Can You Mix Coffee and Wine?

Key Takeaway

• Mixing coffee and wine can unlock unique flavor pairings, but enjoy responsibly—explore expert tips, simple recipes, and health considerations to craft barista-level coffee-wine cocktails at home.

We all know that feeling. You’ve just had a long day at work and you’re winding down with your favorite glass of wine. But then you start to crave something else…something stronger. Could coffee be the perfect mixer for your wine? Let’s find out!

We’re going to compare coffee and wine, and explore whether or not pairing is a good idea.

Coffee

Coffee is a drink prepared by brewing roasted coffee beans. The two main varieties of coffee plant are the Arabica and the Robusta; 60% of coffee is made with Arabica beans, while 40% is made with Robusta beans.

Benefits of drinking coffee

1. Helps you wake up in the morning. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that can help you feel more alert and awake.
2. Coffee not only aids in weight reduction. It also contains minerals which help regulate blood sugar levels by assisting your body to use insulin efficiently.
3. Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of death. Studies show that coffee drinkers have a 25 percent lower overall risk of premature death than those who do not consume coffee.
4. Coffee not only tastes great, but it can also help reduce your risk of cancer. In men, coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 20 percent. For women, drinking coffee can decrease the risk of endometrial cancer by 25 percent.
5. Research shows that caffeine can help to protect the brain and lower the risk of dementia. A high level of caffeine in your blood has also been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease.

Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grapes. Wine is produced when yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes, then it converts it to carbon dioxide, ethanol, and heat. Different grape varieties of and yeast strains are used depending on the type of wine being produced.

• Red wine: It’s made with dark-colored grapes. The skins are left on during fermentation, which is what gives red wine its color.
• White Wine: It’s wine derived from white grapes, which are actually green or yellow. The skin is removed before fermentation, so there is no color transfer from the skins to the juice.
• Rose Wine: It’s produced using a limited skin contact method, where the skins are in contact with the juice for only a short amount of time. This can be done by removing the skins before fermentation is complete. Another method is by allowing the wine to ferment with the skins for a short time and then removing them.
• Sparkling Wine: It’s a wine that contains carbon dioxide, which gives it its fizzy texture. The carbon dioxide is a result of either natural fermentation or it can be added artificially.
• Fortified Wine: It’s a wine to which a distilled spirit, such as brandy, has been added. This fortification increases the alcohol content of the wine.

Benefits of drinking wine

1. Wine can help to prevent heart disease by increasing levels of HDL, or “good” cholesterol, and protecting against artery damage.
2. Wine may also help to reduce the risk of stroke by preventing blood clots from forming.
3. Drinking wine in moderation has been linked with a reduced risk of death from all causes.
4. Wine can also improve cognitive function and protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Wine and coffee pairings

Similarities of coffee and wine

• Variety. Just like wine grapes, coffee beans vary in both type and taste based on the terroir where they are grown. The soil, temperature, sun exposure and other elements in a region all contribute to the flavor profile of its coffee.
• Aromas and flavor. Coffee, like wine, has a unique bouquet of aromas that are specific to its variety and terroir. The roasting process also affects the coffee’s flavors and textures in a similar way to how wine making decisions affect wine.
• Serving. We all know that the right temperature, glassware and decanting (if necessary) can significantly affect wine. The same can be said for coffee–grind size, water temperature and brewing device will all affect taste. Just as it’s important to serve wine properly, it’s important to prepare coffee correctly to experience it optimally.

Coffee-wine pairings

There are many great coffee-wine pairings out there, so it really depends on your personal preferences. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few suggestions:

• Pinot noir and light roast coffee
• Merlot and dark roast coffee
• Cabernet Sauvignon and espresso
• Chardonnay and coffee with milk or cream
• sparkling wine and cold brew coffee

Things to consider when pairing wine and coffee

• Although alcohol consumption is harmful, it can provide a temporary sense of sobriety and refreshment. Caffeine has the ability to mask the depressant side effects of alcohol. So people who mix coffee and wine tend to rate themselves as more sober than they actually are. Certainly coffee does not help you become sober, but it can keep your mind clearer. 
• This cocktail doesn’t just make you feel drunk–it makes you feel more sober. And that’s a problem because people who think they’re less drunk are more likely to do dangerous things, like driving under the influence.
• According to other theories, you should avoid coffee if you plan on drinking alcohol.
• If you consume alcohol, it thinners your blood and constricts your arteries. Mixing coffee with alcohol creates a strain on your heart that can triple in intensity.
• Some people think it’s no big deal to drink coffee with alcohol, but actually it can have negative effects on your cardiovascular system by depriving it of oxygen.
• When the heart feels like it is struggling to pump and breathe, it can lead to feeling depressed or irritated. This change in mood is caused by a lack of energy. Scientifically speaking, this could result in a nervous breakdown.
• Health Risks of Mixing Caffeine and Alcohol
  • Masked impairment: Caffeine can reduce your perception of alcohol’s depressant effects, increasing the chance of overconsumption and risky behaviors like drunk driving (Ferre & O’Brien, 2011).
  • Depressant vs. stimulant: Alcohol is a depressant and caffeine is a stimulant—mixing them can make you feel more alert while still impaired (Wine Spectator Q&A).
  • No sobering effect: Caffeine does not reduce the effects of alcohol or make you less intoxicated (CDC, 2024).
  • Cardiovascular strain: Combining coffee and wine may elevate blood pressure, cause irregular heartbeat, and worsen dehydration due to their diuretic effects.
  • Anxiety and stress: Coffee alone can raise state anxiety; mixed with alcohol and nicotine, it may further disrupt heart rate adaptation.
• Moderate Consumption & Potential Benefits
  • Safe for most people: Enjoying a glass of wine followed by a cup of coffee in moderation (1–2 drinks) is generally safe for healthy adults.
  • Liver health benefit: In a 2018 Norwegian cohort of over 219,000 adults, combined coffee and wine consumption was associated with reduced mortality from alcoholic liver disease (Bøhn, Vistnes, & Drevon, 2018).
  • Mood & cognition boost: A 2024 study found that moderate red wine plus moka pot coffee intake improved mood and cognitive function in patients with mild vascular cognitive impairment (de la Torre et al., 2024).
• Culinary Pairings & Trends
  • Flavor combinations: Bold coffees pair beautifully with full-bodied reds (e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon), while fruity, bright coffees complement crisp whites (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc).
  • Coffee-wine cocktails: Espresso martinis, Caffè Corretto with Lambrusco, and other hybrids are trending—but should be sipped sparingly due to caffeine–alcohol interactions (Healthline, 2019).

Recommendations

Avoid excessive mixing: Large quantities or frequent blends can increase risks of dehydration, hypertension, and alcohol-related harm.

Consult a doctor: Anyone with heart conditions, anxiety disorders, or caffeine sensitivity should seek medical advice before combining these substances.

Prioritize moderation: Limit yourself to 1–2 cups of coffee and 1–2 glasses of wine per day, spacing them at least one hour apart to reduce interactions.

Bonus: Simple Caffè Corretto Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 shot (30ml) of espresso
• 15ml of Grappa or Lambrusco
• Optional sugar to taste

Instructions:

1. Pull a fresh espresso into a small cup.
2. Add the grappa or Lambrusco directly to the espresso.
3. Stir gently and sweeten if desired.
4. Serve immediately in a warmed glass.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

Whether or not you think coffee and wine go together, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks of mixing these two substances. If you do choose to drink coffee with alcohol, do so in moderation and be aware of how your body is responding. And always remember to drink responsibly!

References:

Bøhn, S. K., Vistnes, M. C., & Drevon, C. A. (2018). Coffee and wine consumption is associated with reduced mortality from alcoholic liver disease: Follow-up of 219,279 Norwegian men and women aged 30–67 years. Journal of Hepatology, 69(6), 1233–1240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2018.08.011

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Effects of mixing alcohol and caffeine. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/alcohol-caffeine.html

de la Torre, R., … et al. (2024). Combined effect of red wine and mocha pot coffee in mild vascular cognitive impairment. Neuroscience Letters, 789, Article 136878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2024.136878

Ferre, S., & O’Brien, M. C. (2011). Alcohol and caffeine: The perfect storm. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2, Article 53. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621334/

Healthline Media. (2019, June 27). Caffeine and alcohol: How they interact. https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-and-alcohol

Wine Spectator. (n.d.). Health Q&A: Is mixing wine and coffee after dinner bad for my heart? Wine Spectator. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/health-q-a-is-mixing-wine-and-coffee-after-dinner-bad-for-my-heart