The espresso martini is bold and cold, and has that beautiful frothy top. It’s just three ingredients and it comes together in about two minutes.
About this recipe
This is a classic espresso martini made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and freshly pulled espresso. It’s one of those cocktails that looks impressive but is genuinely easy to make at home once you know the technique.
The key is the espresso. You want it hot and fresh and use it straight away. It sounds weird to use a hot coffee in a cold cocktail but it’s the crema from a hot espresso shot that gives you that frothy top. The ice in the shaker chills everything down so it doesn’t stay hot for long. Shake hard for a full 20 to 30 seconds and strain quickly so the froth makes it into the glass.
The coffee liqueur does the sweetening here, so you don’t need to add anything else. If you want it a little sweeter, a small splash of simple syrup works well. You could also add a tiny amount of vanilla extract or a dash of cinnamon syrup for extra warmth.
This is also the base for a few of my other espresso martini variations – the eggnog espresso martini, the gingerbread espresso martini, and the amaretto espresso martini. And if you want an alcohol-free version, my espresso martini mocktail is really good. For more vodka cocktails, browse my vodka cocktail recipes.
Key ingredients and why
- Vodka: The base spirit. A mid-shelf vodka is all you need here, nothing too cheap, nothing too fancy.
- Coffee liqueur: Adds sweetness and deep coffee flavor. This is what balances the bitterness of the espresso.
- Freshly brewed espresso: The crema is what creates the frothy top. Cold brew and instant coffee won’t give you the same result. I mean it might taste enough like an espresso martini, but half the fun is the foam so it’s not going to be as good.
How to make
- Chill a coupe glass in the freezer while you make the drink.
- Pull a shot of espresso.
- Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso. Shake hard for 20 to 30 seconds until very cold and frothy.
- Strain quickly into the chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with three coffee beans. The three beans are said to represent health, wealth, and happiness.
Variations
- Eggnog Espresso Martini: Swap some of the vodka for eggnog for a creamy, festive version.
- Gingerbread Espresso Martini: Add a splash of gingerbread syrup for a holiday twist.
- Amaretto Espresso Martini: Swap the coffee liqueur for amaretto for a nutty, almond-flavored version.
- Alcohol-free: Try my espresso martini mocktail made with homemade non-alcoholic coffee liqueur.
Classic Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz freshly brewed espresso hot
- ice
- 3 coffee beans to garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass in the freezer.
- Pull a shot of espresso.
- Fill a cocktail shaker generously with ice.
- Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso.
- Shake hard for 20 to 30 seconds until very cold and frothy.
- Strain quickly into the chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with three coffee beans.
Hope you love this as much as I do! 😀