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Author:
Franco Salzillo
So, here’s the deal, German people are quite fond of liqueurs — they have lots of schnapps, liqueurs, brandies and many other alcoholic goodies. How do they use them? They’ll just drink them, of course, but they also cook with them and add them to their coffee.
It is the coffee we’re interested in today, particularly one fortified with the fantastic cherry liqueur called kirschwasser or cherry water.
Kirschwasser is no regular water — it’s a clear brandy, double-distilled with morello cherries for a fragrant hard spirit that’s utterly delicious! The spirit is a lovely apéritif, and when sweetened like in the cocktail we’re making today, it’s also a nice after-dinner drink.
Here’s a warning, though, kirschwasser is not sweet! So, you’ll need to sweeten your coffee cocktail with sugar or simple syrup.
Our coffee cocktail recipe calls for an ounce of the cherry-scented spirit, and there’s no real substitution, so get the authentic stuff. You can use cherry liqueur if you don’t find kirschwasser, but you won’t need the sugar since it will probably be sweet.
You’ll also need a double shot of freshly brewed espresso. Make sure it’s nice and creamy. Finally, there’s the sugar or your favorite sweetener (brown sugar adds a lovely caramel feel) and whipped cream as a garnish. That’s easy enough, right?
Four ingredients, and you’ve got yourself a coffee and a cocktail in the same cup. And if you top the whipped cream with a glossy cherry, this drink is fit for the most memorable occasions!
This pretty, cherry-flavored drink is a lovely way of ending a fancy dinner party with friends or family. It’s also fantastic for when you need a caffeine boost enhanced with a splash of liqueur. Think of this one as an upscale coffee shop drink that you could also order in a bar.
Sadly, kirschwasser is not commonly found at coffee shops, bars or restaurants, unless, of course, it’s a German restaurant — even then, kirschwasser is a hard find, so if you want to enjoy this specialty drink, you must by the kirschwasser make the drink yourself.
The good news is that it literally takes five minutes, and it’s easier to make than most coffee drinks and cocktails. You know what? You should make a whole batch and call some friends over for a round of German cherry coffee cocktails!
Brew the espresso and divide it between two cups, add the sugar and cherry brandy and stir until dissolved.
Top with whipped cream.
