One thing is certain: among the most popular Italian traditions, it definitely occupies a special place. We’re talking about coffee liqueur, a great after-dinner classic for aiding the digestion, but also often used as an aperitif, and to make desserts, cakes and semifreddo dishes.
A delicious beverage that can be savoured all year round, it is easy to make, even at home: let’s find out how to make homemade coffee liqueur.
Homemade coffee liqueur recipe
The popularity of this drink has led to the introduction of many different versions. But our all-time favourite is the traditional recipe.
Coffee liqueur: ingredients
To make about 1 litre of coffee liqueur you’ll need:
- 300 ml food grade 95° grain ethanol or plain vodka.
- 300 ml warm water.
- 210 ml coffee made in a moka machine, which corresponds to about 7 espresso cups.
- 200 gr sugar.
- 2 gr vanillin.
Coffee liqueur: how to make it
- Let’s start with the coffee (do you know how to make an excellent coffee using the moka machine?). We choose Super Miscela because its aromatic taste and strong body are perfect for the drink we want to make.
- The next step is to dissolve the sugar in the water. Now add the coffee first, and then the alcohol or vodka and leave the mixture to settle for about twelve hours.
- Next, simply add the vanillin and some more water at room temperature until the bottle is full.
- Your homemade coffee liqueur should then be left to rest for 40 days in a dry place, away from direct sunlight. At the end of this period, we recommend that you shake it before you taste it and then serve with a few ice cubes.
And what if I want to make a version with an even stronger coffee taste?
The secret to making the coffee taste even stronger is not to use a normal espresso, but a student’s coffee, obtained by replacing the water in your moka machine with coffee. It might make the whole process a little longer but it’s definitely worthwhile: in the end you’ll have a super-concentrated espresso, with a flavour that is easy to taste in our homemade liqueur.
After dinner, as well as the Italian tradition of drinking a liqueur to aid the digestion, there is also another custom which is just as, if not even more popular: savouring a delicious Italian dessert! This is why you simply can’t miss this recipe: discover how to make a delicious coffee cake with a recipe that is as easy as pie!