This 3-ingredient Espresso Martini is a sophisticated cocktail that’s great for brunch, or make a decaf version in the evening!
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The best Espresso Martini (aka Espressotini) I’ve ever had was during a trip to Las Vegas for a bachelorette party. We went out to dinner at Rose.Rabbit.Lie. and the entire meal was amazing, but dessert was by far the showstopper. Our group ordered the Chocolate Terrarium. Please excuse the low picture quality from my phone circa 2015 in a dimly lit restaurant but hopefully you get the idea of what this Chocolate Terrarium looked like. And because it’s Vegas and we were celebrating, we all ordered Espresso Martinis to go along with dessert!
For awhile after that trip, I’d order an Espresso Martini from time to time hoping to find one comparable. Sadly, most of them usually included a creamy coffee liqueur that just ruined the whole thing. Occasionally, bartenders would have no idea what I was talking about when I asked for an Espresso Martini. Alas, I stopped asking about them and figured I’d just have to go back to Vegas if I ever wanted a good Espressotini again. *sigh*
Making an Espresso Martini
A couple years ago I got a Nespresso machine for Christmas and it occurred to me that I could attempt an Espresso Martini at home. After making a few adjustments, I settled on a recipe that makes the perfect Espresso Martini!
Here are a few important reminders/tips for making this cocktail at home:
- Espresso is a MUST. It’s in the name so maybe that’s evident but you can’t sub in coffee for this martini.
- Vanilla vodka is the way to go for this recipe. I usually don’t buy flavored vodkas but this one needs it!
- Coffee liqueur is an optional add-in but I’d suggest finding one that isn’t creamy.
Everything goes into a cocktail shaker before being poured into a martini glass. It’s pretty easy-peasy! If you don’t have an espresso machine, one of these reliable aluminum-style espresso makers work as well.
If you’re caffeine-sensitive (like me) or know that you won’t be staying up for the next 5-6 hours, you may want to switch to a decaf espresso to avoid staying up all night from caffeine. I’m all for enjoying this cocktail in the evening time, but I won’t let it interfere with my sleep!
Equipment you’ll need:
Ingredients
2 ounces espresso, freshly brewed*
1/2 teaspoon agave nectar or 1 teaspoon raw sugar
1 ounce chilled vanilla vodka
4 ice cubes
2 chilled martini glasses*
Notes
1. You can also use decaf espresso
2. Place martini glasses in the freezer about 30 minutes before making cocktail.
