8 Coffee Recipes for Entertaining House Guests

Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Coffee

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To help you impress your guests with unique coffee experiences, we asked professionals for their best suggestions. From serving an espresso martini to sprinkling with some bespoke templates, these experts share their top tips for coffee and caffeine lovers entertaining at home.

Serve an Espresso Martini
​As a coffee enthusiast, I’d like to share a recipe that coffee lovers can apply for their guests! An espresso martini is often my go-to. It’s easy and very convenient. It’s also the drink that I often prepare for my friends and their partners when they come over.
Ingredients (per serving):

• 1 ounce of espresso coffee: The stronger, the better.
• 1 ounce of coffee liqueur: I often use Kahlúa.
• 2 ounces of vodka: Just pick your favorite vodka.
• 1 scoop of syrup: Add some sweet flavor to your cocktail.

Steps:

• Make your espresso coffee, then cool it down.
• Put the ice in your cocktail shaker.
• Add everything to the shaker, then shake until well incorporated.
• Strain the finished product into a martini glass.
• Serve with 3 to 4 coffee beans on top.

Enjoy! - Mesphird Yang, Co-Founder, Geared Up Coffee

Delight with Cold Coffee
As a coffee connoisseur, I suggest cold coffee when hosting guests. It’s a delightful choice that’s not too complicated to prepare. To make a cold-coffee blend, combine coffee, water, milk, and sugar in a blender or juicer. Blend until a frothy layer appears on top. It’s best served immediately with ice cubes and a sprinkle of cocoa powder. If left for too long, the foam will dissipate. Another simple method is to let coffee steep in filtered water in a jar overnight, or at least for eight hours. Once done, we can enjoy the cold brew in various ways. Pour it over ice in a glass for a straightforward cold-coffee experience. For a twist, consider adding a splash of orange juice to the brew for a citrusy kick. For those with a sweet tooth, pouring the cold brew over a scoop of vanilla ice cream can be a delightful treat. Pair the chosen cold-coffee preparation with tasty cookies, and it’s set for delightful chats with friends. - Tim Sutton, Director, Coffee Geek

Try an Affogato Twist
​When having friends over for coffee, it’s always a good idea to give them something memorable. A personal favorite is the “Affogato with a Twist.” The ingredients are vanilla gelato (just a scoop), a shot of the best espresso, dark chocolate shavings for that gourmet touch, and an optional splash of Kahlúa. For a fun crunch, throw in some chopped hazelnuts or almonds.
Here’s how it’s made:

• First, sneak the serving glasses into the freezer for a quick chill.
• Then, drop in the gelato, pour over the hot espresso, and if feeling adventurous, add a dash of liqueur.
• To top it off, sprinkle on some chocolate and those nuts.

Handing these out to friends, watching their reactions, and then diving into coffee chats is priceless! It’s not just about the drink, but the memories made. Give it a try next time and enjoy those conversations. - Vishakha Singh, SEO Manager, Quicklly

Brew with a French Press
​Many coffee lovers swear by the French press for a rich, cafe-style brew that outshines instant coffee. I personally love this coffee and usually offer it to my guests. I believe a French press brew not only offers a more aromatic and flavorful black coffee but also serves as a base for various coffee recipes like cocktails and cappuccinos. It’s relatively easy to make as long as you have the right tools. To make it, preheat the French press with hot water and discard. Add 20 gm of coffee grounds and pour hot water (around 80°C) over it. Cover with the lid without pressing the plunger and let it steep for two minutes. Then, press the plunger to separate the grounds, pour into a mug, and savor plain or with a touch of milk. Its interesting method of preparation will definitely be a point of conversation for your visitors. - Danilo Miranda, Managing Director, Presenteverso

Impress with Coffee Ice Cubes
​This one’s my favorite! One great recipe idea for coffee and caffeine lovers to impress their guests at home is homemade iced coffee with coffee ice cubes. This refreshing and flavorful drink is perfect for warm weather, or whenever you want a delightful coffee treat. To make the coffee ice cubes, brew a strong cup of coffee, using about 2 cups of water and 4–6 tablespoons of coffee grounds. You can adjust the coffee-to-water ratio to your preference. If desired, add sugar to the hot coffee to sweeten it slightly (about 1–2 tablespoons per cup). Let the coffee cool to room temperature. Pour the cooled coffee into ice cube trays and freeze them. These coffee ice cubes will keep your iced coffee from getting diluted as they melt. To prepare the Iced Coffee, brew another 2 cups of coffee, using the same coffee-to-water ratio as before. Once the coffee is cool, fill a glass with the coffee ice cubes. Add milk or cream to your glass, adjusting the amount to your desired level of creaminess and sweetness.
- Joe Li, Managing Director, CheckYa

Set Up a Coffee Affogato Bar
One delightful suggestion for coffee and caffeine lovers when entertaining guests at home is to prepare a coffee affogato bar. It’s a simple yet elegant dessert and coffee combination that adds a touch of sophistication to your gathering. To set up a Coffee Affogato Bar, you’ll need:

• high-quality vanilla ice cream or gelato
• your favorite coffee options, such as freshly brewed espresso, strong brewed coffee, or even flavored coffee if preferred
• assorted toppings like chocolate shavings, crushed nuts, caramel or chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and flavored syrups,
• shot glasses or small dessert cups.

To assemble the coffee affogato bar, scoop a portion of vanilla ice cream into each shot glass or dessert cup, brew the coffee or espresso and pour a shot over the ice cream, and let your guests customize their affogato.
- Rhianna Jones, Registered Nurse, CanXida

Whip Up a Pumpkin Spice Latte
​If you have an indescribable love for the popular pumpkin spice latte by Starbucks, you no longer need to wait for autumn to get a taste! You don’t even need to leave the house at all, considering that this recipe is much easier to make in the kitchen than you might have thought. Search for the YouTube video recipe by Inspired Taste because it not only lets beginner cooks whip up their own batch at home, but it also allows for changes in ingredients to adjust the taste exactly to your coffee preferences.
- Axel Hernborg, Founder and CEO, Tripplo

​Sprinkle with Bespoke Templates
For coffee aficionados looking to entertain guests, one suggestion is to use bespoke templates for adding chocolate sprinkles to your coffee creations. This adds a professional touch to your presentation and delights guests with intricate patterns on their coffee. Simply place the spoked template over the coffee cup, sprinkle chocolate over it, and remove the template to reveal a beautiful design. This small, yet impactful, detail elevates the coffee experience and is sure to impress your guests — it can have an even better impact if you create your own template that’s on theme for your guests.
- Chris Stott, Director, Seven Marketing