"Pure Morning" Cocktail Recipe
Mimosa meets espresso with a flash of mint and a splash of spumante
While collecting coffee-based cocktails for an upcoming story, I consulted Vasilis Sgouromallis, he’s a masterful mixologist, consultant, and bartending instructor located in Athens.
Look forward to a forthcoming review of Humain restaurant, where his cocktails are as artful and textural as the restaurant’s menu and design.
The assignment was coffee cocktails and good morning sunshine… did this one deliver!
The Recipe
This recipe begins with a two-three day infusion of fresh-squeezed orange or mandarin juice, fresh mint leaves, sugar, and coffee beans.
The science behind any infusion without alcohol, is the combination of acid and sugar. This starts a pre-fermentation process that releases peak aromas.
Pro-tip: try lemon juice and sugar on underwhelming strawberries for a major flavor pop.
The result is bright orange flavor reminiscent of mint, with a coffee note that lingers. The oil in the coffee beans lends some weight to these volatile aromatic molecules, so they last and last.
Vasilis suggested Prosecco, which is the classic mimosa topper. I used a classic method (Champagne-style) Brazilian sparkling wine from Família Geisse.
Side-note/tangent: The first time I tried the sparkling wines from Família Geisse, it inspired a song! One minute long.
Recorded and mixed in my bathroom. Video shot on location in a bar in Harlem.
Read on and try for yourself!
Investigative journalism is a hallmark of free society, so of course I tried it at home. Read on and try for yourself!
Ingredients
200 grams/ 7 oz Fresh-squeeze mandarin orange juice
25 grams/ 1 oz Fresh mint leaves, rinsed
25/ 1oz grams Gugar
15 Coffee beans, roasted
Dry, sparkling wine to taste (ex. Prosecco, Champagne, Franciacorta, Cava)
Procedure
Combine the juice, sugar, mint, and coffee beans in an air-tight glass container and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Strain into a glass of your choice and top with dry sparkling wine. Vasilis recommends a ration of 1 to 1.5 juice to wine. You can go 50-50 for something lighter, to all wine with a splash of the infused juice for a boozier option.
Either way, this drink will get your morning (afternoon, or evening) off to an invigorating start!