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Vodka Espresso

Name: Vodka Espresso
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 50 ml Vodka; 45 ml Espresso coffee (hot); 20 ml Coffee liqueur; 5 ml Sugar syrup 'rich' (2:1)

Difford’s Guide

Discerning Drinkers (56)

Measurements in:

Serves:

Keep screen awake

Ingredients
1 ²⁄₃ fl oz	Ketel One Vodka
1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz	Exprè Caffè Italiano (or freshly made hot Espresso Coffee)
²⁄₃ fl oz	Galliano Espresso Coffee liqueur
¹⁄₆ fl oz	Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix

How to make

Glassware

Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Method

Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
Prepare garnish of float 3 coffee beans in the centre of the drink, arranged in a flower petal formation..
SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into ice-filled glass.

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Vodka Espresso contains 209 calories

Alcohol content:

1.5 standard drinks
15.93% alc./vol. (31.86° proof)
20.5 grams of pure alcohol

History

Created circa 1983 by Dick Bradsell while bartending at the Soho Brasserie on Old Compton Street, London who created his Vodka Espresso for a woman, said to be an "American model," who famously asked for "Something that's gonna wake me up, then fuck me up."

The Vodka Expresso
SHAKE
50mls good vodka
12.5mls Kahlua
1 dash of sugar
A shot of extra extra strong espresso coffee.
Shake on ice. Pour all over rocks in a small old fashioned glass.
Two sipper straws (optional).
Dick Bradsell, 2010s

Over a decade later, this cocktail was tweaked and served straight-up to become the much better-known Espresso Martini and you can read more about both cocktails on our Espresso Martini page.

More cocktails by Dick Bradsell

Review

Vodka and coffee combine in this tasty wake-up call.

Cocktail of the day:

1st March 2026 is International Barista Day

Variations/similar cocktails

Espresso Martini; Pharmaceutical Stimulant

Ketel One Vodka 750ml - makes 15 cocktails
$19.99 $1.33 per cocktail Ketel One Vodka image

Galliano Espresso 700ml - makes 34.5 cocktails
$17.99 $0.52 per cocktail Galliano Espresso image

Monin Pure Cane Syrup (US) 750ml - makes 150.5 cocktails
$14.99 $0.10 per cocktail Monin Pure Cane Syrup (US) image

$1.95 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 15 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.

Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

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* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Comments & Discussion

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Matt B 2y

I dont have an expresso machine to try this, but why would you use hot expresso when you're shaking this with ice? Wouldn't all the water from the melted ice just turn the expresso in to room temperature coffee?

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 2y

It is counterintuitive to use hot fresh espresso, but espresso that has been allowed to cool is more acidic and lacks the flavour of freshly made espresso. With good ice, over dilution is not an issue. However, if you don’t have an espresso machine, then there are some purpose-made coffee concentrates available, e.g. https://www.diffordsguide.com/beer-wine-spirits/6790/solo-coffee-cold-brew-concentrate

Adam M 5y

Optional addition of a pinch of salt when making espresso depending on taste, cancels out bitterness

View 2 comments and discussion