Champagne and Coffee Guide

Exploring the topic of Coffee and Champagne can appear like drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth, it’s a complicated relationship that requires a finer balance, coffee itself is very powerful, whereas Champagne is far more delicate in comparison, even though Champagne can still pack a bubbly punch and offer deeper and more complex flavour experience in their aged vintages.

The lingering aroma of a cup of Coffee can take over the senses and make it difficult to discover the characteristics of the aromas within a Glass of Bubbly or a Glass of Champagne, so it’s best not to have freshly brewed coffee nearby. Some wine experts take to smelling a cup of coffee or coffee beans to cleanse the aroma before tasting and smelling wine, as it can cleanse the aroma with a single power expression.

Coffee & Champagne Cocktails

You may be surprised to learn that Coffee & Champagne can be combined to create some rather nice cocktails, if you’re not a fan of Coffee, you’ll be unlikely to enjoy one of these cocktails.

1. Coffee Royale

Ingredients:
– 1 shot of Espresso
– Top up with Champagne (100-120mls)
– Optional: 1 tsp. Simple Syrup or Coffee Liqueur for sweetness
– Garnish: Twist of Orange Peel or Lemon Zest

Method:
1. Brew a fresh shot of Espresso and pour it into a Champagne Flute.
2. Top up with Champagne and stir gently to combine.
3. Optional – add a teaspoon of Simple Syrup or Coffee Liqueur and stir again.
4. Garnish with a twist of Orange Peel or Lemon.

2. Espresso Martini with a Champagne Twist

Ingredients:
– 1 shot of Espresso
– 30mls of Vodka
– 45mls of Coffee Liqueur
– 60mls of Champagne
– Ice
– Garnish: Coffee Beans or Chocolate Shavings / Powder / Sprinkles

Method:
1. Using a Cocktail Shaker, combine the Espresso, Vodka, and Coffee Liqueur with Ice.
2. Shake and strain into a chilled Martini glass.
3. Top up with Champagne and garnish with Coffee Beans or Shaved Chocolate / Powder / Sprinkles.

3. Champagne Coffee Float

Ingredients:
– 2 scoops of Coffee-flavored Ice Cream
– Top up with Champagne (100-120mls)
– Optional: Chocolate Syrup or Caramel Syrup

Method:
1. Place the Coffee-flavored Ice Cream in a tall glass.
2. Pour Champagne over the Ice Cream
3. Optional – drizzle on Chocolate or Caramel Syrup

4. Café de Champagne

Ingredients:
– 1 shot of hot Black Coffee
– Top up with Champagne (90-100mls)
– Optional – 1 tsp. of sugar
– Garnish: A Cinnamon Stick or Lemon Twist

Method:
1. Brew a shot of Black Coffee and pour it into a warm wine glass to avoid to possibility of cracking the glass.
2. Add a tsp of sugar if you’d like it a touch sweeter.
3. Slowly top up with Champagne and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a Cinnamon Stick or Lemon Twist.

5. The Black Velvet (Coffee Version)

Ingredients:
– 90mls of cold brewed Coffee or Espresso
– 90mls of Champagne
– Optional: Coffee Liqueur

Method:
1. Pour cold Coffee or Espresso into a tall glass.
2. Gently add Champagne
3. Optional – add a splash of Coffee Liqueur

6. Mocha Mimosa

Ingredients:
– 60mls of warm Coffee
– 30mls of Chocolate Liqueur
– Top up with Champagne (90-100mls)
– Garnish: Chocolate shavings / powder / sprinkles

Method:
1. Combine brewed Coffee and Chocolate Liqueur in a Champagne Flute.
2. Gently add Champagne and stir.
3. Garnish with Chocolate shavings / powder / sprinkles

7. Affogato Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:
– 1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
– 1 shot of Hot Espresso
– 60mls of Champagne
– Optional: Coffee Liqueur

Method:
1. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a short glass.
2. Pour hot Espresso over the Ice Cream.
3. Top up with Champagne
4. (Optional – add a drizzle of Coffee Liqueur) Stir lightly to combine flavours.

8. Champagne Coffee Sour

Ingredients:
– 30mls of warm Coffee
– 30mls of Lemon Juice
– 30mls of Simple Syrup
– 90mls of Champagne
– Ice
– Garnish: Lemon Twist and/or Coffee Beans

Method:
1. Using a Cocktail Shaker, fill with Ice, then combine Coffee, Lemon Juice, and Simple Syrup.
2. Shake and strain into a Glass.
3. Top up with Champagne and Garnish with a Lemon Twist and/or Coffee Beans.

9. Iced Coffee Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:
– 90mls of chilled Coffee
– 90mls of Champagne
– Optional – 30mls of Coffee Liqueur
– Ice
– Garnish: Mint or Cinnamon Stick

Method:
1. Fill your Glass with Ice and pour in chilled Coffee.
2. Optional – add Coffee Liqueur and stir.
3. Top up with Champagne.
4. Garnish with Mint leaves or a Cinnamon Stick.

10. The Velvet Morning

Ingredients:
– 30mls of cold Coffee
– Optional – 45mls of Coffee Liqueur
– 90mls of Champagne
– Ice
– Garnish: Orange zest or Dash of Cinnamon Powder

Method:
1. Pour the cold Coffee and (optional) Coffee Liqueur into a Cocktail Shaker with Ice.
2. Shake and strain into Champagne Flute.
3. Top up with Champagne and Garnish with Orange Zest or Dash of Cinnamon Powder.

One of the best times to enjoy a Coffee & Champagne Cocktail would be over a brunch on the weekend.

Cooking With Coffee & Champagne

If you prefer to eat your Coffee and Champagne, then baking with Coffee and Champagne is a niche that offers some nice treats.

1. Coffee and Champagne Cake

Ingredients:

– For the cake:
– 1 1/2 cups flour
– 1 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon of salt
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 1 cup sugar
– 2 large eggs
– 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
– 1/2 cup cold coffee
– 1/2 cup Champagne
– 1/2 cup sour cream

– For the Champagne Syrup:
– 1/2 cup Champagne
– 1/4 cup granulated sugar

– For the frosting:
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 2 cups powdered sugar
– 1 tablespoon of cooled coffee
– 1-2 tablespoon of Champagne
– Pinch of salt

1. Prepare the cake:
– Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
– Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beating after each addition, and then pour in the vanilla extract.
– Add the Coffee, Champagne, and sour cream, then mix until combined.
– Place the batter in the two prepared cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes.
– Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10 minutes.

2. Prepare the Champagne syrup:
– In a small saucepan, combine Champagne and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then remove from heat and let cool.

3. Make the frosting:
– In a bowl, beat the butter until creamy, then progressively add the powdered sugar, coffee, and Champagne and continue to beat until smooth.

4. Assemble the cake:
– Once the cakes have cooled, brush the top with the Champagne syrup.
– Frost the top of one cake layer, then place the second layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake with the Coffee-Champagne frosting.
– You can then garnish with anything you wish, such as chocolate shavings, coffee beans, or wine grapes.

The Coffee

We tried out Altitude Coffee during our research for this article, we’d heard they had a great quality of Coffee, with different styles, recognised by the Guild of Fine Food with 6 Great Taste Awards from 2021 to 2024.

Altitude Coffee was founded by Joe, during his career as a pilot, Joe sought out the finest coffee in every destination he visited.

When it comes to Altitude Coffee, their Sustainable practices offer something to note, their coffee waste is given to a local organic farmer, which they then use as a fertiliser for organic fruit and veg and their coffee bags are also made from plant starch and are fully compostable, included the zip lock and air valve.

Coffee is always best enjoyed fresh, and Altitude Coffee know this, that’s why every bag of coffee you buy from them will have a ‘roasted on’ date, to ensure you enjoy your coffee at its peak condition.