How to Make a Pharisee Coffee Step by Step

If you’ve ever walked into a café early in the morning craving something stronger than espresso—maybe a little alcohol with your coffee—you’re not alone. In Australia, there’s a long-standing tradition of ordering a warm, sweet coffee drink that sneaks in a shot of liquor before noon. One such drink is the Pharisee, a layered coffee beverage that looks like a regular coffee but carries a surprising kick.

To make a classic Pharisee coffee, you’ll need 10 grams of sugar, 20cc (about 2 tablespoons) of lime (or sometimes rum) liqueur, a shot of dark roasted coffee, and a touch of cream or milk with a few extra drops of alcohol. That’s the whole recipe—simple, sweet, and boozy.

What Is a Pharisee Coffee?

Despite the name, Pharisee coffee isn’t a traditional Middle Eastern drink—it’s an Australian café classic. The name is playful, hinting more at the idea of 'drinking like a Pharisee' than any actual cultural link. It’s essentially a sweet, spiked coffee served hot, often enjoyed as a morning pick-me-up with an adult twist. Some versions use rum instead of lime liqueur, but the core ingredients remain consistent: sugar, coffee, and a splash of alcohol.

Why This Drink Exists

In parts of Australia, it’s not unusual for people to want an alcoholic drink with breakfast or early in the day. Rather than ordering a straight spirit, they’d go to a café and ask for a Pharisee—a socially acceptable way to have coffee and booze together. It’s a cultural quirk that turned into a beloved regional specialty. The drink balances bitter espresso with sweet sugar and the warmth of cream, all lifted slightly by the sharpness of citrus liqueur or rum.

How to Make Pharisee Coffee: Step-by-Step

Here’s the exact method used to build a Pharisee coffee, based on the traditional preparation:

• Start with a heatproof coffee cup or mug.
• Add 10 grams of granulated sugar directly to the cup.
• Pour in 20cc (approximately 2 tablespoons) of lime liqueur—or substitute with a light rum if preferred.
• Using a spoon, gently stir the sugar and liqueur together until the sugar begins to dissolve.
• Slowly pour a shot of deeply roasted coffee over the back of a spoon into the cup to layer it over the liqueur mixture. A dark roast is traditional and enhances the bitterness to balance the sweetness.
• Top with a small amount of cream or milk (the original recipe simply says “milk”), and finish with a few more drops of the same liqueur or rum for aroma.

What Coffee Roast Works Best?

The traditional preparation calls for a deep or dark roast. Dark roasts bring out chocolatey, nutty, and caramelized flavors that stand up to both the sugar and the alcohol. They also provide a strong, bold base that contrasts nicely with the creamy and sweet layers. Avoid light roasts here—their bright acidity can clash with the syrupy texture and boozy notes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t skip stirring the sugar and liqueur before adding the coffee—it won’t dissolve properly otherwise. Avoid pouring the coffee too quickly, or it will mix with the liqueur instead of layering. And while you can use any dark roast, choosing one with low acidity and rich body (like a classic espresso blend or Mandheling-style bean) will deliver the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pharisee coffee made of?

Pharisee coffee is made with 10 grams of sugar, 20cc of lime liqueur (or rum), a shot of dark roasted coffee, and topped with cream or milk and a few extra drops of alcohol. It’s layered to keep the coffee separate from the sweet liqueur base.

Can I use rum instead of lime liqueur?

Yes, many variations of Pharisee coffee use a light rum instead of lime liqueur. Both work well, though the flavor will shift slightly—rum adds a deeper sweetness while lime liqueur provides a citrus note.

What kind of coffee roast is best for Pharisee coffee?

A dark roast is traditional and recommended for Pharisee coffee. It has low acidity, rich body, and flavors like chocolate, caramel, or nuts that balance the sweet and boozy layers.

Do you drink Pharisee coffee hot or cold?

Pharisee coffee is traditionally served hot, like a regular café coffee. The warm layers help integrate the flavors of sugar, alcohol, and coffee together smoothly.

Is Pharisee coffee a real coffee drink?

Yes, Pharisee coffee is a real drink, especially popular in Australia. It’s a sweet, alcoholic coffee layered with sugar, coffee, and cream—more of a café specialty than a standard espresso drink.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Dark Roast Coffee Drinks

For a Pharisee coffee, choose a bold dark roast with low acidity and rich chocolatey or nutty tones. FrontStreet’s PWN Golden Mandheling is a top pick—hand-selected for low defects, it offers a clean, herbal spice profile with heavy body and a sweet, lingering finish. Alternatively, try the Brazil Queen Manor for its balanced hazelnut and caramel notes with a silky mouthfeel. Both beans shine in espresso or milk drinks and hold up well under the sweetness and alcohol of a Pharisee. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.