Koko Cold Brew, SushiSamba
Photograph: Courtesy Sushi SambaKoko Cold Brew
Photograph: Courtesy Sushi Samba

The best coffee cocktails in NYC

The best coffee cocktails include a java-spiked boulevardier, an espresso fizz and a coffee-rum slushy

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Coffee cocktails have never been cool: there’s just nothing sexy about sugary joe with a shot of whiskey dumped in. They’ve never been cool, that is, until now: today, innovative cafes and bars citywide are stirring up fresh drinks that give you a caffeine and an alcohol buzz, all at the same time. Whether you’re getting your fix at the best coffee shops in NYC, at one of the best bars in NYC or at fine dining restaurants, these are the best coffee cocktails in the city.

RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

Best coffee cocktails in NYC

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Nolita
  • price 2 of 4
Coffee Cordial Boozy Slushy at Mother’s Ruin
Coffee Cordial Boozy Slushy at Mother’s Ruin
At this airy Nolita drinkery, co-owners Timothy Lynch and Richard Knapp bring in a rotating cast of star bartenders to sling classic and contemporary drinks. The frozen Coffee Cordial Boozy Slushy is, well, exactly that: a union of Toby’s Estate Coffee, white rum, nutmeg, cinnamon and star anise.
  • Coffee shops
  • Long Island City
  • price 1 of 4

Long Island City’s first specialty coffee shop serves direct-trade coffee, homemade pastries and artisan espresso (complete with latte art) in a cubbyhole-sized space. Its Long Island City Special is a stirring concoction of Blackstrap rum, agave, lime juice, soda water and a house-brewed coffee liqueur.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • East Village
  • price 4 of 4

At this a colorful nook conceived by Ravi DeRossi (Death & Company, Cienfuegos) and Bittermens, a small-batch bitters producer based in Red Hook, curious drinkers can find plenty of ways to mix edification and inebriation. The focus here is on amari and other bitters, whose flavor profiles pair perfectly with strong coffee. Each Sunday afternoon, the bar celebrates that pairing with its “Double Buzz” program, offering smart cocktails like the Flamingo (Ethiopian Guji coffee, tequila, cocchi rosso, apple bitters) and the Jungle Bird (Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee, light and dark rums, Campari and Angostura bitters).

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