Spanish Coffee
The Spanish Coffee is more than just a drink; it's a performance. Prepared tableside in many establishments, it involves igniting high-proof rum in a sugar-rimmed glass to create a beautifully caramelized edge. The flame is doused with coffee liqueur and hot coffee, then topped with a float of lightly whipped cream. The result is a rich, complex, and warming beverage that delights both the eyes and the palate.
Preparation
Preparation time: 7 minutes
Preparation time
Difficulty
Drink Classification
Spanish Coffee is categorized as a hot coffee drink and an after-dinner cocktail. Its warming properties and sweet, rich profile make it a perfect digestif or dessert-like beverage, often enjoyed at the end of a meal.
Serving
Served hot in a stemmed glass with a distinctive caramelized sugar rim, this is a moderately strong coffee cocktail that warms from the inside out.
Serving size
Approx. 180-240 ml / 6-8 oz
Alcohol content
Approx. 15-20% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Hot
Glass type
Spanish Coffee glass or Irish Coffee mug
Glass treatment
Sugar and cinnamon rim, warmed by flaming
Backstory
While its exact origins are debated, the modern, flaming version of the Spanish Coffee was popularized in the 1970s at Huber's Cafe in Portland, Oregon. James Louie, a co-owner, perfected the theatrical tableside preparation that made the drink famous. It has since become a signature cocktail of the Pacific Northwest and a beloved classic in establishments that appreciate a bit of pyrotechnic flair.
Origin
The popular flaming preparation method is widely attributed to Portland, Oregon, USA, specifically Huber's Cafe, around the 1970s.
Spanish Coffee
Known primarily as Spanish Coffee, its original language name is Café Español. The most common alternative name, "Flaming Spanish Coffee," highlights its dramatic, fiery preparation method which is a key part of its appeal.
Original name
Café Español
Alternative name
Flaming Spanish Coffee
Characteristics overview
The Spanish Coffee offers a delightful sensory experience with aromas of roasted coffee and burnt sugar, and a rich, creamy texture balancing the sweetness of liqueurs and the bitterness of coffee.
Flavor
Rich coffee, sweet, caramelized sugar, orange, creamy, boozy warmth
Aroma
Roasted coffee, burnt sugar, orange zest, nutmeg
Taste balance
Sweet, bitter
Aftertaste
Long, warming, creamy, sweet
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Dark brown liquid, white cream float, caramelized rim
Texture
Smooth, creamy, rich
Seasonality
Warming, wintery, cozy
Flavor intensity & Experience
This is a sweet and creamy drink with moderate alcohol strength and a pleasant bitterness from the coffee. It is still, with a hint of fruitiness from the triple sec and spice from the garnish.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation
Ingredients
This theatrical drink requires overproof rum and triple sec for its flaming base, complemented by coffee liqueur and strong hot coffee, and finished with a float of heavy cream.
- Lemon wedge1 wedgeUsed to wet the rim of the glass for the sugar.
- Sugar1 teaspoonFor rimming the glass. Can be mixed with cinnamon.
- Overproof Rum15 ml / 0.5 ozA high-proof rum (e.g., 151 proof or 75.5% ABV) is necessary for a stable flame.
- Triple Sec30 ml / 1 ozAn orange liqueur. Cointreau is a great substitute.
- Coffee Liqueur15 ml / 0.5 ozBrands like Kahlúa or Tia Maria work well.
- Hot Coffee90-120 ml / 3-4 ozFreshly brewed, strong black coffee is best.
- Heavy Cream30-45 ml / 1-1.5 ozLightly whipped until it thickens but is still pourable.
Ice type
- None
Mixing equipments
The primary equipment needed is a whisk to prepare the cream and a coffee machine for the base. The glass itself acts as the mixing vessel.
- Whisk or shaker to lightly whip the cream.
- Coffee maker to brew fresh coffee.
Instructions
The process involves carefully flaming rum and triple sec in a sugar-rimmed glass to caramelize it, then adding coffee and liqueur, and finishing with a float of cream and a nutmeg garnish.
1. Prepare the glass: Rub the lemon wedge around the rim of a Spanish Coffee glass and dip it in a saucer of sugar to create a sugar rim.
2. Add the overproof rum and triple sec to the prepared glass.
3. Prepare the cream: In a separate bowl, lightly whisk the heavy cream until it just starts to thicken. It should remain pourable.
4. CAREFULLY ignite the spirits in the glass using a long match or lighter. Keep flammable materials away.
5. Gently tilt and rotate the glass to allow the flame to caramelize the sugar on the rim. Do this for about 15-20 seconds.
6. Extinguish the flame by adding the coffee liqueur, followed immediately by the hot coffee. Stir briefly.
7. Gently pour the lightly whipped cream over the back of a warm spoon to float it on top of the coffee.
8. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg on top of the cream and serve immediately.
Garnishing
A simple but aromatic garnish of freshly grated nutmeg is traditional, adding a warm, spicy note that complements the rich coffee and cream.
- Grate fresh nutmeg over the cream float.
Dietary Information
This cocktail contains alcohol, caffeine, and dairy. The nutmeg garnish makes it unsuitable for those with nut allergies, and it is not vegan due to the cream.
✓ Contains alcohol
✕ Caffeine-free
✕ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✕ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly
Nutrition information
This is a relatively high-calorie beverage, with significant sugar and carbohydrate content from the liqueurs, sugar rim, and cream, making it a decadent dessert drink.
Calories
Averagely 280-350 kcal / 1170-1465 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 25-30 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 20-25 g
Sugar level
Occasions
This drink is perfect as a digestif after a hearty meal or as a standalone dessert. Its warming qualities make it an ideal choice for cozying up on a cold winter night.
- After-dinner drink
- Cold weather comfort
- Dessert replacement
Pairing suggestions
The Spanish Coffee pairs beautifully with simple, crisp cookies like biscotti that can be dipped into the cream. It also complements rich chocolate desserts or can be enjoyed with a fine cigar as a luxurious nightcap.
- Biscotti or shortbread
- Dark chocolate desserts
- A mild to medium-bodied cigar
Spanish Coffee: A Spectacle of Fire and Flavor
The Spanish Coffee is a visually stunning and deliciously rich after-dinner cocktail. Its fame comes from its theatrical preparation, involving a flaming, caramelized sugar rim that adds a unique flavor and aroma. Combining the warmth of rum, the sweetness of orange and coffee liqueurs, the bitterness of hot coffee, and a cool, creamy top, it's a multi-layered experience. Best enjoyed on a cold evening, it serves as the perfect conclusion to a meal or a decadent treat on its own.