Espresso Martini

Indulge in a rich Espresso Martini that’s easy to make with only three ingredients, and enjoy a spirited coffee perfect for cocktail hour!

Cheers to Coffee!

A classic Espresso Martini is not as classic as some other popular drinks, but for those who love them (ME!), it’s the perfect before-dinner cocktail. There are a few ways to make this coffee-forward drink. For this espresso martini recipe, we kept it simple and delicious by relying on the sweetness and flavors of the ingredients, without adding any syrup or sugar. Shake a few espresso martinis for your next happy hour, and you’ll never be sorry that it’s only Tuesday ever again!

Irish Coffee is a wonderful drink to serve a crowd after a filling brunch, or head right to making Espresso Baileys Cocktails and sip the day away!

Other Recipes to Serve with an Espresso Martini

• Now that you’ve got the perfect drink for the dinner party, don’t forget an appetizer of Apricot, Goat Cheese, and Caramelized Onion Crostini to wow the crowd!
• Decadent Chocolate Kahlua Bundt Cake is a drool-worthy dessert just for grown-ups to devour!

Ingredients

Kahlua: To make this cocktail, you will need creamy Kahlua. If you prefer Bailey’s or have it on hand, you can use that as well.

Espresso: Brew a shot of espresso for this drink, then cool it before adding it to the shaker. Cold brew concentrate is also a fantastic choice as an espresso substitute.

Vodka: To bring a little more sweetness to the party, purchase vanilla vodka to make this cocktail. You can also use plain vodka if you already have it.

Garnish: Make each drink a little more opulent by adding a few espresso beans to float on the foam.

How to Make an Espresso Martini

STEP ONE: Add ice to a cocktail shaker and pour in the espresso, vodka, and Kahlua.

STEP TWO: Cover and shake well for 20-25 seconds until the cocktail is chilled.

STEP THREE: Strain the cocktail into a martini glass and garnish with espresso beans.

Tips for Success

• To get a gorgeous foamy top, be sure to shake the drink vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Check to see if the drink is foamy before straining it, and then when you pour it, go slow, allowing the foam to flow out last and sit on top.
• When you use cold brew in this recipe, you won’t get the great foamy top, as the foam only develops from freshly made espresso. No matter how much you shake cold brew, you won’t get the foam, so rest assured you made the drink correctly, and it will taste delicious!
• Espresso martinis are so wonderful to make with ingredients you have on hand or prefer! Taste-test a few versions to find out which ingredients you like most, and don’t be afraid to try other spirits like gin and tequila!

What’s the secret to a good espresso martini?

The secret to a good espresso martini is to use freshly brewed espresso. It may be tempting to make the espresso well ahead of time, since you need to let it cool before adding all the ingredients together, but it will lose its fresh flavor and foam if made too far in advance. Old tasting espresso can take your espresso martini from “wow” to “ok”. Cold brew coffee doesn’t have this same problem, so while the flavor will be a little different and you won’t get the gorgeous foam, using cold brew can be a great option when you don’t want to wait for an espresso to brew and cool.

Is Kahlua or Baileys better in an espresso martini?

The creamy coffee flavor of Kahlua is what makes it an excellent choice for this espresso martini. However, if you like drinks on the sweet side, Baileys could be a great choice! Sweet and chocolaty, Baileys adds delicious flavor while also tamping down the espresso notes. For coffee lovers, I would suggest using Kahlua, but for those who only love the taste of coffee, try Baileys.

More Amazing Martini’s to Shake or Stir Up!

• Bailey’s Flat White Martini
• Peppermint Bark Martini
• Andes Mint Martini
• Chocolate Covered Cherry Martini
• Eggnog Martini