From what I am reading Malort sounds like a bad combo between a disgusting smokey scotch* and Fernet, a liquor that tastes the way a public mens bathroom smells like on a hot day when chilled.
And you compare that to black coffee? Shame on you.
Malort tastes like extremely bitter grapefruit peel to me.
I also love my scotch as peaty as possibly. So most likely my taste buds are broken.
Fernet is dark and very herbally from my recollection.
They're not even in the same universe. I don't love Fernet, but I appreciate it, and can taste things in it; it tastes like lots of different herbs and spices, some of them unpalatable. On the other hand, to make homemade Malort, simply mix Windex, Everclear, and sugar.