Coffee Cocktail Hour: Flash Brew Negronis

Flash Brew Coffee Negroni by Olympia Coffe

In case you missed it, last week (September 18-23) was Negroni Week. But is it too late to participate? Never!

Last weekend, we celebrated in true Olympia Coffee fashion: by creating our own spins on the classic bitter-sweet, equal-parts cocktail. Typically a spirit-forward drink, the Negronis we crafted in our Columbia City cafe were distinctly missing the booze. Yet not missing out on deliciousness — thanks to a flavor-rich, flash-brewed coffee concentrate made with our Big Truck blend. Oh, and a few noteworthy favorites from our non-alcoholic spirits cabinet.

Our U.S. Coffee in Good Spirits Champion Sam Schroeder is off to Worlds in November, where he’ll be slinging coffee cocktails at full-proof. But for these versions, he and recipe-master extraordinaire Reyna Callejo took on the challenge of concocting the beloved Negroni without the alcohol. But how, you ask? As it turns out, the NA spirits market is in full bloom, boasting a number of incredibly tasty no-proof options. Including some that even the most liquor-loving among us have no trouble vouching for.

Tea-groni Bianco by Olympia Coffee
For these recipes, you can substitute your liquors of choice, if you like. But if the day calls for something a little less punchy (or if alcohol just isn’t your thing), check out these zero-proof recommendations:

WILDERTON BITTER APERITIVO
An invigorating blend of grapefruit, orange blossom, and aromatic herbs, with a pleasantly bittersweet finish to pique your taste buds.

PENTIRE ADRIFT GIN
The
original botanical non-alcoholic spirit made by Cornwall, UK-based Pentire. Distilling native plants such as rock samphire and sage along with lemon and Cornish sea salt, they've arrived at a truly compelling non-alcoholic liquor in the spirit of a briny gin.

ROOTS DIVINO ROSSO
This NA liqueur-maker returns to the "roots" of ancient herbal remedies. Using bitter orange, gentian, and wormwood, they've crafted a contemporary version of a bittersweet “rosso" aperitif.

ROOTS DIVINO BIANCO

With rosemary, thyme, and wormwood, Roots re-imagines an herbal “bianco”aperitif from Greece in this fresh, slightly-sour liqueur.


Ready to make some cocktails? Recipes below—let's go!

 FLASH BREW COFFEE NEGRONI

 

You'll need:

- 1 oz Big Truck flash brew concentrate

- 1 oz Pentire Adrift (or substitute gin)

- 1 oz Roots Divino Rosso (or rosso vermouth)
- 1 oz Wilderton Bitter Apertivo (or sub bitter aperitivo of choice)

- Dram Citrus Bitters, to finish (or citrus bitters of choice)
- Dardimen’s orange slice, to garnish (or fresh orange peel)

Method:

In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients and add ice.

Stir for 30 sec. or until diluted to your preference.

Strain over one big ice cube.

Spritz with Dram Citrus Bitters and top with the orange slice (or fresh orange peel).

 

To make the
Big Truck Flash Brew
Concentrate:

You'll need:

- 20g coffee

- 200g water, 200°F

Method:

Using your favorite pour over method, brew a very strong coffee (1:10 ratio).

Chill in an ice bath or in the fridge overnight.



Use within 3 days.

 

 

 

 

TEA-GRONI BIANCO

 

You'll need:

- 1 oz Rishi Aper-TEA-vo
- 
1 oz Pentire Adrift (or substitute gin)

- 1 oz Roots Divino Bianco (or blanc vermouth)

- Dram Citrus Bitters, to finish (or citrus bitters of choice)
- Dardimen’s orange slice, to garnish (or fresh orange peel)

Method:

In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients and add ice.

Stir for 30 sec. or until diluted to your preference.

Strain over one big ice cube.

Spritz with Dram Citrus Bitters and top with the orange slice (or fresh orange peel).

 

 

To make the
Rishi Aper-TEA-vo:


You'll need:

- 3.5g Peach Blossom White Tea
- 9g Quince Eucalyptus Tea
- 
350g water, 185°F

- 350g water, 205°F
- 175g sugar

- 0.07g kappa carrageenan
(or your favorite thickener*)

Method:

In two separate heat-proof containers, steep the teas: 

- Peach Blossom: 3.5g in 350g water at 185°F for 5 min.
- Quince Eucalyptus: 9g, 350g water at 205°F for 5 min.



Strain both teas together into a large bowl / container. Add sugar and whisk to dissolve.

Before the tea cools, add kappa carrageenan and stir to dissolve.

 If you don't have a precision scale, wet the back of your barspoon and dip it into the powder, then stir it in. The consistency should be similar to a fortified wine.


Store refrigerated. Use within 1 week.

 

*What? You don't have a "favorite" thickener? Have you even heard of kappa carageenan? Well good news, you can buy it in various places On The Internet. Or substitute the carageenan with agar-agar.