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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. 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. It remains one of my favorite cocktails!
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 combined 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.
Espresso Martini Ingredients:
- Vodka
- Kahlua
- Simple Syrup
- Hot Espresso
Espresso Martini Step-by-Step:
Step One: Combine Ingredients in Shaker
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).
Step Two: Strain and Serve
Place the strainer on top of the shaker and pour the contents through a sieve (optional) and directly into the glass.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes! I promise this helps create the foam while still leaving you with a chilled cocktail.
If you want to be a little extra with your martini-making, you can place your martini glasses in the freezer for a bit or you can even fill your glasses 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.
These are best shaken two at a time to ensure they are nice and foamy!
I hope you and your loved ones enjoy this Espresso Martini!
More Holiday Cocktail Ideas:
Tequila Espresso-Orange Martini
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.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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!
How would you recommend getting/making espresso without an espresso machine?
Instant espresso powder would work fine for this. Just be sure to combine with hot water since the temperature helps create the foam.
Perfect espresso martini
Can’t wait to try this! Question: where’d you get your coupe glass? Love it.
Never mind on the question…. I missed the Shop the Post section 🙂
Alex, what espresso machine do you use??
We have a Miele Coffee System
It’s so good!! I had many over the holidays. Thank you. The froth is what makes it
Have you tried this with cold brew?
I haven’t. I am sure it will be delicious; however, you may not get as much foam
Is there a way of making this with gin … when I started drinking these, a real martini 🍸 was only made with gin! ☺️
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.
Would you recommend adding any type of dairy free milk?
If you want to add cream to yours you totally can!
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!
yummy!!!!