Creamy · Nightcap · Winter

Espresso Martini

A fresh shot of espresso shaken with vodka, coffee liqueur and sugar. Comes out with a thick foam and three beans on top.

Base: Vodka
Glass: Coupe glass
Method: Shake
Strength: 18.57% ABV

Ingredients

50 mlVodka1 swap
Any neutral vodkahigh
Little change
30 mlKahlúa
10 mlSugar Syrup
30 mlstrong Espresso

How to make

Technique

Shake · 10–15s

Shaking chills the drink fast while adding dilution and a light texture.

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker, shake well with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Serve

Glass

Coupe glassAlso fine: Martini glass, Nick & Nora glass

Garnish

3 coffee beansThree beans, floated while the crema is still firm enough to hold them.

Taste & nutrition

18.57%ABV

175kcal

1.64Drinks

StrengthMedium

Sweet to dryOff-dry

Estimated from ingredient amounts and assumed ABVs — not a lab measurement.

Good to know

Chill your glass first for a colder, better-tasting drink.

History

Year1983

PlaceLondon, England

Created byDick Bradsell

Dick Bradsell invented this in 1983 in London, reportedly after a customer asked for something to wake her up and then knock her out. Vodka, coffee liqueur and a fresh shot of espresso give it a caffeine kick under a frothy crema. Originally called the Vodka Espresso, it was later dressed up in a Martini glass. It has become one of the defining cocktails of recent decades.

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