Every year (most of the time), I participate in Dry January. I do it as a chance to reset but not with any expectations beyond January. In 2023, I did a “damp” January meaning, I spent most of the month not drinking but enjoyed a little champagne once at brunch. No expectations. At any rate, I’m back drinking but doing so in a very limited way. I’ve honestly been too busy to drink. After Dry January was over, I wanted to experiment and try my hand at making an espresso old fashioned to see how I liked it. Happy to report, this is a winner.

So, this espresso old fashioned is just that – made with espresso. There’s no alcohol in it – besides a few dashes of bitters, so I consider this an NA beverage. If you’re not a fan of strong espresso, I’d highly suggest we skip this recipe. Like a traditional old fashioned, this drink is a sipper and not one that you’ll quickly drink.

If the absence of alcohol doesn’t appeal to you (no judgment, I love a classic old fashioned) you could easily add your favorite whiskey or even try Jameson cold brew for an extra coffee flavor. Additionally, if you’d prefer not to add traditional bitters to your NA cocktail, there are tons of options out there. While I haven’t tried these before, the All the Bitter brand continued to pop up in my search for NA bitter options.

If bitter espresso beverages aren’t your thing, here’s a collection of delicious non-alcoholic drinks I’ve previously shared here.