12.15.20

Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini

Cheers to the holidays with this delicious Espresso Martini!! Here is one of my favorite cocktails that is perfect for any time of the year, but I find myself sipping on them the most around the holiday season. 

This traditional recipe is a cold, coffee-infused cocktail made with vodka, hot espresso coffee, coffee liqueur, and sugar syrup (aka simple syrup) and served up in a martini glass or coupe (which is what I chose to serve mine in here). And I know it seems strange to shake hot espresso with the ice and other ingredients since this is a cold cocktail, but trust me here! The heat combining with the other ingredients helps to create the delicious foam we all love and since you will shake until you can’t hold the ice-cold shaker anymore, I promise your drink will still end up icy cold. And if you really want to ensure your drink is perfectly chilled, you can even fill your serving glass with ice and pop it in the fridge as you make your cocktail then empty the ice out once you’re ready to serve your cocktail.

No matter if it’s for the holidays or not, this is the perfect pick-me-up to either kick off the night OR to sip on post-dinner instead of (or with) your dessert. Enjoy!!

SHOP THE POST

 

Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini
Serves: 2 Drinks
Print
5 from 4 votes

Ingredients

  • 3 oz vodka (or 2 "big jiggers" full, I use Titos)
  • 1 oz kahlua (1 "small jigger" full)
  • 1 oz simple syrup (1 "small jigger" full)
  • 1.5 oz large hot espresso (or 1 "big jiggers" full, see note for why it needs to be hot!)

Instructions

  • Fill a cocktail shaker full of ice.  Add the vodka, kahlua, simple syrup and hot espresso. Close, seal and shake until very cold (at least 20 seconds).
  • Place the strainer on top of the shaker and pour the contents through a sieve (optional) and directly into the glass.

Notes

It may seem strange to pour hot espresso into a cold drink, but the heat combining with the other ingredients in the cold shaker help to create the foam! The strainer and the sieve additionally help to create a rich, smooth, froth without any pieces of ice.

22 Comments

  • Reply
    Alex P
    January 31, 2023 at 7:55 pm

    What brand of beans do yo use in your espresso machine?

    • Reply
      Alex
      February 2, 2023 at 1:02 pm

      I like Maps Coffee– Clayton’s Uncle is a part of it in Kansas City 🙂

  • Reply
    Heather
    December 9, 2022 at 8:16 pm

    5 stars
    These are fabulous and a true crowd pleaser… that being said, I find myself attached to the bar making them over and over 😂 any thoughts on how to batch them to have on hand for parties? So good!

    • Reply
      Alex
      December 21, 2022 at 8:57 pm

      You could make ahead– but the lovely foam just wont be there without the hot coffee!! You could combine all of the ingredients (minus the coffee) until it’s time to serve, then add the coffee and shake!

  • Reply
    Maibritt
    February 14, 2021 at 10:25 pm

    5 stars
    Loved it!! Perfect drink for a snow day in Texas.

  • Reply
    Brittany
    January 6, 2021 at 5:52 pm

    I made this recipe for Christmas Eve and my husband won’t stop asking me to make it again! Ha! We’ve probably had it five more times. Thanks for an amazing recipe and hope your dry January is going great!

  • Reply
    Chelsea Sullivan
    January 1, 2021 at 7:13 pm

    How would you recommend getting/making espresso without an espresso machine?

    • Reply
      Alex
      January 1, 2021 at 10:17 pm

      Instant espresso powder would work fine for this. Just be sure to combine with hot water since the temperature helps create the foam.

  • Reply
    Alicia
    December 31, 2020 at 8:59 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect espresso martini

  • Reply
    Breanna
    December 31, 2020 at 2:15 am

    Can’t wait to try this! Question: where’d you get your coupe glass? Love it.

    • Reply
      Breanna
      December 31, 2020 at 2:17 am

      Never mind on the question…. I missed the Shop the Post section 🙂

  • Reply
    Jacki
    December 30, 2020 at 12:40 am

    Alex, what espresso machine do you use??

    • Reply
      Alex
      December 30, 2020 at 8:59 pm

      We have a Miele Coffee System

  • Reply
    Tiff
    December 28, 2020 at 1:03 am

    5 stars
    It’s so good!! I had many over the holidays. Thank you. The froth is what makes it

  • Reply
    Cortney C Zieky
    December 24, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    Have you tried this with cold brew?

    • Reply
      Alex
      December 24, 2020 at 6:42 pm

      I haven’t. I am sure it will be delicious; however, you may not get as much foam

  • Reply
    Mary
    December 24, 2020 at 4:12 am

    Is there a way of making this with gin … when I started drinking these, a real martini 🍸 was only made with gin! ☺️

    • Reply
      Alex
      December 24, 2020 at 6:44 pm

      yeah, if we are getting technical this drink isn’t really a true “martini” since there is no vermouth or gin. But, it’s one of those cocktails that has taken on the name.

  • Reply
    Ann Marie Pichirallo
    December 23, 2020 at 2:04 am

    Would you recommend adding any type of dairy free milk?

    • Reply
      Alex
      December 23, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      If you want to add cream to yours you totally can!

  • Reply
    Kristen Berry
    December 17, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    I use chocolate or vanilla vodka and instead of simple syrup use Bailely’s, or a Godiva chocolate Liqueur, the total package! Delicious! We made these all autumn long out by our chiminea! Thank you!

    • Reply
      Alex
      December 17, 2020 at 7:18 pm

      yummy!!!!

    Leave a Reply & Rating

    Recipe Rating




    You Might Also Like

    SDC Instagram