As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The 12 Best Coffee Liqueurs To Try in 2022
The market for quality coffee liqueur mirrors the increased focus on flavor in coffee production.
Where once the coffee taste was a mild, complementary aspect of this liqueur style, for many contemporary distillers the coffee used and method of extraction are the key to their product.
You may find that a brand’s focus on cold brew press production, premium beans, and an espresso coffee flavor is more important than traditional sweet, smooth, and creamy characteristics.
While old favorites are still the most popular liqueurs, new entrants are creating craft liqueur of great quality at inexpensive price points aimed squarely at the coffee lover and not your gran.
The following collection of coffee liqueurs mix up creamy, chocolate-oriented spirits, with those geared toward the hardcore espresso bean enthusiast moonlighting with a martini glass rather than a coffee cup.
Best Buy Choosing another option to Bailey’s would have meant my mom, and my mother-in-law would have banded together to destroy my life. For them, and many others, there’s nothing better to drink than Bailey’s Irish Cream. You could make the argument that Bailey’s Original is not strictly a coffee liqueur, but I don’t think it matters with all the different versions available. The blend of spirits, whiskey, Irish dairy, and chocolate uniquely preserves the classic taste of the Irish cream and is perfect in a hot coffee or chocolate, or for use in a decadent dessert. The popularity of Baileys Irish Cream has spawned a lot of knock-offs and imitators, while you can also get alternative Bailey’s editions that range from indulgent red velvet or salted caramel to espresso and Almande.1. Bailey's Irish Cream
Mr. Black is a blend of speciality Arabica coffee beans and Australian wheat vodka that zigs where other, sweeter coffee liquor brands zag. Top-grade beans are sourced from the best growing regions, with Mr. Black using a “low-and-slow” cold brew process to create a complex liquor that is bold, balanced, and coffee-centric, with far less sugar than other brands. The cold brewing and vodka base spirit helps preserve the coffee’s flavor, and also allows for an alcohol content of 25%, which is more than a lot of similar style liquors. If you are looking for a coffee liqueur that emphasizes quality coffee beans and handcrafted production over syrup sweet liqueurs, then Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee is a fantastic option.2. Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffe Liqueur
The only Mexican spirit more popular than tequila, Kahlua’s is arguably the most widely enjoyed coffee liqueur in the world. At 20% ABV, Kahlua coffee-flavored liqueur is sweet, smooth tasting, and versatile, having been crafted from 100% Arabica coffee beans that are then mixed with rum, caramel, and vanilla bean. Kahlua is the foremost coffee liqueur for cocktails and aperitifs, whether it’s a simple White Russian or something more decadent like a whipped cream and dark chocolate espresso martini. These days you can enjoy a variety of Kahlua editions ranging from mint and salted caramel to premium coffee expressions and pre-made cocktail versions, but I still find the original the best!3. Kahlua Original
Described as a next-generation cream liqueur, Somrus is a medley of Arabica coffee beans and roasted chicory that’s been enhanced by five times distilled Caribbean rum and real Wisconsin dairy cream. Somrus liqueur offers a tremendously creamy and gentle coffee flavor that tastes great with hot coffee, in a rocks glass with ice, or tossed into a cocktail shaker with other fresh ingredients and a simple syrup. If there’s an expression that your mom might like more than Bailey’s, then Somrus Coffee Cream Liqueur is the most likely to take her fancy!4. Somrus Coffee Cream Liqueur
Du Nord Café Frieda Coffee Liqueur is another top-quality bottle designed with extra focus on the coffee craftsmanship, rather than as an adjunct ingredient to your sweet cocktail or espresso martini recipe. Locally roasted coffee from Peace Coffee Yeti comes from just down the road at the Du Nord distillery in Minneapolis and is combined with spicy chicory, then sweetened to provide a balanced taste and smooth texture with flecks of spice and stone fruit flavor. The combination of spice, fruit, and chocolate flavors creates a drinking experience above and beyond your ordinary cup of coffee, with a strong yet enjoyable mouthfeel and lasting finish.5. Du Nord Café Frieda Coffee Liqueur
St. George NOLA Coffee Liqueur is crafted using top-quality Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans in combination with chicory and vanilla beans. The resultant liqueur features a milk chocolate aroma and a palate of roasted nuts, brown sugar, and a mild yet pleasant bitterness balanced against sweeter vanilla notes. If you’re looking for a velvety liqueur in the style of New Orleans coffee, this is a smooth and reliable choice.6. St. George Nola Coffee Liqueur
See more about - The 15 Best Whiskeys For An Irish Coffee
A well priced and interested Austrian brand (hence the name Mozart) this coffee chocolate liqueur blends the finest coffee beans, Belgian chocolate, and the aroma of fruit into a gluten-free expression made with all-natural ingredients Mozart Chocolate Liqueur offers a creamy texture and broad sweetness of flavor reminiscent of a cream liqueur but with a more chocolate focus, which you can enjoy simply neat or over ice. If you are looking to level up your cocktail game with a fresh tasting, enjoyable base liqueur then try out a few notes of Mozart in a whipped cream mudslide.7. Mozart Chocolate Coffee
While better known for famous tequila expressions, one of Patrón’s most underrated bottles is XO Cafe. Patrón XO Cafe is crafted by mixing Patrón tequila with the essence of fine coffee, where the cocoa notes contrast the warmth and flavor of blue agave. As far as coffee liqueur goes the bottle is strong at 35% ABV, yet the blend is an enjoyable mix of spirit and coffee. A great bottle for sharing with friends in a new twist on the classic espresso martini recipe, Patrón XO Cafe has a pop of individuality that can make a simple drink more memorable.8. Patrón XO Cafe
I’ve consumed a lot of Jagermeister in my time, but can’t say that it has a taste I truly love. It’s a great shot for partying or dropping in an energy drink or beer. But the Jagermeister Cold Brew Coffee expression is a flavor I can fully support. The recognizable herbaceous liqueur meshes fetchingly with the Arabica coffee beans to create a unique and enjoyable spirit. A Jager Cold Brew shot is a jolt for the uninitiated but offers an earthier, more chocolate flavor than the original. A slightly chilled shot or two will certainly get your night up and running!9. Jagermeister Cold Brew Coffee
Flor de Caña Spresso Coffee Liqueur is made with sweet, indulgent coffee liqueur from the famed Nicaraguan rum distillery Flor de Caña. Spresso Coffee Liqueur is carbon neutral & Fair Trade certified so you can feel good while getting your drink on. Spresso Coffee Liqueur is rich in rum-like sugar cane flavor and coffee notes but is a caffeine-free, light-bodied expression that retains an intense black color. It’s the perfect liqueur spirit for your coffee cocktail or as a contrasting color in a cocktail utilizing whipped cream.10. Flor de Caña Spresso Coffee Liqueur
Spanish liqueur Tia Maria is a unique blend of 100% Arabica coffee beans and premium vanilla. The coffee beans are steeped in water for 12 hours and then cold pressed to extract the most robust coffee flavor possible, after which the vanilla is added to contrast the bitterness with flavor. The aroma of coffee dominates, while the flavor yields rich cocoa, solid notes of vanilla, cane sugar, and chocolate. If you are after a serious coffee liquor that still utilizes quality sweet accents, then Tia Maria is unlikely to disappoint.11. Tia Maria Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Jackson Morgan Peppermint Mocha Liqueur is a coffee liqueur that moonlights as the base for brilliantly boozy ice cream and other dessert options. Unlike some other brands on this list, the Jackson Morgan expression aims for a balance between chocolate and coffee flavors, that’s then enhanced by the addition of peppermint. If you’re looking for a chilled aperitif, or a liqueur to make your coffee cocktail that little bit more exciting, then Jackson Morgan Peppermint Mocha might be a handy addition to your home bar.12. Jackson Morgan Peppermint Mocha Liqueur
