Chic, delicious, caffeinated...all of the things you want in a drink! The Espresso Martini recipe is a classic and sophisticated one that is easy to do right at home.
Why Are People Obsessed with Espresso Martinis?
Well, it's easy for me to love this coffee forward drink because I love espresso! This smooth martini kind of gives a nod to iced coffee which I think we all have quite an obsession with.
Like the Almond Milk Shaken Espresso from Starbucks kind of has my heart!
But I think another reason is that millennial like myself want to head out to dinner with friends and have a good time, but sometimes a glass of wine would put you right to sleep.
Espresso martinis on the other hand...well it's the perfect kick off to any girls night out with a little caffeine.
What's In an Espresso Martini?
This coffee martini has tons of coffee flavor thanks to the coffee liqueur and the espresso. Shaken together with vodka, simple syrup, and ice and topped with those signature espresso beans .
And fun fact, this isn't *technically* a martini because it doesn't have gin or vermouth...however it holds the name martini anyways!
Vodka is typically used in this martini recipe but I've also used bourbon and wow, is it good! I bet it would even be delicious with my easy to make homemade bourbon cream.
Espresso Martini Ingredients
So while very simple, this recipe needs to be specific to get that signature flavor we are all looking for.
Vodka (however I've also heard people enjoy this with Tequila!)
Coffee Liqueur. You're probably familiar with Kahlua but why not try any of these great coffee liquor options!
Espresso. Obviously the most important part! I use my Breville Barista espresso machine for this and it's perfect every time.
Simple Syrup. This is to give it that slightly sweet edge to it and you can omit this if your liqueur has sweetness to it.
Espresso bean for garnish.
Substitutions
I said above I've seen people sub in tequila or bourbon for the vodka and I'm sure its totally delicious!
Try out different types of coffee liqueurs to find the perfect one for you! Bailey's Irish cream is another popular option for this.
If you need a dairy free option you could substitute in oat milk and some extra sweetener for the coffee liqueur.
You could also switch up the flavors with the season! Try out different flavored syrups for unique holiday twists. Like gingerbread for Christmas!
Making An Espresso Martini
Grab your shakers because it's time to make our delicious homemade espresso martinis.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, espresso, simple syrup, liqueur and shake for 30-60 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass and top with 3 espresso beans.
Enjoy your classy coffee martini and impress your guests with this easy to make drink.
More Chic and Delicious Cocktails
If you loved this Espresso Martini recipe, try out some of my other favorite cocktails for a classy sip right at home...
- Gingerbread Bourbon Hot Chocolate
- French Gimlet
- Pink Moscow Mule
- Fireball Hot Toddy
- Bubbly Pear Margarita
📖 Recipe
Delicious Smooth Espresso Martini Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 2 martini glasses
Ingredients
- 2 shots of espresso 2 oz
- 2 oz coffee liqueur I use Kahalua
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz simple syrup
- ½ cup ice
- espresso beans for topping
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker combine all ingredients except for espresso beans.
- Shake for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Strain into two martini glasses and top with espresso beans. Enjoy!
Byron says
The drink looks great but you did not leave a recipe on how to make it, i.e., the amount of each ingredient as it pertains to 1 Oz of what, or half ounce of the other!!! That would help when trying to make the drink
Sara Ayesh says
If you scroll to the bottom of the post, the recipe card is there with measurements and ingredients!