Espresso Martini Recipe: Vodka, Coffee & Liqueur
Make an Espresso Martini with vodka, coffee liqueur, sugar syrup and a strong espresso. A clear recipe with practical notes on sweetness and technique.
Make an Espresso Martini with vodka, coffee liqueur, sugar syrup and a strong espresso. A clear recipe with practical notes on sweetness and technique.
In this guide
Espresso Martini Recipe: Vodka, Coffee & Liqueur
Ingredients
- 50ml vodka
- 30ml Kahlúa coffee liqueur
- 10ml sugar syrup
- 1 strong espresso
- Ice
- 3 coffee beans, to garnish
Method
- Prepare the espresso and let excess heat dissipate briefly.
- Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, syrup and espresso to a shaker with ice.
- Shake thoroughly, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with three coffee beans.
Espresso, not “expresso”
Espresso is the name used for both the coffee and the cocktail. The drink is unrelated to a classic gin-and-vermouth Martini apart from its customary serving glass. It combines coffee bitterness with the sweetness of liqueur and syrup.
Keep the sweetness under control
Coffee liqueurs and syrup strengths vary. The published specification uses Kahlúa and a measured amount of sugar syrup. If using another liqueur, assess its sweetness before adding extra syrup; changing two ingredients at once makes comparisons less useful.
Why shake it?
Shaking combines the coffee with the other ingredients while chilling and diluting the mixture. Use a shaker with enough room for the ingredients and ice to move. A chilled glass helps preserve the serving temperature without adding ice to the finished drink.
Prepare to order
Freshly prepared coffee avoids turning the drink into a mixture of old coffee and melting ice. For service, organise the measured ingredients and glassware before brewing. The syrup guide explains how to specify the sweetener consistently.
Costing this drink for a menu
Add the cost of each measure, mixer and garnish, then allow for your actual wastage. The cocktail menu price calculator shows how those costs, a GP target and VAT combine. The example target is editable; choose one that fits your own venue.
Recipe reference
International Bartenders Association: Espresso Martini. The recipe above uses this published specification; the surrounding notes explain practical choices and variations.
