a few ingredients: vodka, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream. White Russian is a variation of the famous black Russian cocktail, a mixture of coffee liqueur and vodka. Here’s how to make the white Russian cocktail.

What you’ll need:

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1-ounce heavy cream
• 1-ounce coffee liqueur such as Kahlua

Instructions

1. Add some ice cubes to a glass
2. Pour the coffee liqueur and vodka into the glass
3. Add one ounce of the heavy cream or milk to the glass.
4. Stir the ingredients gently to achieve the swirl effect.
5. Enjoy your white Russian cocktail.

If you’re looking for a lighter white Russian version, use 2% milk instead of heavy cream. However, milk makes your drink more watery than white Russian with heavy cream.

     2. Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini is another coffee vodka cocktail that you can make at home. The cocktail is sweet, strong, smooth, and delicious, with a foamy and creamy top. Usually, the espresso martini is topped with coffee beans. The cocktail is an ideal after-dinner drink and a good morning pick-me-up. The best part of this cocktail is that it’s pretty easy to make. You’ll only need four simple ingredients and a cocktail shaker. Here’s how to make an espresso martini.

What you’ll need

• One part freshly brewed espresso coffee
• One part vodka
• One-part coffee liqueur – Kahlua
• Syrup
• Coffee beans for garnish
• Cocktail shaker

Instructions

1. Fill the shaker with ice.
2. Pour the freshly brewed espresso (ensure the coffee has cooled to avoid melting the ice) into the shaker, then add vodka, syrup, and coffee liqueur.
3. Shake the ingredients in the cocktail shaker extra hard to create a lovely foam on top.
4. Gently strain the mixture into martini glasses.
5. Garnish your espresso martini with three coffee beans, and enjoy.

     3. Vodka Irish Coffee

Vodka Irish coffee is yet another coffee vodka cocktail that you can make. This cocktail is a variation of traditional Irish coffee. Irish coffee is a caffeinated alcoholic drink that consists of hot coffee, sugar, and Irish whiskey. This drink is usually topped with cream. Here’s how to make vodka Irish coffee.

What you’ll need

• 1 oz vodka
• 4 oz cold brewed coffee
• 1 oz Baileys Irish cream
• Cocktail shaker

Instructions

1. Add the vodka, cold brewed coffee, and Irish cream to the shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake the ingredients well until they’re thoroughly combined.
3. Strain the mixture into a glass and enjoy.

You can ground nutmeg to garnish the brew.

     4. Black Russian

Black Russian is a simple coffee vodka cocktail consisting of vodka and Kahlua. The name Black Russian refers to the ingredients used -Kahlua is usually black, while vodka is associated with the Russians. Black Russian is a variation of the white Russian brew. The difference between the two cocktails is the use of cream in the white Russian. Here’s how to make the black Russian cocktail.

What You’ll Need

• 1 ounce Kahlua
• 2 ounces vodka

Instructions

1. Add the vodka and Kahlua into a glass filled with ice.
2. Stir the mixture well until combined.
3. Stir the mixture into a glass containing ice and enjoy.

     5. Knight Rider Cocktail

If you’re an adventurous drinker, the knight rider cocktail is the coffee vodka drink meant for you. The cocktail consists of grapefruit vodka, coffee liqueur, and regular coffee. Here’s how to make a knight rider cocktail.

What You’ll Need

• 1-ounce grapefruit vodka
• 1/2-ounce espresso coffee
• 3 ounces Kahlua
• Ice

Instructions

1. Add Kahlua, grapefruit vodka, and espresso coffee into a mixing glass.
2. Add ice into the glass and stir everything together.
3. Strain the mixture into a glass and enjoy your cocktail.

     6. Garnet Girls Cocktail

The Garnet Girls coffee vodka cocktail is a rum-based brew that’s mostly served at celebrations. The cocktail consists of espresso, vodka, heavy cream, and cherry liqueur. Garnet Girls cocktail is sweet and rich with fruity flavors. Here’s how to make this cocktail.

What You’ll Need

• 1/2-ounce vodka
• 1 ½ ounce espresso
• Heavy cream
• 1 ½ ounce cherry liqueur
• Ice
• Cocktail shaker

Instructions

1. Add the vodka, espresso, cherry liqueur, and ice to the shaker.
2. Shake the ingredients until combined.
3. Strain the mixture into a glass.
4. Carefully top the cocktail with heavy cream while trying to separate the layers.
5. Enjoy the Garnet Girls cocktail

 

How to Garnish Coffee Vodka Cocktails

While a simple coffee vodka cocktail is excellent, you can still garnish it to suit your style. Here are some ways to garnish your coffee vodka cocktails.

1. You can top the cocktails with coffee beans to add a little sophistication.
2. Add some whipped cream to the cocktails to add some sweetness.
3. You can garnish the cocktails with ground nutmeg, cinnamon, or cocoa powder. This also helps add some texture to your coffee vodka cocktail.
4. If you don’t want to add garnish to your coffee vodka, you can use a reusable straw with a fun color or pattern to sip your brew.

 

Conclusion

If you’re looking for something extra rather than your spiced-up regular cup of coffee, try out these coffee vodka cocktails. They’re easy to make and only require a few simple ingredients. Additionally, they are ideal for morning pick-me-ups, after-dinner drinks, late-night libations, and celebrations.