Coffee cake disaster

[Generallyok]

Help please. I can normally make a fairly decent Victoria sponge but I need to bake a coffee cake for a party and I've had 2 attempts and they are terrible. What am I doing wrong??? Photo attached

How are you giving the cake the coffee flavour? When I do it I tend to dissolve instant granules in a small amount of boiling water and wait for it to cool before adding it the same way I would vanilla essence. If you do this, it could be that it’s not cooled enough before adding to the mixture?

Dissolve coffee granules with the beaten egg ... a Mary Berry tip

Agree with Sloane on the coffee - when adding the coffee I use about four teaspoons of instant granules mixed up in just enough water to dissolve them all. Usually works fine and gives a good coffee flavour.

What did you change in the recipe that made it different?
When I last made coffee cake, it was basic Victoria sponge, but with approx 1 tablespoon of strong coffee added, and a little more flour added.

Thanks both i have tried both ways. The birds have been a feast with my creations. I'm that close to buying one or DH suggested making a Victoria sponge and adding coffee icing?

Buy coffee essence or use a good quality espresso powder which you just sieve in with the flour. Works brilliantly.

I always use Camp Coffee it makes gorgeous coffee cake. I think it's your oven temp are you opening the door to check? Is your thermostat dodgy? Why don't you make a batch of coffee fairy cakes/muffins they will prob work better