How do you take your amaretto? On the rocks, with coke or with your coffee?! You may have never tried the latter, so it's time I introduced amaretto coffee to you!
Amaretto is an aromatic, indulgent drink with a syrupy taste of almonds. Arguably, it's the most romantic drink in the world! You can read on to find out why. We can infuse your coffee beans with amaretto for a naughty but very nice dessert coffee drink!
All About Amaretto Coffee Beans
You may not know, but amaretto is quite the romantic drink! Legend says that it was made back in the 1500's in Italy. Apparently, a woman was in love with a man named Bernardino Luini. Luini was a pupil of the famous De Vinci and the lady in question was his painting subject!
To express her affection, the woman steeped apricot kernels in brandy and presented the gift to her lover. Amaretto can be flavored with apricot kernels or almond pits.
Now, this age-old romantic drink has been added to your coffee! With amaretto flavored coffee, you get the rich sweetness of amaretto with high-quality coffee beans.
To achieve the perfect flavor, roasters use gourmet coffee beans. Arabica beans are the preferred choice for the best tasting coffee. This is because Arabica beans are more delicate than the Robusta variety. They allow the rich amaretto flavor to melt through into your cup.
Amaretto flavorings are added to the beans before they are roasted. Often, the beans will be roasted to a light-medium roast in order to avoid burning the taste of the beans.
How to Make Amaretto Coffee
You'll be able to pick up a bag of amaretto coffee to suit your needs. I recommend buying a smaller bag to begin with. When you realize that you love the taste, you can buy larger bags. Caffeinated or decaf options are available, as are sugar-free and fat-free beans!
You can buy pre-ground beans or whole bean coffee. As you know, I always say buy whole beans if you have the time. Once beans have been ground, they go stale more quickly as they're more prone to oxidation. Buy fresh, whole beans that have been recently roasted. Many good online retailers don't roast the beans until you place the order, so freshness is guaranteed!
This amaretto coffee recipe presumes you bought whole coffee beans. Of course, if time is limited, just brew your coffee with the pre-ground coffee. (I won't tell anyone!) To enjoy this drink to the fullest, serve as a dessert coffee at a dinner party and watch your guests sip every last drop.
You will need:
- Freshly-roasted, whole bean amaretto coffee beans (3 tbsp approx.)
- Filtered water (8-10 oz.)
- Burr grinder
- Kettle, funnel, and filters
- Coffee cup or glass
| The Method |
|---|---|
1. | Grind the coffee beans just before brewing. The grind size is down to preference. However, I'd advise aiming for grounds like coarse sugar if you're not sure. Grounds that are too fine can sometimes yield bitter coffee. |
2. | We're going to use the simple pour-over method here. Place your funnel on your coffee cup, first ensuring the funnel and filter are clean. Add your ground coffee to the filter just before brewing. |
3. | Boil the kettle but let the water cool for a minute or so before using. For lighter roasts, use a higher temperature. As these coffee beans are likely to be a light to medium roast, the temperature should be 200-207 degrees F. |
4. | Wet the coffee with about 2 oz. of water. Wait for 30 seconds and repeat. Do this until you've used all of the water. |
5. | The brewed coffee will drip into your cup, giving you that rich, smooth amaretto tasting coffee! No need to add anything else, unless you want to. |
How to Make Alcoholic Amaretto Coffee
What if your dinner guests want some alcohol in their desert coffee? That's fine too! With this recipe, you'll be able to make fancy coffee drinks using actual amaretto. This option will be higher in calories but will taste more sweet and sugary. You can also add any extras you choose and control the amount of alcohol you use!
You will need:
- Amaretto liquor (1-2 oz.)
- Regular brewed coffee (8 oz.)
- Cream (1 oz.) optional
- Glass/cup
- Stirring spoon
The Method | |
|---|---|
1. | Use regular Arabica coffee beans without any added flavor. Ensure they're fresh and brew them as normal to make one cup of coffee. |
2. | Simply add the amaretto to your cup of hot coffee and give it a stir. |
3. | Add the cream. You can choose whether to use squirty cream or regular cream here. Squirty cream looks impressive and gives you the option to decorate further. You can add chocolate sprinkles or even wafers. However, it can fall into the drink quickly and go a little oily. If you go with regular cream, stir it in well. |
4. | Serve to your guests or enjoy alone. Always be cautious when drinking alcohol. Your guests may want to race out and buy some amaretto and coffee for themselves. But, never let them drink and drive! |
The Pros of Amaretto Coffee
If you're still not convinced, here are some more reasons to buy beans infused with amaretto.
- It tastes like amaretto, but doesn't contain the alcohol! These beans are actually alcohol-free. That means you can make a cup at work and not have to hide it from your boss!
- Coffee has many health benefits. Coffee is full of antioxidants. It's good for your mind and body, helping with cognitive tasks, your digestive system and more! In the past, we've been led to believe that coffee is bad for us. Luckily, now we know we can drink it every day!
- Infusing coffee with different flavors keeps it interesting. There is an endless collection of flavors to try, so dig deep and find your favorite.
- Amaretto gives your coffee an indulgent and aromatic edge. Because we don't use actual amaretto, you get the treat without the extra calories that you find in alcohol. As it tastes so good, you might find yourself skipping the extra sugar, too!
- The flavor is unique and unmatched by anything else. You'll appreciate the toasted almond flavor, with possible hints of cherries or apricots. The flavor can also be described as "nutty" and "sharp".
- You can add amaretto coffee beans to other drinks, too! Why not tip a spoonful into your hot chocolate for an amaretto flavored mocha?
- The reviews say it all! All you need to do is check out some online reviews for this coffee and you'll be amazed at the raving comments! Five stars all round!
The Bottom Line
Warning: This is drink that may contain nuts!
If a rich but sweet liquor is just up your street, you should purchase some beans that are infused with the stuff! Why not take some tips from history and give the beans as a romantic gift? If not, buy some for yourself as an indulgent treat and let us know what you think.
Will you fall in love with amaretto coffee?