Il coffee Coffee is now the protagonist of a vast panorama of trends, hybridizations, sensory adventures and new territories of flavor. Among the most famous are mocktails: non-alcoholic drinks designed to replicate the appearance, flavor and experience of a traditional cocktail, without however containing alcohol.
Mocktails and coffee, non-alcoholic mixes with a full flavor.
In recent years, the consumption of mocktails has become increasingly popular, especially among those looking for healthy alternatives or who want to enjoy a non-alcoholic but still refined drink. In fact, whether it is for ethical, religious or wellness reasons (the caloric intake of a mocktail is significantly lower), ordering a non-alcoholic drink from the menu finally does not mean resigning yourself to drinking something improvised and tasteless.
Coffee is one of the ingredients that is gaining more space in this trend. Versatile and complex, it lends itself to particular combinations that enhance the taste and visual aspect of drinks, and it also pairs perfectly with exotic flavours and fresh ingredients to create unique sensory experiences.
The coffee base gives body and depth to the drink, creating an interesting contrast with fruity, spicy or sweet flavours. Among other things, the absence of alcohol allows you to better enhance the aromatic nuances of the coffee itself, which can vary significantly depending on the type of bean, the roasting and the extraction method used.
Unique coffee combinations, all to try.
Coffee and citrus: coffee goes perfectly with orange, lemon and lime. One of the most popular combinations is the cold brew with fresh orange juice, a mix that perfectly combines bitterness, sweetness and acidity. Another example is the coffee and lemon mocktail, based on espresso, sugar syrup, sparkling water and the twist of a lemon peel.
Coffee and spices: cinnamon, cardamom and star anise are ingredients that enhance the complex notes of coffee. A popular mocktail is the chai fusion coffee, perfect for those who love warm and spicy flavors. Espresso is combined with chai tea and milk, enriched with vanilla syrup.
Coffee and tropical fruit such as mango, pineapple or coconut: it may seem unusual, but it is a pleasant and surprising contrast. An example above all, the mango espresso mocktail, based on coffee shaken with mango puree and a little lime juice. A sweet and refreshing drink, perfect for summer.
Mocktails with cold brew coffee and nitro coffee.
Creating coffee-based mocktails requires special attention to the method of extraction of the coffee. Among the most popular techniques is cold brew, which is infused cold for several hours, resulting in a drink with natural sweetness and a less bitter taste than espresso. This extraction technique makes it perfect for mixing with fruit juices and syrups. Nitro coffee, a cold brew infused with nitrogen, is also very popular for mocktails: its creamy texture and velvety aftertaste make it an interesting base.
Other innovative fusion drinks.
In addition to mocktails, there are coffee-based fusion drinks that combine foreign techniques and traditions. One example is matcha latte, which blends espresso with Japanese matcha tea, offering an interesting contrast of flavours between the herbaceous taste of matcha and the roasted notes of coffee.
Another example is “beer coffee,” combining a cold brew with a dark non-alcoholic beer, such as stout or kombucha coffee, an emerging trend we’ll talk about in upcoming articles: known for its probiotic properties, kombucha adds a sparkling, slightly acidic note that harmonizes with the bitter flavour of coffee.
Mocktails & Manuel coffees.
All you have to do is test yourself with Manuel blends. We suggest making some of the mixes mentioned with Capriccio and Adarte blends depending on whether you want to obtain a drink with softer and more balanced coffee aromas or more intense and complex ones. Capriccio, with 70% premium Arabica offers a perfect balance between sweet and bitter, while Adarte is a 100% Arabica blend, in which citrus and floral notes blend with hints of chocolate, hazelnut, almond and caramel. Happy drinking to everyone!
