How to Make Liqueur Coffee

Learn how to make liqueur coffee, also known as a floater coffee, with strong coffee, Grand Marnier and a layer of cream floating on top. It's a classic after-dinner drink that's perfect for Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

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Post updated October 2026

Ingredients

• ☕ Instant coffee
• 🍯 Demerara sugar
• 🥃 Liqueur of your choice (I used Grand Marnier)
• 🥛 Double cream
• 💧 Hot water

How to Make Liqueur Coffee

Gather your ingredients and set the kettle to boil. Have a suitable glass ready and give the double cream a quick stir to loosen it; no need to actually whip it.

Pour the instant coffee, demerara sugar, and your favourite liqueur into the glass. Remember to place a teaspoon inside to prevent the glass from cracking.

Pour in water just off the boil, fill the glass leaving enough space for the cream and stir.

Remove the teaspoon and hold the back of a spoon just above the surface of the coffee.

Sip the coffee through the cream and enjoy. 😋

How Do You Make Cream Float on Top of Coffee?

The secret is to sweeten the coffee with sugar and use lightly stirred double cream, just enough to make it pourable. Slowly pour the cream over the back of a spoon, so it gently floats on the surface rather than mixing into the coffee.

• Be sure to put a teaspoon in the glass before pouring in hot water, or it will crack!😐

• Always use double (heavy) cream, not single cream, as it will split.

• Don’t skip the sugar, even if you don’t normally take it in your coffee, because it helps keep the cream from sinking.

• Don't stir the cream, since the idea is to enjoy sipping the coffee through the layer of cream floating on top.

Best Liqueurs for Liqueur Coffee

I used Grand Marnier in this recipe, but there are plenty of other delicious liqueur coffee variations:

• Irish coffee - Irish whiskey

• Scottish coffee - Drambuie

• Italian coffee - Grappa or amaretto

• French coffee - Cognac

• Caribbean coffee - Rum (of course)! or Tia Maria

Another Christmas drink you might like is Mulled Wine.

Have you tried this recipe?
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liqueur coffee, floater coffee, Grand Marnier coffee, coffee cocktail, after-dinner coffee, Christmas drink

drinks, hot drinks, coffee Recipes, Christmas drinks

European

Yield: 1 coffee

Author: Jan Bennett

How to make Liqueur Coffee

A coffee liqueur drink is a perfect way to finish a good meal.

Prep time: 3 MinCook time: 2 MinTotal time: 5 Min

Ingredients

Per coffee

• 1 heaped tbsp instant coffee
• 1 tbsp demerara sugar
• 2-4 tbsp liqueur of choice (I used Grand Marnier)
• Double (heavy) cream
• Hot water

Instructions

1. Bring the kettle to a boil and stir the cream until it’s thick yet remains pourable.
2. Place a teaspoon in a sturdy glass, then add the instant coffee, demerara sugar and liqueur.
3. Pour in hot water just off the boil, leaving room for the cream, then stir well.
4. Remove the teaspoon and hold the back of a spoon just above the surface of the coffee.
5. Slowly pour the cream over the back of the spoon so it floats on top of the coffee.
6. Serve immediately and sip the coffee through the layer of cream.

Notes

•  Place a teaspoon in the glass before adding hot water to help prevent cracking.
• Use double (heavy) cream for the best floating layer.
•  Sugar helps keep the cream afloat, so try not to leave it out.
•  Don't stir the cream into the coffee. Sip the coffee through the floating cream instead.

https://www.aglugofoil.com/2015/11/how-to-make-perfect-liqueur-coffee.html

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