Espresso Martini (simple 3 equal parts recipe)

Difford’s Guide
Discerning drinkers (65 ratings)

Serve in a Martini glass

Ingredients:
1 oz Ketel One Vodka
1 oz Galliano Espresso
1 oz Espresso coffee (freshly brewed & hot)
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Martini glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of float 3 coffee beans on surface.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Strength & taste guide:

Gentle
Boozy
Sweet
Dry/sour

Review:

Balanced, tasty and enlivening, this cocktail is incredibly quick and easy to make using just three ingredients that should be every day essentials in every domestic kitchen.

View readers' comments

History:

This simplified version of Dick Bradsell's Espresso Martini (or Vodka Espresso) is preferred to the original recipe by some due to its simple equal parts formula and omission of sugar syrup. (If using a dry coffee liqueur, you'll need to add 5ml to 7.5ml sugar syrup, preferably demerara syrup.)

Nutrition:

One serving of Espresso Martini (simple 3 equal parts recipe) contains 166 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.1 standard drinks
  • 17.16% alc./vol. (17.16° proof)
  • 15.4 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Angela Knox’s Avatar Angela Knox
14th March 2024 at 00:36
Too strong on the coffee for me; great for those who want a coffee forward taste over the alcohol
23rd July 2023 at 15:04
Tried with Cut Smoked Rum in place of vodka and it was great. Well worth a try. Prefer with Tia Maria over Mr Black, but both good options.
Laurent Van muysewinkel’s Avatar Laurent Van muysewinkel
9th July 2023 at 11:12
Simple et efficace pour les amateurs de cocktails & de café !
Myxo Gastrid’s Avatar Myxo Gastrid
23rd December 2022 at 18:30
Thought I should try this before the Difford's recipe for comparison purposes. No Mr. Black or NOLA at my local LCBO, so I opted for Tia Maria, having never had it before. Glad I didn't use Kahlua, because this still came out pretty sweet and vanilla-tasting. Was surprised by how well everything came together though, and the espresso still really shined, despite the drink being overall slightly too sweet. I can see why Difford adjusted the recipe.
Jason Dworkin’s Avatar Jason Dworkin
4th December 2021 at 19:11
Really nice with cognac instead of vodka and 1/4 oz rich Demerara syrup. The toffee notes come out nicely. Thanks to Anders Erickson YouTube for the idea.
Holly Brine’s Avatar Holly Brine
1st October 2021 at 09:12
Using Mr Black it needed a little more sweetness for me; added 10-15ml of spiced sugar syrup and its perfect!
Richard Elgar’s Avatar Richard Elgar
2nd October 2020 at 02:07
I did this because otherwise I was worried that it would be too bitter. Delish - and quite nice if you use chocolate covered coffee beans rather than just regular ones!
3rd July 2020 at 18:59
Awesome if you use Vanilla infused Vodka.
Since my Martini glasses seem to be quite big, instead of 1 shot I use 1.5