Delicious & easy espresso martini recipe

Stuart Forster provides an easy espresso martini recipe and explains how to make the classic cocktail.

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It seems there’s been a recent upsurge in interest in making espresso martinis. I’ve seen numerous social media posts featuring the classic cocktail. That could, of course, be a reflection of the fact I’ve been spending more time at home than usual during the coronavirus lockdown.

Seeing images of the elegant-looking cocktails posted online was a factor in prompting me to try my hand at making an espresso martini. The clincher was spotting a set of martini glasses at my local supermarket. Why not? I thought. Buying a set also commits me to try my hand at making cosmopolitans in the not too distant future.

Equipment for making an espresso martini

You’ll need a cocktail shaker, a strainer, an espresso maker and suitable glasses.

Espresso martinis are delicious. They’d taste lovely even if they were served in a jam jar. Ultimately, though, pouring the cocktail into a long-stemmed, cone-shaped espresso glass looks that little bit more special. Garnishing the drink with three roasted coffee beans really sets it off aesthetically.

Sets of martini glasses are available via Amazon:

Dartington crystal martini glasses are also an option:

I used a classic hob top espresso maker to prepare the coffee that went into my espresso martinis:

After making two espresso martinis, I froze the coffee that was left into ice cubes. I used them the following day to make two cups of iced coffee. I poured a fresh batch of espresso over the frozen coffee, sweetened the mixture with a dash of simple syrup, and then added a couple of regular ice cubes.

Making a simple syrup

The day before I made my espresso martinis, I prepared a jar of simple syrup.

Making simple syrup is easy. Simply mix equal amounts of sugar and water together in a saucepan. Stir the mixture over a medium heat to dissolve the sugar. The liquid doesn’t need to boil.

Allow the syrup to cool then refrigerate it in a sealed container. It keeps for up to a month when refrigerated.

Espresso Martini recipe

To make an espresso martini, you’ll need the following ingredients (for one serving):

60ml / 2 fluid ounces vodka

30ml / 1 fluid ounce espresso

15ml / ½ fluid ounce coffee liqueur

15ml / ½ fluid ounce simple syrup

Ice cubes

Two or three roasted coffee beans for the garnish (optional).

You can, of course, order ingredients online. Vodka is the principal alcoholic ingredient:

Coffee liqueur, for example Kahlua, is the other alcoholic ingredient:

How to make an espresso martini

Mix together the vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur and simple syrup in a cocktail maker:

Add the ice cubes and shake the ingredients until the mixture is cool.

Pour the cocktail over a strainer into a martini glass. The espresso martini is not served with ice.

If you want, add two or three coffee beans to garnish the cocktail.

Hopefully, you enjoy following this espresso martini recipe at home. Feel free to let me know how you get on by posting a comment below.

Further information

Enjoy alcohol responsibly.

Stuart Forster, the author of this post, is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. As a freelance journalist, Stuart writes about drinks, drink culture and travel.

Photographs illustrating this blog post are by Why Eye Photography.

Enjoy this espresso martini recipe? Why not try my Alabama Slammer cocktail recipe.

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