How To Infuse Cold Brew Coffee Into Your Next Negroni

Coffee cocktails are in — who doesn't want an extra jolt of caffeination alongside their buzz? With deft mixing, brewed joe can contribute to a gamut of flavors, highlighting a drink's acidic, bitter, and sweet qualities. And out of all the ones to choose, few drinks nail such a delicate balance as the cold brew Negroni. 

Equal parts bitter and sweet, cold brew's cocoa-like notes smoothen the Negroni's edges, producing a multi-layered drink in the process. When it comes to the cocktail's assembly, there are a few methods to mix it all together. None change the base — the Negroni's golden trio of vermouth, gin, and Campari is a stalwart foundation. However, how the cold brew is mixed in is up to variation.

A shot of the coffee can simply be thrown in as is, making for an easy and tasty result. Or, for an even deeper coffee flavor, you can take the reigns and craft a cold brew-infused Campari. A third option is mixing in cold brew liqueur. So how does each technique work exactly?

The easiest infusion method reaches for good 'ole cold brew in its purest form. Some just add a splash as a concentrate, integrating a tinge of coffee flavor in what's otherwise a classic Negroni. Others make it more coffee-forward, matching cold brew's ratio with the vermouth. Either way, expect a Negroni that picks up on the coffee's tasting notes, so choose your cold brew carefully. A toned-down, classic coffee taste will meld into a Negroni seamlessly, but a more acidic and bolder option can play into a livelier rendition.

Another hassle-free version mixes in a cold brew liqueur with other components. Australia's Mr Black cold brew coffee liqueur is a beloved candidate for the job, its rich coffee taste blending in well. This technique amplifies the Negroni's boozy quality, but there's less coffee flavor malleability.

Finally comes the most labor-intensive method. It'll involve about half bottle of Campari, poured into a Mason jar filled halfway with coffee grounds. Soak them together for anywhere from 10 minutes to overnight, and then strain the coffee grounds after. This infusion will significantly alter the Negroni's notes, with more prolonged soaks imparting a more robust coffee character, which is the advantage of this method as it allows for detailed customization. And either way, it'll blend into the cocktail since it's an alcohol-based soak.