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The Best Technique for Coffee Cocktails by James Hoffmann

I. The Technique and Setup​

The process for both versions involved:

  1. Cocktail: Using a Manhattan recipe (Bourbon, Vermouth, Angostura bitters, and a few drops of saline solution). The speaker used a slightly higher dose of bitters than standard and chose bland, uninteresting Vermouth to let the overall flavour of the Manhattan come through.
  2. Infusion: Pouring the cocktail through coffee grounds in a V60 filter.
    • Coffee: 12 grams of coffee at a fine, single-cup pour-over setting.
  3. Drink Type: The speaker recommends this technique only for stirred-down drinks (like a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned), and not for shaken drinks that contain fruit acids.

II. Comparative Test: Room Temp vs. Cold Infusion​

Test ConditionProcessResulting TasteVerdict
Room Temperature InfusionCocktail was prepared but not chilled (stirred down) with ice. It was poured through the coffee while at room temperature. It was then stirred down with ice after infusion.Negative: The coffee flavor was too strong, which threw the entire drink out of balance. The bitterness became much more pronounced, making it taste less complex.Discouraged. Although the workflow would be easier (infusing in a big batch), the taste is significantly worse.
Cold Infusion (Original Technique)Cocktail was prepared and stirred down with ice until cold. It was then immediately poured through the coffee.Positive: The drink was pleasant, with a subtle, pleasant undertone of coffee. The key ingredients of the Manhattan were still prominent, and the coffee flavour was not overwhelming.Recommended. The speaker concluded that the cold infusion technique is 10 times better and provides the best result from a taste perspective, despite being slightly more complicated for workflow.

Conclusion​

The best technique is to stir the cocktail down (chill it) first, and then run the cold liquid through the coffee. This prevents over-extraction of bitter compounds, achieving a better balance of flavours. The video also briefly suggests that using a good decaf coffee is a solution for those who want to enjoy coffee cocktails without the nighttime caffeine hit.