This espresso martini recipe makes a delicious caffeinated cocktail that will wake you up! It’s a wonderful drink to celebrate New Year’s Eve!
I am a true espresso lover! It is how I start my day, every single day, and it brings me pure joy! So, an espresso martini is my perfect alcoholic beverage during the holiday season when I need to stay up late like Santa or for New Year’s Eve when I need to stay up all night and start a whole new year!
Original Espresso Martini
The original Espresso Martini recipe is made with vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur. It is a cold caffeinated alcoholic beverage, but not a true martini since it contains neither gin nor vermouth. It is said that it was invented in 1983 by bartender Dick Bradsell at a London club when a young well-known fashion model requested it. As the story goes, the model asked the bartender for a cocktail that could wake her up and inebriate her as well.
Dick Bradsell reportedly created the drink, originally called the “Espresso Vodka”, which included vodka, two types of coffee liqueur, and a concentrated short pull of espresso. That is why you will see in the recipe that I included an option to make the espresso martini with a combination of half Baileys and half Kahlua, which creates a nice flavor profile. However, you can make your martini with just one coffee liqueur using the brand of your choice and flavor preferences.
Espresso Martini with Three Coffee Beans
There are three coffee beans used as garnish on an espresso martini. Each coffee bean represents one of three blessings… health, wealth, and happiness. In Italian culture, the number three is often associated with balance and completeness. This is another reason the espresso martini cocktail is the perfect alcoholic beverage to celebrate the New Year!
If you need a non-alcoholic espresso beverage to start your day, try this Cinnamon Dolce Latte. Want a non-caffeinated alcoholic beverage? Try this Light Cosmopolitan or this Cranberry Mimosa aka Poinsettia that’s perfect for the holidays and New Year’s brunch! And finally, if you need a non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic “kiddie cocktail” for yourself or your kids, make a Shirley Temple Cocktail, it’s my daughter’s favorite!
I hope you enjoy the classic espresso martini and wish you health, wealth, and happiness!
Espresso Martini Recipe Ingredients
A traditional espresso martini has 3 ingredients, espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur. I make my espresso martini with Baileys delightfully light, to keep it lower in sugar and calories. You can also make an espresso martini with Kahlua or another coffee liqueur like Mr. Black.
- Espresso – freshly brewed espresso is best!
- Vodka – Vodka of choice.
- Coffee liqueur – Use the coffee liqueur of your choice. You can use one or a combination of 2 coffee liqueurs for more depth of flavor. So get creative and have fun!
Optional:
- 3 coffee or espresso beans as garnish.
- Drizzle of chocolate syrup in the glass for a Chocolate Espresso Martini. Yum!
- splash of simple syrup or sweetener of choice.
How to Make an Espresso Martini
To make an espresso martini, first, prepare your espresso then allow it to cool to room temperature, or put it in the refrigerator to cool it faster.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso. Shake well, then strain into a chilled martini glass.
Optional: For a sweeter martini, you can add a 1/2 ounce of simple syrup or you can sweeten it with sugar or a sweetener alternative like stevia.
Arrange 3 coffee beans on the top as garnish and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 1 ounce espresso (cooled. Freshly brewed is best.)
- 1½ ounces vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur (like Baileys or Kahlua, or a 1/2 shot of each).
Garnish
- 3 coffee beans
Instructions
- Prepare the espresso then allow it to cool to room temperature, or put it in the refrigerator to cool it faster.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso. Shake well, then strain into a martini glass.
- Arrange 3 coffee beans on the top as garnish and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- For a sweeter martini, you can add a 1/2 ounce of simple syrup or you can sweeten it with sugar or a sweetener alternative like stevia.
- Drizzle chocolate syrup in the glass before pouring the martini for Chocolate Espresso Martini.
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