Tempus Fugit Creme de Moka Coffee Liqueur

Tempus Fugit Crème de Moka Coffee Liqueur is a luxurious revival of one of the earliest historical coffee liqueur styles. Deep, aromatic, and elegantly bittersweet, it combines the richness of freshly roasted coffee with subtle chocolate, spice, and floral complexity. Crafted using traditional techniques and premium Ethiopian coffee beans, it delivers a refined balance of sweetness and roasted intensity—making it equally compelling neat, over ice, or in sophisticated coffee-driven cocktails.

Origins & Craftsmanship
Tempus Fugit Spirits specializes in recreating historic liqueurs and cocktail ingredients using authentic recipes and traditional production methods. Crème de Moka draws inspiration from a historical coffee liqueur formula dating back to 1755, reviving an early European style built around premium Arabica coffee.

The name “Moka” references the famous Port of Mocha in Yemen, once the central trading hub for the world’s finest Arabica coffee beans and the origin of the term used historically to describe exceptional coffee.

Tempus Fugit crafts the liqueur by selecting Arabica coffee beans from the southern Ethiopian highlands, particularly from renowned regions such as Sidamo and Yirgacheffe. These beans are distilled with neutral eau-de-vie and then blended with cold-brewed Ethiopian coffee and cane sugar. The process avoids artificial flavorings or coloring, allowing the natural character of the coffee to shine.

The result is a coffee liqueur that is far more complex than typical sweet coffee spirits—layering roasted coffee intensity with mocha, dark fruit, and floral nuances. It is bottled at 25% ABV (50 proof), a strength that preserves its full flavor while maintaining smooth drinkability. 

Tasting Profile

Nose:
Rich aromas of freshly roasted coffee beans, cocoa, and toasted nuts, with hints of dark berries and floral tones.

Palate:
Velvety and layered with espresso, dark chocolate, and mocha sweetness, balanced by roasted bitterness and subtle spice.

Finish:
Long and satisfying with lingering coffee oils, cocoa nibs, and gentle sweetness, fading into roasted complexity.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Recipes

Espresso Martini

• 1½ oz vodka

• 1 oz Tempus Fugit Crème de Moka

• 1 oz fresh espresso
  Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a chilled coupe; garnish with coffee beans.

Mocha Old Fashioned

• 2 oz bourbon

• ½ oz Tempus Fugit Crème de Moka

• 2 dashes chocolate bitters
  Stir with ice and serve over a large cube; garnish with orange peel.

Affogato Cocktail

• 1 oz Tempus Fugit Crème de Moka

• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
  Pour the liqueur over the ice cream for a decadent after-dinner treat.