Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line the bases of 3 x 20 cm cake tins with bake paper and grease the sides with butter.
Stir the cocoa powder, coffee and brown sugar in a bowl and pour over the boiling water. Whisk to mix and set aside.
Cream the butter and caster sugar together until pale and fluffy and then add the vanilla extract.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Slowly add the flour, bicarb and baking powder. Pour in the cocoa/coffee mixture and beat until just combined.
Divide the batter evenly amongst the 3 cake tins.
Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Allow the cakes to cool slightly in their tins before turning out onto a tray to cool completely.