It’s hard to imagine making coffee more delicious than it is by itself. Still, we have been trying out different coffee cocktail recipes, and the coffee martini has quickly become one of our favorites! It combines the robust and delicious flavors of coffee, the smoothness of vodka, and the eloquence of drinking a perfectly concocted cocktail.
Below, we’re going to cover how to craft this delicious mixed drink, as well as a few tweaks you can make to customize to your taste. Let’s get started!
Why A Coffee Martini?
Seriously? A better question would be, why not! Coffee cocktails are tasty and full of flavor, and they offer a fancy and unique way to enjoy coffee after dinner or dessert.
Coffee and vodka also seem to blend perfectly. The delicate flavor of vodka does not overpower the coffee’s robust taste, but you’ll still get a boozy flavor that elevates the coffee to another level.
Not to mention, any guest you serve this to will likely be head over heels for it because it’s downright delicious!
How Do You Make a Coffee Martini?
We knew it wouldn’t take much convincing! Below are all of the ingredients and equipment you’ll need.
- 2 ounces of vodka — recommendations below
- 2 ounces of a coffee-flavored liqueur like Baileys or Kahlua
- 1½ ounces of espresso or brewed coffee
- ½ cup of ice
- Whipped cream (optional)
- Whole coffee beans for garnish (optional)
- Chocolate syrup for garnish (optional)
- Martini glass
- Cocktail shaker
1. Add ice to your shaker.
Begin by adding the ice to your cocktail shaker.
2. Pour coffee and alcohol into the shaker.
Add espresso or coffee, vodka, and coffee liqueur to the shaker.
3. Shake vigorously.
Cover the shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
4. Pour into a martini glass.
Pour the mixture into your martini glass, making sure to filter out any remaining ice cubes using the shaker screen. Serve cold or chilled.
5. Top with whipped cream & garnishes (optional).
Top with whipped cream, and garnish with a few coffee beans or chocolate syrup.
What Kind of Coffee Should I Use?
Because your coffee will be adding a ton of flavor to your cocktail, choosing the right kind to suit your or your guests’ taste is essential. We’ve experimented with light, medium, and dark roasts, and we’ve found that medium-dark or dark is best.
Dark roasts tend to have deeper and less fruity and acidic flavor profiles that suit the cocktail better. Coffee with chocolate, toffee, nutty, or caramel flavors will likely be best. Of course, you can experiment with different kinds!
Espresso works just as well as brewed coffee, but note that you’ll get more caffeine from a small amount of espresso. A shot of espresso late at night may keep you up, while brewed coffee is less likely to do so. Espresso does tend to have a bolder flavor profile, though, so if you’re looking for flavor and don’t mind the extra caffeine, we recommend giving espresso a shot — and yes, pun definitely intended.
Can I Use Gin Instead of Vodka?
While martinis can be made with either gin or vodka, the traditional martini is made with gin. We experimented with a few different kinds of gin, but the flavor wasn’t nearly as good as when we used vodka.
Gin has a piney and sometimes bitter taste, which we found doesn’t mesh well with the taste of coffee or coffee liqueur. We recommend using vodka instead of gin in your coffee martini, but of course, you’re free to try both.
What Kind of Vodka Should I Use?
The vodka you use is mostly up to personal preference, but we recommend choosing a high-end vodka. You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg getting a top-shelf bottle, but something mid-range as far as price goes will probably suit you best.
We found that both Belvedere and Grey Goose offer a nice complexity to the cocktail without detracting from smoothness or the coffee’s flavor, which you’ll want to be center stage.
Can I Make This Without a Coffee Liqueur?
If you’re looking to cut out the extra alcohol or the extra calories that a coffee liqueur adds, you can opt just to use coffee or espresso and vodka. The mouthfeel will be thinner and won’t be as satisfying, but this alternative still tastes delicious.
We’d recommend using espresso instead of brewed coffee if you go this route, as the boldness of espresso will help make up for the loss of flavor from the absence of the liqueur. You can also whip up a coffee liqueur at home — which allows you to control the ingredients!
Elegant Coffee Martini
Equipment
- Martini glass
- Cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces coffee-flavored liqueur like Baileys or Kahlua homemade, Baileys, or Kahlua
- 1½ ounces espresso or brewed coffee
- ½ cup ice
- Whipped cream optional
- Whole coffee beans or chocolate syrup for garnish optional
Instructions
- Begin by adding the ice to your cocktail shaker.
- Add espresso or coffee, vodka, and coffee liqueur to the shaker.
- Cover the shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
- Pour mixture into your martini glass, making sure to filter out any remaining ice cubes using the shaker screen. Serve cold or chilled.
- Optionally, you can top your coffee martini with whipped cream and garnish with a few coffee beans or chocolate syrup.
Nutrition
Homemade Coffee Martinis: Conclusion
Welcome to luxury! This coffee martini recipe is sure to wow you and your guests, and it’s a delicious way to elevate your party, gathering, or self-care night to a bold new level. We’re confident you’ll enjoy tinkering with the recipe as well and adding your own custom garnishes!
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Featured image credit: Goskova Tatiana, Shutterstock
