If you’re ready to make this popular drink at home, here’s a basic recipe with a bunch of variations. Cheers!
A recent article in Forbes titled “The Rise, Fall and Resurgence of the Espresso Martini” attributed the trend to “the rise of specialty coffee and the growing demand for sophisticated yet approachable cocktails.”
That sounds right to us at Bullfrog Wine & Spirits. Interesting new ingredients like Mr. Black coffee liqueur revitalize this iconic cocktail with bold flavors any coffee drinker would love. So we thought we would share our recipe and some variations for those interested in mixing these up at home.
Let’s start with a basic recipe:
Basic Espresso Martini recipe
1 ½ ounces vodka
1 ounce coffee liqueur
1 ounce espresso or cold brew, chilled or room temp
½ ounce simple syrup
3 coffee beans, for garnish
Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso/cold brew and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake like crazy for about 15 seconds to get the best frothiness. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with the coffee beans.
Espresso Martini variations: Try different spirits
Use a different main spirit than vodka. Instead, try:
- Aged rum — Planteray 5, Pusser’s, Flor de Caña 7, El Dorado 5 or 8 or even Ron Zacapa 23 would be great options here.
- Bourbon — This will bring in the vanilla and caramel notes of bourbon, which fit well with coffee. And you don’t have to go premium here. Old Grand-Dad Bonded, Evan Williams Bonded, Four Roses or Buffalo Trace would all work just fine, or use any bourbon you have.
- Aged tequila – It’s a spirit that works well with coffee. (Don’t judge!) Try any reposado or añejo, such as El Tesoro, Don Julio, Maestro Dobel or Espolon.
- Scotch, Irish whisky, Canadian whisky, cognac, rye, mezcal … Let your imagination run wild. You could even split the spirits, because how could a rum/tequila Espresso Martini be anything but a win?
More Espresso Martini ideas: Try different coffee liqueurs
Kahlua is a standard in the classic Expresso Martini, but different coffee liqueurs bring their own flavors and nuances. Some options:
- Kahlua Salted Caramel — You could go this way with a bourbon Espresso Martini to double down on the caramel.
- Mr. Black — This Australian cold brew liqueur brings a rich, bittersweet coffee vibe that puts the espresso in all caps for your Espresso Martini. It’s less sweet than Kahlua, which you can compensate for with a splash of Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream liqueur to amp up the sweetness and creaminess.
- Meletti — The Meletti family has been making quality spirits in Europe for 150+ years, so when they produce a coffee liqueur, it deserves your notice. And this one delivers, with the chocolate-forward flavor profile adding hints of blueberry, vanilla, raisin and more, all with a creamy texture. No brainer for those wanting an elevated Espresso Martini.
- Faretti Espresso Liqueur — This one was created specifically for Espresso Martinis, with deep coffee flavor alongside floral and fruity notes.
- Spirit Hound Cafe Colorado — A local NoCo option made with hot and cold brewed coffees. Smooth and sweet with notes of vanilla and caramel.
Elevate your Espresso Martini with a flavored simple syrup
You can also use flavored simple syrups, which are easy to make at home. A lemon simple would mimic the twist of lemon that’s so perfect in a cup of espresso. Orange simple would pair well with any chocolate notes. Demerara simple would contribute toffee/molasses notes. Again, use your imagination on this.
Splash one of these into the mix to put your own twist on your Espresso Martini
The best Espresso Martini brings layers of complex flavors, and adding a quarter ounce of one or more of these liqueurs will definitely add some interesting notes to your liquid symphony.
- Any amaro would add a nice bitterness. One good option would be Averna, which would bring some sweet/bitter/toffee notes to the equation
- Cream liqueurs, such as Bailey’s, Buffalo Trace, Amarula, Di Saronno, Five Farms, to emphasize the creamy texture
- Fernet Branca, for a subtle hint of mint that is really nice
- Amaretto, to bring in an almond element
- 2 dashes Angostura or other bitters
The Espresso Martini is a terrific forum for you to try a little home mixology, because there are so many ways to mix and match the ingredients to make it perfect for YOU. Talk to the friendly staff at Bullfrog for help finding what you need.
Where to get Espresso Martini ingredients in Fort Collins
If you need a source for your Espresso Martini cocktails, look no further. Bullfrog Wine & Spirits is THE liquor store serving North Fort Collins and surrounding areas. Drop in and we’ll help you pick out the Espresso Martini elements you need to get started.