4 Cold Brew Mocktails to Try at Home
Everybody loves a good mocktail. The unique flavor combinations taste great and make it that much easier to chill out at home. Well, one of the biggest trends at local coffee shops all around the world right now is cold brew mocktails.
You can’t really have a boozy cocktail in the morning before or during work (or at least you shouldn’t). But sometimes, you just crave the complex taste of a cocktail. Cold brew mocktails offer a delicious (and caffeinated) solution.
So today, we’re going to walk through some delicious cold brew cocktails that you need to try at home. Once you try these amazing drinks, you’ll have a hard time going back to regular ol’ black coffee.
What Are Mocktails?
The word mocktail is the fusion of two different words: mock and cocktail. So mocktails are mock versions of cocktails that we all love that offer a new spin.
But the biggest thing that mocktails have in common is that they are non-alcoholic
Why Drink a Cold Brew Mocktail?
There are plenty of reasons why people might want to drink a mocktail. First off, they’re delicious and fun. It’s great to try new twists on drinks that you know and love.
Second, as we already mentioned, mocktails let you have those tastes you crave in the morning without any guilt. Because they’re non-alcoholic, you don’t have to worry about what these drinks are going to do to you. If you use caffeinated coffee, you’ll only have to worry about staying up a little longer than you’d like.
And thirdly, mocktails allow you to join in on the fun of cocktails without having to drink any alcohol. Many of us don’t drink alcohol for one reason or another. A mocktail allows you to sit down and have a drink with your friends without having to compromise. It allows you to participate in social situations without feeling awkward about not having a drink in your hand.
What Do I Need to Make Mocktails?
In order to make amazing mocktails at home, there are a few things you’re going to need. The first thing you’re going to need is cocktail tools. Make sure you have a cocktail shaker, strainer, bar spoon, jigger, and mixing glass.
After that, you will need to ensure you have all the ingredients and mixers you want. Citrus, simple syrup, soda water, tonic, and ginger beer are a few things to help you get thinking. Those could even be considered the must-haves when it comes to cocktails. So plan ahead and get the ingredients you need for the recipe you want to make.
And finally, you’re going to need Javy coffee concentrate. This is going to serve as the basis for all of these mocktails we’re going to make. It’s going to replace the liquor with rich coffee flavor and caffeine.
Javy is a specific type of cold brew called cold brew concentrate. It’s made by mixing coffee and water at a 1:1 ratio and letting it sit for upwards of twelve hours. The result is a coffee that is similar in strength to espresso. It will have plenty of coffee flavor to add to these drinks and make them work well in all sorts of incantations.
Mocktail Recipes You Need to Try
Now, let’s get onto the good stuff! Here are four different mocktail recipes that you can try at home.
1. Cold Brew Old Fashioned
This unique twist on an old fashioned is smooth drinking and rich, just like the original drink, but this one can be enjoyed during breakfast or any time you need a pick-me-up.
To make this mocktail, you’ll need:
- ½ tsp to 1 tsp Javy coffee concentrate
- 2 ounces water
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- ¼ ounce simple syrup (or maple syrup, for a fun flavor twist)
- 1 orange peel
Start by grabbing your mixing glass and your bar spoon. Pour in your Javy and water and give it a mix to create a strong but well-diluted cold brew that will form the foundation of this drink. Next, add the orange bitters and your simple syrup. Stir everything together for about 10-15 seconds or until chilled.
Now place a large ice cube in a lowball glass, and pour your cocktail over the ice cube using the strainer. Express the orange peel over the drink and use it to garnish. And there you have your cold brew old-fashioned.
The first time you make it, try using ½ ounce of Javy, and if you decide you want it a bit stronger, make it with a full ounce. You can also increase the level of sweetness to your liking. Start small, and taste as you go.
2. Cold Brew Dark and Stormy
The dark and stormy is a classic cocktail made with rum and ginger beer. For this recipe, the rum is taking a break to make way for some delicious cold brew.
Cold brew and ginger might seem like a strange flavor combo, but remember that gingerbread lattes are delicious, so this will be too.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- ½ tsp Javy
- 2 ounces water
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- 1 lime wedge
- ½ ounce brown sugar simple syrup
Once again, grab your stirring glass for this drink. Please don’t shake this recipe. If you do, the ginger beer could fizz up, and you might have quite a mess on your hands.
Add your Javy and water and stir to make your cold brew base. Then mix in your brown sugar simple syrup. Side note: to make brown sugar simple syrup, simply mix equal parts brown sugar and hot water and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Stir these ingredients up with ice to chill.
Now get your serving glass, fill it with ice, and pour your mixture over top. Add your ginger beer on top, garnish with the lime wedge, and you’ve got yourself a dark and stormy.
This drink is smooth and full of delicious flavors. The rich coffee and the spicy ginger beer play well together, and the brown sugar's deep sweetness helps bring in the lime's bright citrus to make for a full-flavored, delicious beverage.
3. Coffee Tonic
This short, simple mocktail is reminiscent of the ever famous gin and tonic. It’s one of the most classic cocktails out there. You won’t believe the taste when coffee is substituted for the gin. Talk about memorable.
To make this mocktail, you’ll need:
- ½ tsp Javy
- 2 ounces water
- 4 ounces tonic water
- 1 orange wedge or lime wedge
- ¼ ounce brown sugar simple syrup
Here’s another friendly reminder to refrain from shaking cocktails with fizzy mixers, lest you ruin your cocktail and create a mess for yourself to clean up. Start this recipe by mixing your Javy coffee concentrate, your water, and your brown sugar simple syrup. For this drink, you can mix all of these ingredients in the glass you’ll be serving it in.
Add ice and then pour your tonic water over the top. For this drink, you can add a lime wedge or an orange wedge, whichever you prefer. Lime will give it a bright crispness that pairs great with the sparkly tonic, and orange goes well with coffee, so the choice is yours.
4. Virgin Espresso Martini
The espresso martini is a classic cocktail enjoyed during dessert. Our version forgoes the vodka and adds a bit of milk to make it extra creamy and delicious. You won’t even miss the alcohol when you taste this glass of incredible.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this amazing mocktail:
- ½ tsp Javy
- 2 ounces water
- ¼ ounce vanilla syrup
- 2 ounces milk or milk substitute
Finally, we get to break out the shaker for this recipe. Add your Javy, water, vanilla syrup, and milk to a shaker with some ice. Shake well until the drink is chilled. A good way to tell when the liquid is cold enough is when the shaker is too cold to touch.
Now grab your martini glass or a coupe, whichever you prefer, and strain in your delicious cocktail to the glass. There shouldn’t be any ice in the glass. Your drink will have a nice, rich brown color with a pleasant foamy texture on top.
Garnish this drink with three coffee beans placed neatly in the center of the foam cap. This drink is super creamy and delicious, with just a hint of vanilla. It’s basically like a fancier vanilla latte, so what’s not to love?
Delicious Cold Brew Mocktails
Mocktails are a growing trend at specialty coffee shops around the country — and now they can be a growing trend right at home.
These amazing drinks combine all sorts of amazing flavors and create a coffee-drinking experience like no other. Go try out these recipes today and catch the mocktail fever.
For more information about coffee and a selection of amazing coffee concentrates, check out Javy.
Sources:
What Is Concentrated Coffee? | Teamsters Local 805
