Bittersweet Amaro- and Whiskey-Spiked Coffee Recipe

By
Maggie Hoffman
Maggie Hoffman is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Maggie Hoffman
Maggie Hoffman is a writer and editor focusing on cocktails and food. She was the managing editor for Serious Eats until 2016 and is the digital director for Epicurious.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Oct. 29, 2018
20170109-amaro-whiskey-coffee-vicky-wasik-2.jpg
Photograph: Vicky Wasik

Why This Recipe Works

  • Averna and Gran Classico add a deep, dark richness that pairs with and rounds out coffee's bitter flavors.
  • Whipped cream adds a cooling topping to the hot drink.

In this recipe, adapted from Aaron Paul of the Daniel Patterson Group in San Francisco, bourbon-spiked coffee gets a bittersweet flavor from caramelly Amaro Averna and herbal, citrusy Gran Classico. (If you don't have Gran Classico on hand, you can substitute Campari, though I don't think it works quite as well in this drink.)

Recipe Details

Bittersweet Amaro- and Whiskey-Spiked Coffee Recipe

Active 5 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 2 drinks

Ingredients

For the Spiked Whipped Cream (optional):

  • 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream

  • 1/2 ounce (15ml) Gran Classico

  • 1 tablespoon (30g) sugar

For the Spiked Coffee:

  • 2 ounces (60ml) Averna

  • 1 ounce (30ml) bourbon

  • 1 ounce (30ml) high-quality crème de cacao, such as Tempus Fugit

  • 1/2 ounce (15ml) Gran Classico

  • 8 ounces (235ml) hot coffee

Directions

  1. For the Spiked Whipped Cream (optional): Beat cream, Gran Classico, and sugar with a whisk, hand mixer, or stand mixer until stiff peaks begin to form. Set aside.

  2. For the Spiked Coffee: Fill two small mugs with boiling water to warm them. In a measuring cup, mix Averna, bourbon, crème de cacao, and Gran Classico. Stir well. When coffee is ready, dump hot water from mugs and divide bourbon mixture evenly between them. Add coffee and stir well. Top with whipped cream, if using, and serve.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
202 Calories
0g Fat
23g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 202
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 69mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)