Coffee Negroni recipe
A bittersweet botanical aperitif enriched with rich, roasty cold brew coffee depth.
Method: Stir and strain ·
Glass: Rocks glass with a large ice cube ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: Modern Classics
Ingredients
- 30 ml London dry gin (dry and juniper-forward)
- 30 ml Campari (bitter aperitivo)
- 30 ml sweet vermouth (rich and herbaceous)
- 15 ml coffee liqueur (cold brew style)
How to make a Coffee Negroni
- Add gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and coffee liqueur to a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir briskly for 30 seconds until the mixture is thoroughly chilled and properly diluted.
- Strain the liquid into a rocks glass over a single large ice cube.
- Garnish with a fresh orange peel expressing its essential oils across the surface.
Garnish
Express an orange peel over the glass and drop it in.
Pro tip
Adjust the coffee liqueur quantity carefully to prevent overpowering the classic botanical balance of the Negroni. Using a quality cold brew liqueur ensures clean coffee notes without artificial sweetness.
History of the Coffee Negroni
While the classic Negroni traces its roots to Florence in 1919 at Caffè Casoni, contemporary coffee-infused iterations emerged during the craft cocktail renaissance of the 2010s. Modern bartenders began experimenting with cold brew coffee liqueurs and coffee-washed spirits to bridge the gap between traditional bitter aperitifs and post-dinner digestifs. Although exact attribution for the first Coffee Negroni remains debated among various craft coffee and cocktail establishments, popularization is widely attributed to contemporary mixologists seeking to marry botanical gin bitterness with roasty, complex coffee depth.
Flavour profile
bitter, sweet, roasty, herbaceous
Variations
- Espresso Negroni — Substitute the coffee liqueur with 30 ml of freshly pulled espresso for a bolder body and frothier texture.
- Mezcal Coffee Negroni — Replace the London dry gin with smoky mezcal to introduce earthy agave notes that complement the coffee and Campari.
Practise making the Coffee Negroni in the free Virtual Bar game.