Want to make an incredible espresso martini at home? Make this recipe! I’ve fallen in love with espresso martinis lately and perfected my technique. Espresso martinis offer rich, bold coffee flavor with a balanced level of sweetness. They’re a lovely celebratory drink to clink after a long week or before a holiday gathering.

You can tailor your espresso martini to your preferences. You’ll find clues in how you order your morning coffee. Do you like it black or sweetened? Do you prefer espresso or cold brew? When it comes to cocktails, do you enjoy vodka, gin or tequila? My trick to making the best homemade espresso martini is using cold brew coffee! Read on to learn why.

An espresso martini offers a jolt of caffeine, so it’s the perfect cocktail to sip before a party. It also tastes rich and indulgent, making a lovely after-dinner drink instead of hot coffee. I generally can’t drink coffee past noon and still fall asleep at night, but I can manage one espresso martini—and gladly do.

Though the cocktail was invented in the 80s, I rarely received a request for one during my time as a bartender around 2010. The espresso martini is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, and you can count me as a fan. Let’s make one.

Espresso Martini Ingredients

Vodka

Vodka is standard in an espresso martini. It’s the spirit to choose if you want an espresso martini that tastes like the kind you order at restaurants. (If you’re interested in fun homemade variations, try the tequila or gin variations offered below.)

Any high quality vodka will do, such as Tito’s or Grey Goose. I’ve heard that Costco’s Kirkland Signature French Vodka is an excellent and budget-friendly option, but I haven’t tried it yet.

Cold brew concentrate or freshly brewed espresso

Fresh machine-brewed espresso is standard in espresso martinis and offers a beautifully foamy top that supports a garnish of whole coffee beans (three for good luck!). You could order espresso to-go from your favorite coffee shop, but by the time you get home and make martinis, its foaming capacity will be significantly reduced (I tried).

This may be controversial, but I recommend cold brew concentrate for homemade espresso martinis if you don’t have a fancy espresso machine at home. In fact, I prefer the flavor of cold brew in my espresso martinis. It’s smoother and nicer and doesn’t require as much sweetener for balance. Try it, and you’ll see.

The photos on this post depict the cold brew version. I wanted to offer a realistic depiction of this recipe, which, despite the lack of foam, is still beautiful with swirls on top. If you’re lucky enough to have an espresso machine at home, you’ll find guidance in the recipe below. I found the most balanced flavor by using less espresso than cold brew concentrate.

Buy cold brew concentrate at the store (I love Chameleon brand) or make your own cold brew concentrate with 12 to 18 hours of advance planning.

Coffee liqueur

I tried several coffee liqueurs in my quest to make the best homemade espresso martini. Classic Kahlúa came out on top! It offers rich coffee flavor with a reasonable level of sweetness. Use your extra Kahlúa to make White Russians.

For the record, I also tried Mr. Black, which would be my next-best recommendation. It’s cold-brewed and less sweet than Kahlúa, so I didn’t love my drink until I added ¼ to ½ teaspoon maple syrup. Despite the beautiful packaging, St. George NOLA Coffee Liqueur was my least favorite because it tasted like old coffee (maybe it was the chicory?). Negroni and Americano Cocktail lovers will enjoy J. Rieger Co.’s Caffé Amaro, which offers some bitter complexity.

Optional sweetener

I prefer lightly sweetened drinks, and my cocktail tastes nicely balanced with the amount of Kahlúa offered in the recipe below. Sweetness levels are highly personal, so you might like to add a touch of simple syrup or real maple syrup.

The recipe below provides guidance. Don’t hesitate to use maple syrup— its subtle flavor plays nicely with the coffee notes.

Watch How to Make Espresso Martinis

Espresso Martini Variations

Tequila

This is my favorite variation. If you are a tequila drinker, try making this recipe with silver (blanco) tequila. I tested this option with Casamigos and loved it. Garnish with a twist of orange peel for a drink that tastes better than a twenty-dollar cocktail from your favorite speakeasy. I’m obsessed!

Gin

My friends told me to try gin in an espresso martini, and they weren’t wrong. If you prefer a gin-based martini, this option is right up your alley. I used a locally produced, London-style dry gin made by J. Rieger Co. As expected, an espresso martini made with gin tastes more complex, with fragrant notes of juniper that are somewhat subdued by the coffee.

Affogato-Style

An affogato is a classic dessert featuring a shot of hot espresso poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a dessert cocktail, place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a sturdy cocktail glass and pour your drink on top.

More Cocktails to Make

Here are a few of my top classic cocktail recipes. Browse my cocktail archives for many more.

• Classic Martini
• Irish Coffee
• French 75
• Hot Toddy
• Manhattan Cocktail

Please let me know how your espresso martini turns out in the comments! I love hearing from you.

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