The seven best cocktails to celebrate international coffee day
Drinking coffee isn't for everyone, but shake it up in a cocktail and it might just be a little more appealing. Leighanne Bent rounds up her favourites and where to find them
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Your support makes all the difference.If you want to raise a toast to international coffee day with something a little bit stronger than a flat white, walk this way. From Liverpool to London, DesignMyNight has rounded up the best coffee cocktails to try on 1 October.
So, whether you’ve got your taste buds set on a classic espresso martini or a unique negroni dripped through roasted coffee for 24 hours, there are plenty of fantastic places to get your caffeine buzz.
Alchemista Coffee Co – Norwich
When it comes to cocktails, Alchemista Coffee Co really knows how to nail it. From mudslide-style boozy milkshakes to Irishesque concoctions with floating cream, it has six options on the menu – Le Monde is where our loyalties lie. It’s basically an “old fashioned” with a huge caffeine kick, stirred through with bourbon, bold brew, orange and bitters.
Ziggy’s – London
David Bowie held a celebrity party at the Hotel Royal Cafe in 1973 to retire his alter-ego and, 45 years after his infamous bash, the hotel has opened a bar dedicated to the singer. Ziggy’s is decorated with a collection of photography from the rock star’s official photographer, and the menu draws inspiration from his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust. For international coffee day it’s more than worth ordering a darkness & disgrace, which marries dark rum, tawny port, coffee liqueur, sugar syrup and egg yolk.
Duck and Waffle – London
Sure, Duck and Waffle is a 24/7 restaurant and sure, it has sweeping views of London, but have you heard about its cocktail menu? Rich Woods is the brains behind it and it’s currently paying homage to its favourite mixes of the past 12 months. But for national coffee day you need to order the ristretto negroni. A bizarre take on the classic negroni, it’s made with Bombay Sapphire, Campari and Martini vermouth blend, slow dripped through roasted coffee over 24 hours. As the saying goes folks: good things take time.
Disrepute Bar – London
Disrepute is a suave members’ bar in Soho with plenty of scandalous history. Once The Pinstripe Club – where the rich and the famous came to let their hair down in the Sixties – it’s been transformed into a luxurious den of velvet furnishings, ornate gold mirrors and art deco. The menu is littered with impressive creations but the old fashioned variation takes the biscuit. It’s an indulgent mix of 101 Wild Turkey, coffee liqueur and Crème de Noisette and comes garnished with Speculoos shortbread.
New Street Grill – Liverpool
Not at the point in life where you can justify spending £30 on a 30g pack of truffles? Same here. If you’re a lover of truffle-sprinkled fries and truffle laced mac ‘n’ cheese when you dine out, you might want to venture to New Street Grill. This Liverpool restaurant has created a truffle espresso martini, and before you arch an eyebrow – let us tell you it actually works. It’s shaken with vanilla vodka, coffee and hazelnut liqueurs and a double shot of espresso, and comes served with truffle shavings.
Aqua7 – London
You know those bars that make you feel like you’re right at home? We’ve got another one to add to the list. Acqua7 is a concept bar that will trick you into thinking you’re in your friend’s designer kitchen, and if you’re looking for something extra special to toast with on international coffee day, this is the place to be. Plonk yourself on a stool at the pristine bar and order the Dalston handshake. Deep and rich in flavour, it marries Guinness West Indies Porter, coffee liqueur and agave syrup.
Boki – London
This independent coffee shop is littered with hanging greenery and polished, marble-topped tables, but thanks to it doubling as a cocktail bar, it’s penned as a great place to hang, post-work. Although its alcoholic drinks have been drilled down to four mixes, it has perfected each. The renowned espresso martini is a beautiful blend, spiked with Chase Vodka, and if you book a table midweek between 5pm and 7pm through DesignMyNight, you can nab one for a pocket-friendly £6.
For more info on the best bars in London and across the UK, visit DesignMyNight and follow it on Instagram and Twitter @DesignMyNight
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