Espresso Martini Recipe With A Bonus Variation (2024)

Here’s how to make a classic espresso martini recipe, plus a delicious variation for any Irish coffee lovers out there.

Photo: Aleksandra Peric (Recipe Maker)

Mixing coffee and booze makes a stiff drink that helps you wake up and wind down all at once. The espresso martini is one of my favorite coffee co*cktails, equal parts sleek sophistication and bold flavor.

JUMP TO RECIPE

How Do You Make An Espresso Martini?

First things first, let’s gather our ingredients. You don’t need anything expensive or unusual to make this coffee co*cktail, but as always, the better quality ingredients you use, the better your drink will taste.

Here are a few notes on choosing the best ingredients to create the perfect espresso martini.

• Espresso: You can use any variety of coffee you enjoy for the espresso shot. I prefer medium or dark roasts with bold chocolate and nutty flavor profiles. Our list of the best espresso beans has some great suggestions.

• Coffee Liqueur: The most popular coffee liqueur for an espresso martini is Kahlúa, which is affordable and widely available. But feel free to substitute your favorite, including Tia Maria or Mr. Black’s.
• Vodka: I recommend using a mid-level vodka for this recipe, something like Absolut Vodka. You don’t have to buy the most expensive brand but avoid the bargain-basem*nt stuff. It often has a harsh alcohol flavor that masks the coffee. I prefer unflavored vodka, but you can try an espresso-flavored vodka for a stronger coffee flavor.

More of a tequila fan? You might prefer this espresso margarita recipe.

• Ice: In this case, the ice is not an ingredient in the final drink, but adding it to the co*cktail shaker is crucial to both chill and froth the drink.

• co*cktail Shaker: A co*cktail shaker is by far the easiest way to mix this drink because its built-in strainer makes it easy to remove the ice. But if you don’t have one, a chilled mason jar is a fine alternative.

Can You Make This Recipe Without An Espresso Machine?

Fresh espresso will give your drink a richer body and more flavor than coffee, but you can make this espresso martini without an espresso machine. Simply replace the espresso with 1 ounce of strong coffee, which you can prepare with a French press, Moka pot, Nespresso pod coffee machine, or even using a good-quality brand of instant coffee or espresso powder.

Alternatively, you can use prepared cold brew coffee concentrate as in our cold brew martini recipe.

The Classic Espresso Martini co*cktail Recipe

Now that you have your ingredients in hand, let’s make a delicious co*cktail. This easy drink is ready in minutes following this step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Pull A Shot Of Espresso

Use an espresso machine to pull a single shot (1 ounce) of espresso, then add it to the co*cktail shaker. If your espresso machine has enough clearance, feel free to brew directly into the shaker.

If you don’t have an espresso machine, prepare a very strong coffee. Then add 1 ounce to your co*cktail shaker.

Step 2: Add Liquor

Add 2 ounces of vodka and ½ ounce of coffee liqueur to the brewed espresso or coffee in the shaker.

Step 3: Add Simple Syrup

Add ¼ ounce of simple syrup to the shaker. If you have a sweet tooth, consider upping it to a half ounce.

Step 4: Add Ice And Shake

Add a handful of ice cubes to the co*cktail shaker. At this point, your ounce of espresso will have cooled considerably, so it won’t melt the ice or dilute the drink.

Seal up the co*cktail shaker with ice, and vigorously shake it for at least 30 seconds. This ensures the ingredients are fully chilled and produces a frothy co*cktail.

Step 5: Serve And Garnish

Strain the drink into a martini glass, leaving the ice behind in the shaker. Wait a second to let the froth settle on the surface.

The traditional garnish is to float three coffee beans on top of the drink, but you are welcome to get creative with orange twists or chocolate shavings.

Is Kahlua or Baileys better for an espresso martini?

The traditional recipe calls for Kahlua (or another coffee liqueur) in an espresso martini. But if you want to use Baileys Irish Cream liqueur, you can make a super delicious variation.

For a Baileys espresso martini, combine 2 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of Bailey’s Original Irish Cream, and one shot of espresso. You can skip the simple syrup because Bailey’s is quite sweet. Shake the ingredients with ice following the same steps above.

This yields an extra creamy martini that makes a perfect after-dinner drink – rich, sweet, and soothing.

Final Thoughts

The espresso martini is the perfect brunch drink. Serving it to your guests immediately identifies you as a classy host with an eye for trends. With its lovely balance of sweet and bitter flavors, it’s a textbook example of a coffee drink that’s more than the sum of its parts.