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The Cold Brew Limoncello Spritz represents the perfect fusion of Italian liqueur tradition and modern coffee culture. This stunning cocktail combines the bright citrus notes of limoncello with smooth cold brew coffee, creating a sophisticated drink that’s equally at home at brunch or evening gatherings.
What makes this recipe truly special is its versatility and balance. The combination of cold brew’s rich depth with limoncello’s sweet lemon essence creates layers of flavor that dance on your palate. Whether you’re a coffee enthusiast or cocktail connoisseur, this spritz delivers an unforgettable drinking experience.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Cold Brew Limoncello Spritz
This recipe stands out for several compelling reasons. First, it’s incredibly quick to prepare once you have your cold brew ready just 5 minutes from start to finish. The drink offers a unique twist on traditional limoncello spritzers by incorporating coffee, making it perfect for daytime entertaining when you want something special but not too heavy.
The recipe also includes professional touches like using kitchen utensils for proper measuring and presentation. The addition of Liquore Strega and Peychaud’s Bitters elevates this beyond a simple mixed drink into craft cocktail territory. Plus, there’s a caffeine-free evening variation using Torino vermouth for those later hours.
Essential Equipment for This Recipe
To create the perfect Cold Brew Limoncello Spritz, you’ll need quality bar tools and glassware. A proper cocktail shaker ensures you achieve the ideal foam and chill factor. Using measuring cups and spoons set guarantees precision with your ratios, which is crucial for balanced flavor.
For the cold brew preparation, specialized equipment like a Varia STEEP makes the process effortless, though a French press or blender system can also work beautifully. Keep your mixing bowls handy for ice and garnish prep.
Ingredient Breakdown
| Ingredient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Brew | 1.5 fl oz (44 ml) | Coffee base, adds depth |
| Limoncello | 0.75 fl oz (22 ml) | Sweet lemon flavor |
| Fresh Lemon Juice | 0.75 fl oz (22 ml) | Bright acidity |
| Liquore Strega | 0.25 fl oz (7.5 ml) | Herbal complexity |
| Club Soda | 3 fl oz (89 ml) | Effervescence |
| Peychaud’s Bitters | 2 dashes | Aromatic balance |
| Lemon Tricorn | 1 piece | Garnish |
| Torino Vermouth | 1.5 fl oz (44 ml) | Optional substitution |
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Your Cold Brew
Create your cold brew using a 1:10 ratio 60g coffee to 600ml water. If using a French press, keep the plunger elevated to avoid metallic flavors. Steep for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator, then double-filter through paper for clarity.
Step 2: Chill Your Glassware
Place your Nick & Nora glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before serving. This ensures your spritz stays perfectly chilled longer.
Step 3: Prepare Your Glass
Fill the chilled glass with 3 fl oz of club soda or sparkling mineral water. Cut your lemon horizontally, then quarter one half vertically to create tricorns. Garnish the rim with one piece.
Step 4: Combine Ingredients
Using your measuring cups and spoons set, add lemon juice, cold brew, limoncello, Liquore Strega, and Peychaud’s Bitters to your cocktail shaker.
Step 5: Shake Vigorously
Add ice to the shaker and shake horizontally with high intensity for 10-15 seconds. This rapid motion creates beautiful foam while thoroughly chilling all ingredients.
Step 6: Strain and Serve
Double strain the mixture into your prepared glass through a fine mesh strainer. For extra acidity, squeeze the lemon garnish into the drink and stir gently.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Spritz
Quality ingredients make all the difference in this recipe. Choose authentic Italian limoncello for the best flavor profile, or make your own using fresh organic lemons. For cold brew, select medium to dark roast beans with chocolate or nutty notes that complement the citrus.
Temperature control is crucial everything should be well-chilled before mixing. Store your limoncello in the freezer and prep your club soda straight from the refrigerator. The contrast between ice-cold ingredients and the vigorous shaking creates that signature spritz texture.
Don’t skip the double straining step. This removes ice chips and coffee sediment, resulting in a crystal-clear presentation that looks as professional as it tastes.
Customization Ideas
The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. For a sweeter version, increase the limoncello to 1 fl oz and reduce lemon juice slightly. If you prefer more pronounced coffee flavor, boost the cold brew to 2 fl oz and adjust the club soda accordingly.
Try experimenting with flavored bitters orange or lemon bitters can amplify the citrus notes. For a berry twist, muddle a few fresh raspberries in the shaker before adding other ingredients. The evening variation using Torino vermouth transforms this into an entirely different drink experience, perfect for aperitivo hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make cold brew quickly?
Traditional cold brew requires 12-24 hours of steeping, but you can create a concentrated version in 4-6 hours using finely ground coffee and room temperature water. Just use half the water and dilute before mixing.
What if I don’t have Liquore Strega?
Yellow Chartreuse makes an excellent substitute, though it’s slightly more herbal. Galliano is another option with a sweeter vanilla profile. In a pinch, add a tiny drop of vanilla extract and a pinch of saffron to simple syrup.
How do I store leftover cold brew?
Keep cold brew in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The flavor remains stable, making it perfect for batch cocktail preparation.
Can I make this non-alcoholic?
Replace limoncello with lemon syrup (2:1 sugar to water ratio with lemon zest), skip the Liquore Strega and bitters, and double the lemon juice. You’ll still get beautiful citrus and coffee flavors.
What’s the best glass if I don’t have Nick & Nora?
A coupe, martini glass, or even a small wine glass works beautifully. The key is using something with a stem to prevent hand-warming your chilled drink.
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PrintCold Brew Limoncello Spritz Recipe (5 Minutes, So Refreshing!)
A sophisticated Italian-inspired cocktail combining smooth cold brew coffee with bright limoncello, fresh lemon juice, herbal Liquore Strega, and sparkling water. Shaken to perfection and served in a chilled glass with elegant lemon garnish. Perfect for brunch or afternoon entertaining.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
1.5 fl oz (44 ml) cold brew coffee
0.75 fl oz (22 ml) limoncello
0.75 fl oz (22 ml) fresh lemon juice
0.25 fl oz (7.5 ml) Liquore Strega
3 fl oz (89 ml) club soda or sparkling mineral water
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
1 lemon tricorn for garnish
1.5 fl oz (44 ml) Torino Vermouth (optional evening variation)
Instructions
1. Prepare cold brew using 1:10 ratio (60g coffee to 600ml water). Steep 12-24 hours refrigerated. Double filter through paper filters for clarity.
2. Chill Nick & Nora glass in freezer for 15 minutes.
3. Pour 3 fl oz club soda into chilled glass. Cut lemon horizontally in half, then quarter one half vertically to create tricorns. Garnish glass rim with one piece.
4. Combine lemon juice, cold brew, limoncello, Liquore Strega, and Peychaud’s Bitters in cocktail shaker.
5. Add ice to shaker and shake horizontally with high intensity for 10-15 seconds to create foam.
6. Double strain mixture through fine mesh into prepared glass. Optional: squeeze lemon garnish into drink and stir gently for extra acidity.
Notes
For evening version, substitute cold brew with Torino vermouth (Cocchi Storico recommended).
Quality Italian limoncello makes a significant flavor difference.
Keep limoncello frozen for best results.
Shake vigorously to create signature foam crown.
Pre-batch ingredients except soda for easy party preparation.