Which Beracha or Berachot does one recite before and after eating cake with coffee, and under what circumstances is a Beracha required?
Regarding the Beracha Rishona (Beracha recited before eating), generally speaking one will recite two separate Berachot in such a case: "Boreh Mineh Mezonot" over the cake, and "She’hakol Niheya Bi’dbaro" over the coffee. Since we do not view the coffee as "Tafel" (secondary, or peripheral) to the cake, but rather as independently significant, it requires its own Beracha. The exception to this rule is when one does not actually drink coffee with cake, but rather dips the cake into the coffee before eating it. In such a case, one would not recite a separate Beracha over the coffee, as the Beracha of "Mezonot" recited over the cake covers also the drops of coffee it absorbs when it is dipped.
As far as the Beracha Aharona (Beracha recited after eating) is concerned, it is clear that if one eats a Ke’zayit (1 oz.) or more of cake within a period of seven minutes, he must recite the Beracha of "Al Ha’mihya." Regarding the coffee, however, we find different views among the Halachic authorities as to whether a Beracha Aharona is required. The Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806) held that one recites "Boreh Nefashot" after drinking a beverage only if he drank 3 oz. or more all at once, without interruption. When one drinks coffee, or, for that matter, any hot drink, he obviously drinks slowly, and certainly does not drink at any point 3 oz. without interruption. Therefore, according to this view, one would not recite a Beracha Aharona after drinking coffee or other hot drinks. And even if it so happens that a person somehow does drink 3 oz. or more of a hot drink all at once, we apply to him the principle of "Batela Da’ato Esel Kol Adam" – meaning, we overlook his peculiar practice in favor of the more common, accepted mode of behavior. Therefore, even such a person would not recite a Beracha Aharona after drinking a hot drink, since he has not drunk in the conventional manner.
Halacha follows the opinion of the Hida, and thus one does not recite a Beracha Aharona after drinking coffee or a hot drink, regardless of the amount he drinks.
This would similarly apply to hard drinks such as arrack and scotch, which one quite obviously cannot drink quickly. One does not recite a Beracha Aharona after drinking such drinks, even if a person somehow manages to drink 3 oz. at once.
Summary: One who eats cake with coffee recites "Mezonot" before eating the cake and "She’hakol" before drinking the coffee, unless he does not drink the coffee but only dips the cake into it, in which case he only recites "Mezonot" over the cake. If one ate a Ke’zayit (1 oz.) or more of cake within seven minutes, he recites "Al Ha’mihya," whereas after drinking coffee or other hot drinks one does not recite a Beracha, regardless of how much he drinks.
