Espresso Martini Recipe

Chill glass

Place a martini or coupe glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail (about 5 minutes).

Brew espresso

Brew a fresh double shot (about 2 oz) of espresso. Let it rest 30–60 seconds so it's very hot but not steaming — this helps create a good crema when shaken.

Combine ingredients

Add 2 oz freshly brewed espresso, 1.5 oz vodka, 1 oz coffee liqueur, and 0.5 oz simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.

Add ice

Fill the shaker roughly two-thirds full with ice (about 1 cup).

Dry shake (optional for foam)

For a richer, creamier foam, first shake the ingredients vigorously without ice for 10–15 seconds (dry shake).

Wet shake

Add ice (if you performed a dry shake, now add ice) and shake very hard for 15–20 seconds until the outside of the shaker is cold and you see a good froth forming. Vigorous shaking agitates the espresso and creates a thick crema.

Double strain

Remove the chilled glass from the freezer or discard the ice water. Use a cocktail strainer and, if available, a fine (mesh) strainer to pour the cocktail into the chilled glass to remove ice shards and achieve a smooth surface.

Garnish the foam with three whole coffee beans placed in the center. Serve immediately.