Coffee syrup is a sweet liquid that can flavor cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and desserts. It’s also a great way to make your iced coffee recipes bolder and richer in flavor.
Coffee syrup is a simple syrup to make and incredibly versatile. This recipe calls for just three ingredients, and it will last in the fridge for up to six months.
Learn how to make coffee syrup and how to use it in this article…
What You Need to Make Coffee Syrup
Coffee syrup requires very few ingredients and can be made with several different brewing methods. You're likely to have the ingredients and equipment needed to make coffee syrup in your kitchen.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients
- High-quality dark roast coffee
- Water
- Sugar
Equipment
- Coffee grinder (if using whole beans)
- Coffee maker (espresso machine, drip coffee maker, French press, or Aeropress)
- Stove
- Saucepan
- Glass bottle or mason jar
- Stirring spoon
Coffee Recommendations
To make the best coffee syrup, you should use high-quality coffee beans. Freshly ground dark roast coffee produces the best-tasting syrup.
There are two main types of coffee that you can use to make syrup — these are arabica and robusta.
Arabica beans produce a smooth, creamy syrup with mild intensity. Arabica coffee is sweeter and much less bitter compared to robusta coffee.
Robusta beans produce a strong, dark syrup with nutty, earthy notes and a strong intensity. Robusta coffee is less sweet, more bitter, and much higher in caffeine compared to arabica.
Whether you use a 100% arabica coffee, 100% robusta coffee, or a blend is up to you. Arabica syrup tends to be more versatile than robusta — it pairs well with several desserts, beverages, and baked goods. Robusta syrup works better with darker beverages and chocolatey desserts.
These are our favorites for making coffee syrup:
- Arabica: DaLat Coffee
- Robusta: HaNoi Coffee
- Robusta & Arabica blend: DaNang Coffee
How to Make Coffee Syrup: Step-by-Step
This simple coffee syrup can be made in under an hour. However, it will take some to cool down before storing. This recipe makes around 16 ounces (2 cups) of syrup — enough to last several months.
Here's how to make it:
1. Grind the Coffee Beans
First, grind your coffee beans. The amount you'll need to grind and the coarseness depends on your brewing method. Grind enough for two strong black coffees using your brewing method.
2. Brew a Concentrated Coffee
Brew a concentrated coffee by adding enough coffee for two cups but half the amount of water. Most brewing methods work for coffee syrup. The aim is to produce one strong cup of black coffee.
These brewing methods can be used to make concentrated coffee:
3. Combine the Ingredients
In a saucepan, add one cup of concentrated coffee and two cups of white, granulated sugar. This 2:1 ratio will increase the shelf life of the syrup. A 1:1 ratio can be used for a less sweet syrup, but it will only last for up to a month in the fridge.
Stir the hot coffee and sugar until completely combined.
4. Heat the Mixture
Put the pan over medium heat and slowly bring it to a simmer. Once the first bubbles begin, reduce the heat to low and stir.
Continue to heat the mixture over low, stirring regularly, for 20 minutes.
5. Cool the Syrup
After 20 minutes, remove the pan from the heat to cool to room temperature. This will take three to four hours.
Stir the syrup every 20 to 30 minutes to prevent crystallization.
6. Pour & Store
Once the syrup has completely cooled, gently pour it into glass bottles or mason jars, seal it, and store it in the refrigerator.
When you need to use the syrup, pour it into a clean shot glass or use a tablespoon to remove it from a glass jar (if used for storage). Avoid contaminating the syrup with dirty cutlery — this will dramatically reduce its shelf life.
How to Use Coffee Syrup: 5 Recipe Ideas
Now You've made coffee syrup, what can you use it for?
Here are five recipe ideas:
1. Tiramisu
Coffee syrup is perfect for making tiramisu. This classic Italian dessert is sweet, indulgent, and perfect for coffee lovers.
Here's how to make tiramisu with coffee syrup:
- Pour coffee syrup into a shallow dish and soak the ladyfingers — two to three seconds on each side.
- Lay the soaked ladyfingers in a dish or serving pan.
- In a bowl, whip mascarpone, kahlúa (optional), and two to three tablespoons of coffee syrup until smooth.
- Fold in whipped cream to create a light and fluffy mascarpone cream.
- Spread half of the mascarpone cream on the ladyfingers.
- Add another layer of soaked ladyfingers, followed by the rest of the mascarpone cream.
- Dust the top generously with cocoa powder.
- Chill the dessert in the fridge for a minimum of four hours (ideally overnight). This allows time for the flavors to blend.
- Serve and enjoy. Drizzle a small amount of coffee syrup over the top of each piece if desired.
2. Coffee Brownies
Swirling coffee syrup into the brownie mixture before baking creates rich, dark brownies with deep, mocha-like flavors.
Make brownies with coffee syrup by:
- Preheat the oven according to the instructions on your brownie mix or your favorite recipe.
- In a bowl, mix the brownie batter and add a quarter cup of coffee syrup
- Pour the batter into a baking tin.
- Swirl in two tablespoons of coffee syrup — this will create moist brownies with caramelized coffee centers.
- Bake according to the instructions on the brownie mix or recipe (usually 25 to 30 minutes).
- Cool and serve. Drizzle more syrup on top if desired.
3. Iced Coffee
You can use coffee syrup to make a quick and easy, no-brew iced coffee.
Here's how to make an instant iced coffee with coffee syrup:
- Fill a glass with ice
- Pour in milk
- Add two to three tablespoons of coffee syrup to taste
- Stir and enjoy
4. Coffee Dessert Topping
Coffee syrup makes the perfect dessert topping. Drizzling the syrup over ice cream, waffles, pancakes, and cheesecakes brings nutty, chocolatey, and slightly bitter notes to the dish.
You can also make a cake frosting or cheesecake topping by mixing mascarpone, coffee syrup, and whipped cream together.
5. Coffee-Flavored Cocktails
Use coffee syrup in cocktails such as white Russians, Irish coffees, and espresso martinis to create smooth, sweet, alcoholic beverages with a rich coffee kick.
Coffee syrup works particularly well in espresso martinis.
Here's how to make one:
- Add ice to a martini glass and cocktail shaker to cool.
- Brew one ounce of strong espresso and let it cool slightly.
- Empty the ice from the cocktail shaker. Pour in the espresso shot, one ounce of coffee syrup, 1.5 ounces of vodka, and one ounce of Kahlúa.
- Seal the cocktail shaker and shake until combined.
- Empty the ice from the martini glass.
- Pour in the espresso martini and garnish with coffee beans (optional).
- Serve and enjoy responsibly.
FAQs: Making Coffee Syrup
Have any further questions about making coffee syrup?
The answers to these frequently asked questions may enlighten you:
1. What’s the Best Coffee for Coffee Syrup
The best coffee for coffee syrup is a high-quality dark roast. It's best to use freshly ground coffee beans, but quality pre-ground coffee also works. 100% arabica produces a smooth, sweet syrup, and an arabica and robusta blend produces a syrup with more intensity.
2. How Long Does Homemade Coffee Syrup Last?
Homemade coffee syrup (made using the 2:1 recipe above) will last for up to six months in the fridge. However, the flavor will deteriorate over time, so it's best to use the syrup within two months.
3. What Is The Best Sugar To Use For Coffee Syrup?
The best sugar to use for coffee syrup is refined white cane sugar. This sugar provides sweetness without any flavors that will alter the taste of the coffee. However, demerara and other brown sugars also work — they produce a more caramel-like syrup.
4. Can Coffee Syrup Be Made With Espresso?
Yes. You can make coffee syrup with espresso. In fact, you can make coffee syrup with any type of coffee, as long as it's brewed strong. If you don't have an espresso machine but want to experience an espresso coffee syrup, try our Vietnamese Instant Espresso.
5. Can You Make A Sugar-Free Coffee Syrup?
No. Coffee syrup requires sugar. It's the sugar that makes the syrup sweet and helps preserve it. However, using sugar that has undergone less processing may be healthier. If you are health-conscious, try coconut sugar or turbinado sugar.
6. How Do You Make Vanilla Coffee Syrup?
You can make vanilla coffee syrup by directing one Madagascan vanilla pod and adding the seeds and pod to the pan during heating. This will infuse the syrup with the flavors of vanilla.
7. Can You Make a Cup of Coffee From Coffee Syrup?
You can add two to three tablespoons of coffee syrup to milk, stir, and pour over ice for a quick and easy iced coffee. However, a much tastier brew can be made without it.
Learn how to make iced coffee in this article.
8. Can You Use Coffee Syrup in Brownies?
Yes. Adding coffee syrup to a brownie mixture before baking will add more complexity to the chocolatey dessert. Replace two to three tablespoons of sugar in the mix with coffee syrup — this will add a subtle hint of coffee to your brownies.
9. What’s the Best Way to Store Coffee Syrup?
Homemade coffee syrup should be stored in the fridge. It will last for up to six months. Store-bought coffee syrup may be stored in a cool cupboard and could last up to two years without refrigeration.
10. Can You Use Coffee Syrup As A Dessert Topping?
Yes. Coffee syrup is the perfect dessert topping for coffee lovers. Drizzling a tablespoon or two over brownies, tiramisu, ice cream, or steamed pudding can elevate your after-dinner treat and give it more elegance.
