This Non-Alcoholic Calypso Coffee is a unique drink that’s great for those chilly autumn and winter days. It’s made with non-alcoholic spirits, hot coffee, brown sugar, and a hint of vanilla. The bittersweet flavor of the drink is complimented by a smooth, decadent layer of heavy cream.
What is a Calypso Coffee?
This traditionally spiked coffee drink is similar to an Irish coffee except it replaces the whiskey with rum. The drink features four main ingredients – dark rum, coffee liqueur, coffee, and some sort of sweetener. It’s sometimes made with Tia Maria which is made with Madagascar vanilla, Jamaican rum, and Arabica coffee.
It’s then topped with a light layer of heavy cream that’s dripped over the back of a spoon to create a smooth floating layer.
We put a non-alcoholic spin on the traditional Calypso Coffee by using alcohol free spirits and adding flavors similar to what’s in Tia Maria. The drink has a bittersweet taste that’s perfectly balanced by the light layer of cream on top.
It makes a decadent morning pick-me-up or dessert drink that’s best enjoyed in the colder months. No need to stir as it’s best when sipped on slowly.
Ingredients
- Non-Alcoholic Coffee Liqueur: This adds a unique, slightly bitter coffee flavor.
- Non-Alcoholic Dark Rum: This gives it that extra “spiked” element reminiscent of the real thing.
- Hot Coffee: Use strong, freshly brewed coffee.
- Dark Brown Sugar: This lightly sweetens the drink and gives it a slight caramel flavor.
- Vanilla Bean Paste/Extract: We prefer to use paste but you can substitute with pure vanilla extract.
- Heavy Cream: Don’t skip this! It’s balances out the whole drink and gives it a nice creamy consistency with each sip.
- Chocolate Shavings (optional): We highly recommend adding a few shavings of dark chocolate on top. You can also add a dash of cinnamon or cocoa powder.
Instructions (with photos)
First, add your non-alcoholic dark rum, coffee liqueur, and hot coffee to a glass.
Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla paste (or extract) until everything has dissolved.
Lightly whip the cream then pour it over the back of a spoon held right above the drink. This creates a floating layer on top and prevents the cream from sinking.
Lastly, top with chocolate shavings add a dash of cinnamon or cocoa powder.
Tips
- Don’t stir the drink. What makes a Calypso Coffee enjoyable is the bit of cream you get before you hit the bittersweet taste of the coffee underneath. Stirring it gets rid of that balance between the two parts.
- Hold the spoon close to the top of the coffee. To get that crisp layer of cream, place the spoon right above the drink to allow the heavy cream to gently fall on top. Doing this prevents it from sinking.
FAQ
We use Lyre’s products for almost all our drinks made with non-alcoholic spirits (not sponsored, just love their stuff). You can get them directly from the Lyre’s website (they ship to 35+ countries). You can also get them from other low-ABV stores like No & Low and Boisson. If you’re lucky, some brick and mortar stores might even carry some of their products.
You can easily convert fluid ounces into even tablespoons and cups for this recipe. 1 fluid ounce is the same as 2 tablespoons. ½ a fluid once is 1 tablespoon, and 4 fluid ounces is the same as ½ a cup.
This is a fairly small drink (just under 1 cup), so any small glass will do.
📖 Recipe
Non-Alcoholic Calypso Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 oz (30 ml) Lyre's Dark Cane Spirit
- ½ oz (15 ml) Lyre's Coffee Originale
- 4 oz (125 ml) hot coffee
- 1 tsp dark brown sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 oz (30 ml) heavy cream
- Chocolate shavings optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except the cream and chocolate shavings to a glass. Stir to combine and dissolve the sugar.
- In a small bowl or cup, use a handheld milk frother to lightly whisk the heavy cream. Be careful not to over whip it or you won't be able to pour it.
- Slowly pour the cream over the back of a spoon held over the drink. This creates a floating layer of cream that doesn’t sink when you pour it in.
- Garnish the top with chocolate shavings if desired. Don’t stir the drink. Just sip and enjoy!
Notes
- Adding the Cream: Make sure to hold the spoon right over the drink to allow the cream to gently sit on top.
- Toppings: You can also add a dash of cinnamon or a bit of cocoa powder instead of chocolate shavings.
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