Espresso Martini
This creamy espresso martini is the perfect cocktail for a romantic date night or to unwind at the end of the day. It’s rich, sweet, creamy, has just the right amount of coffee flavor, and can be whipped up in under 5 minutes!
Easy and Delicious Espresso Martini Recipe
This espresso martini is the best nightcap and dessert all in one!
It comes together in just a few minutes, is made with the sweetest ingredients, and is the perfect balance of creamy, rich, sweet, espresso-y deliciousness.
It’s perfect on its own or paired with chocolate cake, chocolate mint cookies, English toffee, or your favorite sweet treat.
Tips for Success
- Shake it well! I recommend giving the ingredients a good shake for 20 to 30 seconds so it can get nice and foamy. That foam is part of what makes it so creamy.
- Don’t forget to strain out the ice. You shake the cocktail with ice to chill it, but leaving the ice in there will water it down and dilute the delicious flavor.
- To keep your martini colder longer, place your serving glasses in the freezer to chill before mixing up your drink.
Variations
- Make it extra creamy. Try adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the shaker with the other ingredients. If you do this, you can leave out the ice. It will get plenty cold!
- Add whip. Top it off with a dollop of whipped cream for a sweet, creamy finish.
- Make it festive. Add a splash of peppermint schnapps for the perfect Christmas cocktail.
- Want the coffee flavor without the buzz? Swap the espresso or coffee out for your favorite decaf variety.
- No coffee liqueur? Sub it out for an additional espresso shot. It will be less alcoholic, but more caffeinated!
- No Irish cream? Make our Homemade Bailey’s recipe with just 6 simple ingredients!
- Make it a margarita! Instead of an espresso martini, try our espresso margarita.
Storage
Refrigerator: A single martini is best served right away, but if you are making a large batch, store it in an airtight jar or pitcher in the fridge for up to 1 to 2 days. Just give it a good mix before serving!
Freezer: To freeze your espresso martini, you can just pour it into an ice cube tray and store it in the freezer. To use them, either add them to fresh martinis to keep them cool or blend them up with milk to make a frozen espresso martini.
What Liquor is Best for an Espresso Martini?
An espresso martini uses a combination of Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur and a coffee liqueur such as Kahlua.
Bailey’s Irish cream adds a rich creaminess with both chocolate and vanilla flavors while Kahlua adds to the coffee flavor.
Can You Pre-Batch an Espresso Martini?
Yes! You can totally make this into a large batch espresso martini recipe by simply doubling or tripling the ingredients, mixing them up in a pitcher without ice, and storing that in the fridge.
When you’re ready to serve, just pour into your serving glasses and enjoy!
Ingredients
- ½ cup ice cubes
- 6 ounces freshly brewed espresso, or strong coffee (chilled)
- 2 ounces Bailey's Irish cream liqueur
- 1 ounce Kahlua, similar to Kahlua
- 1 ounce simple syrup, or to taste
Instructions
- Add the ice to a cocktail shaker then add the espresso, Bailey's Irish cream liqueur, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup.½ cup ice cubes6 ounces freshly brewed espresso2 ounces Bailey's Irish cream liqueur1 ounce Kahlua1 ounce simple syrup
- Shake for 20 to 30 seconds or until it starts to foam up.
- Strain into a martini glass. Then, scoop out some of the foam, and float it on top of the martini. Garnish with coffee beans if desired and serve chilled.
- See post for storage options.