If you love a strong coffee cocktail, this Espresso Martini recipe is for you! It's made with fresh espresso, simple syrup, Kahlua, vodka, and a splash of cream for a sweet and creamy for the perfect after-dinner drink. Learn how to make this delicious creamy coffee martini below!
Jump to:
This yummy dessert cocktail is ideal for coffee lovers. It has a deep espresso flavor that's smoothed out by the cream and my go-to coffee liqueur - Kahlua.
What makes this the perfect espresso martini is that it uses freshly brewed espresso from my favorite espresso machine - Calphalon's Temp IQ Espresso Machine. It has a built in grinder with 30 adjustable settings, making it easy to use, consistently providing the best cups of coffee! It also has a built in milk frother for when I want to whip up a cappuccino!
To make this espresso martini, simply combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and add ice cubes. Shake it up and pour into a cocktail glass for the best espresso martini ever!
Save this recipe for your next dinner party to impress your guests - it's the perfect drink. Especially after a big meal.
Espresso Martini Ingredients
For this classic espresso martini, you only need 4 ingredients! Grab these cocktail ingredients and let's get started!
Espresso Coffee - for best results, be sure to use freshly brewed coffee from an espresso maker. You want to get that true espresso flavor! Avoid using instant coffee, espresso powder, oe cold brew concentrate. You'll end up with a bitter tasting martini that just isn't tasty.
Vodka - I recommend using a distilled vodka like Grey Goose. When vodka is distilled, it becomes smoother and has less fillers. The smoother the vodka, the better it pairs with this recipe.
Kahlua - you can use kind of coffee liqueur, Kahlua is just my favorite brand. It's a mix of coffee and rum liqueur and brings so much flavor to this cocktail. Another popular brand is Mr. Black cold Brew Coffee Liqueur.
Simple Syrup - the simple syrup adds a little sweetness. You can make your own simple syrup at home or buy a bottle from the store.
Cream - this ingredient is used in a traditional espresso martini, but it smooths out the flavor and makes it SO delicious! I've never been the kind of girl who can drink their coffee black, so it was a no-brainer to me to add cream to my coffee cocktails too! The cream takes this good espresso martini to a GREAT espresso martini. If you don't want to use straight cream, you can opt for bailey’s irish cream for more flavor.
Lastly, for garnish, add a few coffee beans on top of your cocktail for an elegant finish. I also topped mine with a dash of cocoa powder, but you don't have to do this. However, it's delicious.
Pro Tips
- For stronger coffee flavor, use espresso liqueur instead of kahlua. It has a stronger coffee flavor.
- Do not use hot espresso when making your martini. It'll melt the ice cubes and water down the drink. Cool off the coffee quickly by placing it in the freezer for 5 minutes for a quick chill.
- For that lovely foam on top, shake the cocktail shaker really hard! Pour into a glass quickly to get a frothy espresso martini.
- Using a coffee machine to brew fresh espresso also gives this drink its frothy top. If you don't have an espresso machine, you can add an egg white to the cocktail shaker along with all of the other ingredients. Shake really hard for a good 20 seconds and you'll get that beautiful foam on top.
How to make an Espresso Martini
- Brew a shot of espresso. Pour it into a bowl and allow it to cool. You don't want to use hot espresso as it'll melt the ice cubes and water down the drink.
- Add coffee liqueur, vodka, simple syrup, cold espresso, and cream to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice cubes to the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 20 seconds, until the shaker is cold.
- Strain martini glasses and garnish with espresso beans. Best part - take a sip!
Variations
Make a Gin Espresso Martini by subbing vodka for gin - making it more of a true martini.
For a chocolate-y spin, add crème de cacao instead of simple syrup. Take it a step further and add a little cocoa powder to the rim of the glass for a real treat.
Add baileys original irish cream and irish whiskey in place of kahlua and vodka to make an irish whiskey martini instead.
Recipe FAQs
It depends on your body and how you handle caffeine. There's about 64 mg of caffeine in a shot of espresso so it you could get a boost of energy. However, it's unlikely it'll prevent you from sleeping through the night.
This could be because you didn't shake the cocktail shaker enough so not much air got into the drink. Really make sure to vigorously shake for at least 20 seconds to get that frothy top. Also, if you're not using freshly brewed espresso, you won't get a frothy top.
Espresso martinis were invented in London at fred’s club by Dick Bradsell in the 1980s. It's rumored that a top model (some say it was Kate Moss) walked into Soho Brasserie and wanted a boost of energy so he whipped up this delicious coffee cocktail.
The three beans represent health, wealth, and happiness. In Italy, when Sambuca is served, they put three beans on top, also known as "la mosca", meaning "with the fly".
More Drink Recipes
Want more delicious and beautiful recipes? Subscribe to my newsletter, where you'll hear about new recipes FIRST and get tantalizing and exclusive perks!
Let's stay connected on social media and continue to cook together! Also, if you decide to make this recipe, please leave a star rating on the recipe card and leave a comment below! Tag @BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram and hashtag #britneybreaksbread so I can see your creations! I hope that you love this recipe as much as we do!
Espresso Martini
Equipment
- Espresso Machine
- Martini Glass
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 1 oz Espresso , freshly brewed
- 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
- 1.5 oz Vodka
- ½ oz Simple Syrup
- ½ oz Heavy Cream
Directions
- Brew a shot of espresso. Pour it into a bowl and allow it to cool. You don't want to use hot espresso as it'll melt the ice cubes and water down the drink.
- Add coffee liqueur, vodka, simple syrup, cold espresso, and cream to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice cubes to the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 20 seconds, until the shaker is cold. Strain martini glasses and garnish with 3 espresso beans. Best part - take a sip!
Notes
- For stronger coffee flavor, use espresso liqueur instead of kahlua. It has a stronger coffee flavor.
- Do not use hot espresso when making your martini. It'll melt the ice cubes and water down the drink. Cool off the coffee quickly by placing it in the freezer for 5 minutes for a quick chill.
- For that lovely foam on top, shake the cocktail shaker really hard! Pour into a glass quickly to get a frothy espresso martini.
- Using a coffee machine to brew fresh espresso also gives this drink its frothy top. If you don't have an espresso machine, you can add an egg white to the cocktail shaker along with all of the other ingredients. Shake really hard for a good 20 seconds and you'll get that beautiful foam on top.
Absolutely love this recipe!! Made this for my fiancé tonight and he said it’s better than a lot of espresso martinis he has had at different bars and restaurants. Definitely becoming a staple in our house!
I'm so happy to hear this, thank you!
one of the best espresso martinis I've had in a while!