Invented by British bartender Dick Bradsell in the 1980's, a classic espresso martini recipe made with coffee liqueur and vodka. Traditionally, an espresso martini is served chilled without ice in a martini glass. The result is the perfect blend of subtle sweetness, coffee flavor, and caffeine. Our Test Kitchen recommends using chilled espresso or cold brew coffee concentrate. Using cold coffee or cold brew to start will help prevent too much ice from melting and diluting the drink during shaking.
Look for coffee liqueur, like Kahlua, in the spirit aisle of your local grocery store. In a pinch, you can leave this out but your espresso martini won't have the same depth of flavor. Rather than adding granulated or brown sugar to the shaker, you'll want to use a simple syrup. This ensures the sugar is evenly distributed throughout the cocktail and you're not left with sugar granules in the bottom of your glass. You can buy premade simple syrup or make your own using our recipe below.
Garnish the finished espresso martini with whole coffee beans or for a little richness, try using chocolate-covered coffee beans. You can also add a drizzle of chocolate sauce, caramel, or cream. Try adding a fun garnish like whipped cream, chocolate shavings, cinnamon, or a sugared rim.
Once you've mastered the espresso martini recipe, try making another classic cocktail. If you like coffee flavor, try this Mexican coffee cocktail. If you like martinis, try making a batch of Gibsons, made with vermouth and gin. Or opt for a smooth vodka martini.
Ingredients
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1 oz ice
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1 1/2 fluid ounces vodka
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1 fluid ounce espresso or cold brew concentrate
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1/2 fluid ounce coffee liqueur
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1/2 fluid ounce simple syrup
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3 coffee beans, optional for garnish
Directions
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In a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice, combine the vodka, espresso or cold brew coffee, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup; cover and shake until very cold.
Test Kitchen Tip: Here's how you know if you've shaken your espresso martini long enough. Generally, the rule of thumb is to shake the cocktail for at least 10 seconds. The outside of the shaker should be frosty and cold.
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Strain the espresso martini mixture into a martini glass. Garnish the drink with coffee beans, if desired.
Test Kitchen Tip: You can make homemade simple syrup for this espresso martini recipe. In a screw-top jar, combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water. Screw on lid and shake until the sugar dissolves. Store the finished simple syrup for up to one month in the fridge.
