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
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.
22 Comments
Alex P
January 31, 2023 at 7:55 pmWhat brand of beans do yo use in your espresso machine?
Alex
February 2, 2023 at 1:02 pmI like Maps Coffee– Clayton’s Uncle is a part of it in Kansas City 🙂
Heather
December 9, 2022 at 8:16 pmThese 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!
Alex
December 21, 2022 at 8:57 pmYou 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!
Maibritt
February 14, 2021 at 10:25 pmLoved it!! Perfect drink for a snow day in Texas.
Brittany
January 6, 2021 at 5:52 pmI 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!
Chelsea Sullivan
January 1, 2021 at 7:13 pmHow would you recommend getting/making espresso without an espresso machine?
Alex
January 1, 2021 at 10:17 pmInstant espresso powder would work fine for this. Just be sure to combine with hot water since the temperature helps create the foam.
Alicia
December 31, 2020 at 8:59 pmPerfect espresso martini
Breanna
December 31, 2020 at 2:15 amCan’t wait to try this! Question: where’d you get your coupe glass? Love it.
Breanna
December 31, 2020 at 2:17 amNever mind on the question…. I missed the Shop the Post section 🙂
Jacki
December 30, 2020 at 12:40 amAlex, what espresso machine do you use??
Alex
December 30, 2020 at 8:59 pmWe have a Miele Coffee System
Tiff
December 28, 2020 at 1:03 amIt’s so good!! I had many over the holidays. Thank you. The froth is what makes it
Cortney C Zieky
December 24, 2020 at 5:52 pmHave you tried this with cold brew?
Alex
December 24, 2020 at 6:42 pmI haven’t. I am sure it will be delicious; however, you may not get as much foam
Mary
December 24, 2020 at 4:12 amIs there a way of making this with gin … when I started drinking these, a real martini 🍸 was only made with gin! ☺️
Alex
December 24, 2020 at 6:44 pmyeah, 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.
Ann Marie Pichirallo
December 23, 2020 at 2:04 amWould you recommend adding any type of dairy free milk?
Alex
December 23, 2020 at 2:00 pmIf you want to add cream to yours you totally can!
Kristen Berry
December 17, 2020 at 4:59 pmI 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!
Alex
December 17, 2020 at 7:18 pmyummy!!!!