Summer is not over yet. There are still a few hot days ahead of us - and it could also be a beautiful autumn. With pleasantly mild evenings. And what do we like to do when it's warm: eat ice cream, take a bath and drink cold brew. And cold brew doesn't always have to come alone, it's great for mixing. And for anyone who doesn't have any more appointments, a coffee negroni made with cold brew is perfect. What is a coffee negroni? We'll tell you.
Coffee Negroni – the original
As with many cocktails, the exact origin of the Negroni is no longer known. However, legends go back to 1919. The Italian nobleman Count Camillo Negroni asked a bartender in Florence to pimp up his favorite cocktail, the Americano (Campari, vermouth and soda water). So the bartender replaced the water with gin and the slice of lemon with orange. So much for the legend. The truth is that the cocktail quickly spread in Italian bars and became increasingly popular.
Coffee Negroni - rise to classic status
In the 1940s and 1950s, the Negroni began to become increasingly popular outside of Italy. There are printed recipes from the USA and Great Britain from the 1950s. And even the then famous director Orson Welles praised the cocktail in an interview.
Since then, the classic Negroni has spawned a number of variations, including the Negroni Sbagliato with Prosecco instead of gin, the Mezcal Negroni with Mezcal instead of gin and also the Coffee Negroni.
Coffee Negroni – the recipe
The Negroni is a simple and strong cocktail because it only contains alcoholic ingredients, apart from the ice cubes. It is made with equal parts Campari, red vermouth and gin, usually 3 cl each. If you are more "thirsty" you can use more, but always in equal parts. It is stirred, poured over ice and garnished with an orange slice.
By the way, the Negroni is so popular today that a whole week of celebrations has been dedicated to it. This year it will take place from September 16th to 22nd.
Coffee Negroni – the coffee gives the extra kick
Of all the variations of the cocktail that have emerged in recent years, the Coffee Negroni is one of the most popular. Nothing is replaced in the cocktail, but something is added. In this variation, an espresso or coffee liqueur is usually added to the original recipe. Like other coffee cocktails, the Coffee Negroni offers a unique dimension of flavor and an energy boost thanks to the caffeine.
Coffee Negroni – several possibilities
Coffee and alcohol have a very long tradition together: Carajillo, Café Amore, Irish Coffee, Espresso Martini are just a few of the most well-known mixed drinks with alcohol and coffee. So it's no real surprise that the Coffee Negroni quickly caught on. This is probably because coffee and the original Negroni both impress with fruity-sweet notes and bitter-tart tones.
Coffee Negroni – Cold Brew
You can make the Coffee Negroni with an espresso or with cold brew. We tried both and came to the conclusion that it is better with cold brew. The espresso is too prevalent in the cocktail and sometimes covers up the flavors of Campari and vermouth. The cold brew, on the other hand, perfectly complements the three alcohols and adds its share of the variety of flavors. Here is our recipe.
- 3 cl Gin
- 3 cl Campari
- 3 cl sweet red vermouth
- 3 cl Cold Brew (the Brazil is very suitable, if you like it fruitier, take the Ethiopia )
Stir all ingredients with ice and then strain into a glass with ice cubes, garnish with an orange slice or orange zest.
Coffee Negroni – Variations and Ideas
But we can also go a step deeper into the subject. If you want, you can refine your Campari (or gin) with coffee. In other words, make your own coffee schnapps. To do this, simply take a handful of coffee beans from your trusted roaster (we recommend Wildkaffee ) and pour them into your Campari or gin bottle. Leave the whole thing to steep overnight (or for a few days) and then filter it through filter paper. This way you can simply mix the original recipe with your coffee Campari or gin.
Coffee Negroni – Conclusion
So, next time you're sitting in the sun at a bar or enjoying a late summer evening, ask if you can have a Coffee Negroni instead of your umpteenth Espresso Martini. You'll see that it's refreshing, fruity, bitter, sweet and has a caffeine kick to boot. Who knows, maybe it'll become your new favorite drink!
