Coffee flan is a silky caramel custard infused with coffee flavor and finished with a glossy caramel sauce. This stovetop version creates a smooth flan without using the oven.
Why You'll Love It
- Smooth and creamy custard with rich coffee flavor
- Made with simple ingredients you likely already have
- Cooked on the stovetop, so there is no oven required
- A perfect make-ahead dessert for gatherings
The first time I made coffee flan at home, I was curious how the coffee would blend with the classic caramel custard. Once it chilled, the texture became incredibly smooth, and the coffee flavor settled gently into the custard. It reminded me of the traditional flan desserts I grew up enjoying, but with a slightly deeper flavor from the coffee.
What I enjoy most about this recipe is how approachable it is. The custard comes together with simple ingredients, and the stovetop water bath keeps the process straightforward. If you enjoy creamy caramel desserts, you might also like my easy flan recipe, chocolate flan, or banana flan, which follow a similar custard technique but each bring their own flavor.
Key Ingredients in Coffee Flan
You'll find the exact measurements in the recipe card, but here's a closer look at a few of the ingredients and why I use them.
- Sugar, Water, and Lemon Juice: I use these three simple ingredients to make the caramel. The sugar melts into that rich golden layer every flan needs, while the water helps it cook evenly, and the lemon juice helps keep it smooth.
- Milk, Eggs, and Egg Yolks: This is what gives the flan its creamy custard texture. I like using whole eggs with extra yolks because the texture turns out soft, silky, and rich without feeling too heavy.
- Sugar: I add sugar to the custard to sweeten it just enough and balance the slight bitterness of the coffee. It also helps keep the flavor round and smooth.
- Instant Coffee: I use instant coffee because it dissolves easily and gives the custard a clear coffee flavor without changing the texture. It is such an easy way to bring that deeper flavor into the flan.
How to Make Coffee Flan
You can find the complete printable recipe with measurements below, but for now, here's a quick overview of how it goes:
1. Make the caramel by heating the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a small saucepan until golden brown, then pour it into serving glasses and let it set.
2. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, yolks, sugar, milk, and dissolved instant coffee until smooth, then strain the mixture into a jug.
3. Pour the custard into the glasses, cover with foil, place them in a pan filled with water to create a water bath, and cook on low-medium heat for 15 minutes.
4. Let the flans cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. To serve, place a plate on top, flip, and gently lift off the glass.
Tips for Recipe Success
Use a Deep Pan for the Water Bath: I like using a wide, deep pan so the water surrounds the glasses evenly. This helps the custard cook gently and prevents the edges from setting too quickly.
Do Not Overcook the Flan: The flan should look set around the edges but still slightly soft in the center when you remove it from the heat. I find it continues to firm up as it cools and chills.
Run a Knife Around the Edge Before Unmolding: Before flipping the flan onto a plate, I like to run a thin knife around the inside of the glass. This helps release the custard cleanly so the caramel flows smoothly over the top.
Let the Flan Sit for a Minute After Unmolding: Once I flip the flan onto a plate, I like to leave the glass in place for about a minute. This allows the caramel to slowly run down over the custard.
Variations
- Espresso Coffee Flan: You can replace the instant coffee with strong brewed espresso for a deeper coffee flavor.
- Vanilla Coffee Flan: A little vanilla extract adds a softer aroma that pairs nicely with the caramel.
- Mocha Flan: A spoonful of cocoa powder mixed into the custard adds a subtle chocolate note.
Storage
Coffee flan keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days when covered. I like to keep the flan in the glasses and unmold it just before serving so the caramel stays smooth.
Try These Flan Recipes Next!
Recipe
Coffee Flan
Ingredients
Caramel
- 150 g sugar
- 40 ml water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Flan
- 750 ml milk
- 180 g sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoon instant coffee
Instructions
- Add ¾ cup (150 g) sugar, 3 tablespoons (40 ml) water, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice to a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil until the sugar dissolves, then continue cooking until the caramel turns golden brown. Quickly pour the caramel into serving glasses and leave it to cool and harden.
- Dissolve 2 tablespoons of instant coffee in a small amount of water.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 3 eggs, 3 egg yolks, 1 cup (180 g) sugar, 3¼ cups (750 ml) milk, and the dissolved coffee until smooth. Strain the mixture through a sieve into a jug to remove bubbles and create a silky custard.
- Pour the custard into the caramel-lined glasses and cover each one with foil.
- Place the glasses in a large pan and pour hot water around them to create a water bath. Cook over low-medium heat for about 15 minutes, until the flan is set.
- Remove the glasses from the water bath and let them cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- To serve, place a plate on top of each glass, flip it over, and gently lift off the glass so the caramel flows over the flan.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
OMG, this coffee flan is EVERYTHING! So creamy and the coffee flavor is perfect