The Best Smooth Espresso Martini Recipe

This Chilled Espresso Martini Recipe is made with espresso, coffee liquor, vodka and bailey’s irish cream for one smooth sip! It’s the perfect after-dinner drink for the coffee lover!

My Go-to Espresso Martini

Espresso Martinis are all the rage right now. If I’m being honest, the first time I heard about this tasty cocktail was while I was watching Summer House on Bravo TV. haha. I finally decided to give it a try this summer on vacation and now I’m hooked.

This easy 5 ingredient cocktail recipe has a strong coffee taste, slightly creamy with a hint of sweetness. I think it makes the perfect holiday cocktail and goes down like a dream. Like for real, it’s so smooth it’s dangerous! And because I love y’all I even gave you a few tips on how to change up the flavor to make it more festive for the holidays! Cheers friends!

What’s in an Espresso Martini?

Cocktails are probably one of my favorite and most frustrating recipes to make. I feel like there is a science to making the most epic cocktail. It has to have flavor, but not overpowering liquor taste… it needs to be smooth. Well, that’s exactly what this Espresso Martini is. Smooth. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Espresso – This is key to a flavorful espresso martini. Sure you can add coffee liquor, and we do, but true espresso makes all the difference! If you don’t have an espresso maker, I highly recommend using this Stovetop Espresso Maker – we have one of these as well and it’s perfection!
• Vodka – A good martini has good vodka. I use Grey Goose in this recipe, but I also like Franks Organic and Titos Vodka as well.
• Coffee Liquor – Try to find a liquor that doesn’t have a lot of sugar in it because you don’t want your cocktail too sweet. I like Mr. Black Coffee or Caffe del Fuego.
• Bailey’s Irish Cream – I used the original in this recipe, but you could also use their Almande (the dairy-free version).
• Simple Syrup – I made a quick simple syrup by adding 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil until all sugar is dissolved. Pour into a container and store in the refrigerator until cool.

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How to Make an Espresso Martini

You’ll need a cocktail shot measuring glass, cocktail shaker and strainer, here’s a link to a full bartender set with all of those items included. Once you have the simple syrup made (recipe above) this cocktail comes together fast. Here’s how to make it:

1. To a cocktail shaker add espresso, baileys, vodka, coffee liquor, simple syrup and ice cubes.
2. Cover securely and shake until the cocktail shaker is frosted.
3. Strain into a coupe cocktail glass.
4. Top with a few coffee beans.
5. Serve immediatey.

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Tips & Tricks

• Froth it Up: The key to a nice froth on top of your espresso martini is shaking it vigorously while in the cocktail shaker. Be sure to add the ice! The ice mixed with the liquids is what creates that fun froth on top.
• Chilled Glass: I love a good chilled cocktail. To take things up a notch, add ice cubes to your cocktail glass and let them sit to chill the glass. After you’re doing shaking your cocktail, empty the ice from your coupe glass. Now, add your espresso martini to your chilled glass for a ultimate sip.
• Pro Tip: Chill both your espresso and liquors in the refrigerator for a nice cool refreshing sip. Nobody likes a warm sip. Yuck!

Change Up the Flavor

Here’s the beauty of this recipe. You can change up the flavors as you like. No cream. More cream. Less Sweet. More Sweet. Choose your fancy. Here are a few change-ups:

• Sweeter: Add 1 teaspoon of simple syrup instead of 1/2 teaspoon.
• Less Sweet: Leave out the simple syrup completely. You’ll still get a little hint of sweet from the coffee liquor but this cocktail will be more coffee forward and slightly more bitter.
• Just the Coffee Please: Don’t want the cream? No problem. Remove it completely and change the recipe to have 1.5 oz. vodka and 1 oz. coffee liquor.
• Mocha Espresso Martini: Add .5 oz of chocolate syrup to the cocktail shaker along with other ingredients
• Peppermint Espresso Martini: Add in 1 drop of peppermint essential oil or peppermint extract to the cocktail shaker. If you can find Peppermint Bailey’s you could use that as well.

Other Cocktails You’ll Love

• White Christmas Margarita
• Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned
• Sparkling Pomegranate Mimosas
• Spiked Hot Apple Cider
• The Best Hugo Cocktail Recipe
• Cranberry Gin Moscow Mule
• Festive Cranberry Mimosa Recipe
• Ultimate Holiday Sangria

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