Give the best espresso martini a try with this easy cocktail recipe. It’s the perfect balance of flavors, not too sweet, nice pure coffee flavor, without any bitterness. Learn how to make a real espresso martini anyway you like it – chocolate, creamy with Baileys, or even without an espresso maker!
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Best Espresso Martini Made With Real Espresso!
During college I spent my summers waiting tables on Nantucket Island. The goal was to maximize my summer earning potential in a fabulous location.
I definitely nailed the beautiful location, but my tip money quickly vanished into the island’s many pricey bars and restaurants. My willpower didn’t stand a chance around all that good food and drinks.
One restaurant particularly sucked me in with their legendary espresso martini recipe. Since Nantucket doesn’t cater to poor college students, expensive martinis did some damage quickly.
It took some time, but twenty years later we made an exact replica of our favorite coffee cocktail and became one of our favorites in our craft cocktail recipe collection. It still remains as my all time favorite coffee vodka drink because it uses real brewed espresso with slight enhancements of flavor from Kahula and creme de cacao.
However, with four kids now, the rate of consumption has definitely changed. My husband and I now consume them frugally at home because fancy restaurants don’t seem to cater to tired, broke parents either.
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Ingredients Needed
Here is what you will need to make the purists version of the martini (brewed espresso!), but in the recipe card you will find other versions, such as espresso martinis made with chocolate, vanilla, Bailey’s Irish Cream and Horchata.
- Vodka – Choose your favorite brand vodka. Make sure it’s something you enjoy the taste of because the vodka isn’t diluted with ice and mixers. For best results choose a higher grade vodka, such as Grey Goose and save the midrange stuff for more mixer-forward drinks, like this fun spin on a Moscow Mule.
- Espresso – Freshly brewed espresso tastes best. Scroll down to learn how to make espresso easily and cheaply at home without an espresso machine.
- Kahlua – A coffee flavored liqueur from Mexico. If you are a big fan of Kahula drinks, please, please give this Colorado Bulldog cocktail a try (next-level stuff!)
- Creme de Cacao – A clear chocolate flavored liqueur
No Espresso Machine? No Problem!
Perhaps you don’t own an espresso maker? Learn how to make an espresso martini without an espresso coffee machine! Here’s some easy options.
- Buy a few shots of espresso from your local coffee shop. Refrigerate up to two days in a lidded glass jar.
- There are several options of making “shortcut” espresso using instant espresso powder, espresso Keurig pods or using a Nespresso machine.
- Brew very strong coffee, preferably using dark roast or espresso coffee beans. If using a Keurig, reduce the ounce output to 4-6 ounces.
- Buy an inexpensive stove top espresso maker. You can find them on amazon or I often see them at Marshalls. I used this method for years before purchasing an automatic espresso machine and it works very well!
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Truly PERFECT Espresso Martini (Best Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (1 oz.) brewed espresso, slightly cooled
- 3 ounces (1.5 oz.) vodka
- 1 ½ ounces (1.5 oz.) Kahlua coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce (1 oz.) creme de cocoa
Instructions
- Fill a martini shaker with ice. Pour in espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, and creme de cocoa.2 ounces brewed espresso, 3 ounces vodka, 1 ½ ounces Kahlua coffee liqueur , 1 ounce creme de cocoa
- Shake vigorously to get a nice frothy top. Strain and pour. Garnish with 3 fresh coffee beans, if desired.
Notes
Other Versions
- Chocolate – substitute Godiva Chocolate Liqueur for creme de cacao, serve in chocolate drizzled glass
- Vanilla – use vanilla vodka
- Baileys – replace the creme de cacao and coffee liqueur with 2 ounces of Baileys Irish Cream
- Horchata – replace the creme de cacao with 1 ounce Horchata liqueur.
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Delicious perfectly balanced martini. Love to start the night with one of these
Thanks Lauren! So glad you enjoyed it. You’re right, it is the perfect way to start the night.
Best,
Melissa