Espresso Martini With Baileys
Enjoy a creamy espresso martini cocktail by using Baileys Irish Cream with the vodka and espresso. Replace the creme de cacao and coffee liqueur with 2 ounces of Baileys.
If you are looking to reduce the amount of alcohol in the martini, using Baileys will help. Decrease the amount of vodka and increase the amount of Baileys Irish Cream to taste.
How To Make An Espresso Martini At Home In 4 Easy Steps
How do you make an Espresso Martini? You make an Espresso Martini by combining Vodka, Kahlua, Sugar Syrup and a strong Espresso.
Wanna know how to make an Espresso Martini at home? Dont worry! Ive got ya covered!
A good Espresso Martini is fierce, delicious and a perfect pep on a night out drinking. Also, theyre classy AF.
In this article, Im going to show exactly how to to make an Espresso Martini at home and a whole lot more.
Im going to:
Frequently Asked Questions About Espresso Martinis
Are espresso martinis vegan?
Typically, no. The cocktail is most commonly prepared using Kahlua Coffee Liqueur which is not vegan friendly or Baileys Irish Cream, which is also not vegan friendly as it contains milk & milk products.
Can you make an espresso martini without Kahlua or Baileys?
Yes, and it will still be a delicious delight. Removing these liquors also rids the drink of processed sugars and other unknown additives, its a win-win.
Do you have to use espresso in an espresso martini?
No, cold brew or strongly brewed coffee can also be used. Limiting caffeine? Try a decaf option.
What makes an espresso martini frothy?
Shaking the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice creates a foamy top.
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Virgin Espresso Martini Ingredients
You already know that there is no vodka or rum in our espresso martini. So what exactly goes into the glass? Here is a quick look at the ingredients we use to make our perfect non alcoholic martini.
- Honey– Espresso is bitter and bold so a little sweetness is needed to balance out the flavor. We use honey to get a rich, complex taste.
- Vanilla Bean Paste– Vanilla bean paste is a thick syrupy type of vanilla. It is essentially vanilla extract with vanilla beans mixed in. Vanilla bean paste has a super strong vanilla flavor. A little bit goes a long way. We especially love the specks of vanilla beans that make the paste extra pretty.
- Espresso– Use your favorite brewed espresso. Instant espresso will work or store bottled espresso. However, if you are able to brew your own espresso fresh, this would be ideal! How much is a shot of espresso? About 1 ounce! So, you will need two shots of espresso for this recipe.
- Heavy Cream– A little cream helps sweeten and soften the martini. Cream makes the espresso a little less harsh and a little more drinkable. The thickness of the cream also makes the martini smooth and creamy.
- Sugar– A sugared rim is a gorgeous garnish to the tasty martini. It also gives you a sweet taste in every sip. Use raw sugar which has larger crystals than regular granulated sugar.
Our recipe also calls for ice to help chill the drink. Any kind of ice cubes will work but we like to use nugget ice which chills the virgin martini without watering it down too much.
How To Make Simple Syrup
Making Simple Syrup sounds challenging but in fact it is quite easy. We prefer to use equal parts brown sugar and water. Start with a 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of water, bring to slow boil. If you want a thicker syrup continue to cook down until the majority of the water has been boiled out.
Many classic cocktails use simple syrup so this is a good recipe to remember and practice making. Simple syrup can make any drink delicious.
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How Was The Espresso Martini Invented
WAKE ME UP AND F%CK ME UP
SAID THE SUPERMODEL TO THE BARTENDER
SO HE DID
The bartender happened to be all-time cocktail legend Dick Bradsell. The year was 1983, the bar in question Londons Soho Brasserie. And lucky for us, they had a coffee machine. So Dick went ahead and pulled a fresh espresso shot, shaking it up with coffee liqueur and vodka. The espresso martini was born.
How To Make An Espresso Martini Cocktail
This super simple and fun cocktail is super easy to make at home. Its a terrific afternoon pick me up or a happy hour cocktail as well as a perfect after dinner drink. The caffeine gives you a boost of energy and can aid in digestion. A double win in my book.
To make this delicious coffee cocktail you only need vodka, a coffee liqueur and espresso.
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How Do You Make A Frothy Cocktail
Adding an egg white to your citrus-filled drink is the most common method. The foam will foam when you shake it warm with an egg white because everything you need to stabilize it already exists in your mix. To chill, shake the container again with ice. The Whisky Sour is an example of how to use this method.
Is Baileys Irish Cream A Coffee Liqueur
The majority of coffee liqueurs are often quite sugary and syrupy. Kahlua and Tia Maria are the two most popular choices that are made in large quantities. Although other distilleries offer coffee-flavored variants of their flagship spirits , these two beverages are considered to be authentic coffee liqueurs.
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Buy The Essential Ingredients
There are a few must-haves when it comes to this recipe. You will definitely need:
- Vodka: This can be unflavoured, or a vanilla infused version. If youre going to throw an extra $20 into any ingredient, this should be it.
- Coffee liqueur: Kahlua is a great option if you like your drinks on the sweeter side.
- Ground coffee
- A stovetop Italian espresso maker: No espresso machine required! You can pick up a stovetop espresso pot for as little as $20, and they make fantastic, strong coffee for cocktails at a pinch of the price of a full-blown espresso machine. This Avanti model is a classic.
- Ice
- A cocktail shaker: You can pick one of these up for under $10 from many large bottle shops.
- Either coffee beans, or dark chocolate and a grater: These are for decorationif you dont have any other need for unground coffee beans, go for some dark chocolate and a microplane , so you can grate chocolate shavings over the top of each drink.
- All up, you can probably scrape together the basic ingredients for $110-$125, which should work out at around $7-8 a drink, depending on how generous you are with your pours! Plus youll have loads of coffee liqueur and all the hardware you need for next time.
How Do You Froth Espresso Martini
How to create a Martini with a Frothy Espresso Top
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Do You Need An Espresso Machine To Make This Martini
No, you dont. Thats the simple answer.
Not everyone has an espresso machine at home.
You could use a stovetop espresso pot or you could just use cold brew. The cold-brew concentrate can be bought in bottles or you could even make it yourself if you have a favorite recipe.
Weve used a stove-top espresso pot to make our espresso martini as we like a fresh espresso brew, theres nothing better than the smell of freshly brewed espresso coffee filling your home!
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What If I Don’t Like Espresso Flavored Cocktails
Well the first thing we’ll say is…maybe the espresso martini isn’t quite for you. Have you considered a Dirty Martini? The Dirty Martini is the more elegant and classic cocktail. However, in comparison to the dirty martini is much less sweet or more of an acquired taste.
If you’re looking for another after dinner cocktail, we recommend the Sazerac. The Sazerac is a classic American cocktail that blends Rye Whiskey with Peychaud’s Bitters and slice of lemon.
Ingredients For An Espresso Martini Without Kahlua Or Baileys
The classic espresso martini typically calls for a coffee liqueur, but this recipe replaces that with cold brew espresso and plant milk. Maple syrup and vanilla extract add a natural hint of sweetness and a sprinkle of cinnamon ties it all together. Set my playlist to shuffle, grab a cocktail shaker and the following ingredients
Plant Milk
Cold Brew Espresso : use your favorite coffee brewed at home or a store bought option
Vodka: use your favorite or omit for a non-alcoholic drink
Maple Syrup
Cinnamon: optional, but recommended for a hint of warmness
Vanilla Extract
For exact measurements and detailed step-by-step directions, scroll to the recipe card below.
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How Do You Make An Espresso Martini Without A Shaker
A spill-proof coffee cup designed for takeout can be used in place of a cocktail shaker for shaking drinks such as martinis, Manhattans, and other similar drinks. Simply insert all of your ingredients, including some ice, inside the cup, screw the top on as securely as possible, lay your finger over the opening of the sipper, and begin shaking.
How To Make Espresso Martini At Home
To make a proper martini at home youll need
- Firstly put the martini glasss in the fridge to chill.
- Next take your cocktail shaker and fill it with ice cubes, pour in the Black Fire coffee liqueur, vodka, cold espresso and sugar syrup. Screw the lid on tightly and shake the cocktail for a couple of minutes and until the outside of the cocktail shaker is icy cold to the touch.
- Remove your glass from the fridge and strain the cocktail into the chilled glass, and garnish with the coffee beans.
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Instructions
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Instructions
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What Can You Use Instead Of Kahlua In Espresso Martinis
While the Espresso Martini that most are familiar with use Kahlua, it is possible and we even recommend searching for other brands of Coffee Liqueur to use. We find Kahlua can be a bit sweet when mixing with a simple syrup. Kahlua does provide the best foam and head for the cocktail but there are other ways to achieve the same result. You could add a little cream to other Coffee Liqueurs.
We recommend Blue Mountain Caribbean Coffee. The flavor is bold yet not too overwhelming to cover the taste of other ingredients.
If you find yourself missing the Vanilla flavor from the Kahlua, then you can substitute Vanilla Extract in its place for a similar result.
What Is The Origin Of An Espresso Martini
When it comes to drink recipes, the Espresso Martini is still a newcomer to the scene, hitting the bar in the early 1980s by London bartender Dick Bradsell. According to Dick, a famous model came into his bar asking for a cocktail pick-me-up. Seeing a coffee machine nearby, Dick combined fresh espresso with vodka and poured it into a martini glass. It was originally called a vodka espresso and contained two different coffee liqueur, vodka, simple syrup, and espresso coffee.
The cocktail recipe stuck, and recently, became the hottest coffee cocktail, especially for the 20s and 30s crowd. Toted as the new “Red Bull and vodka” Jessica Sidman of the Washingtonianshares that the once after-dinner drink is getting added into the cocktail bar rotation, with bartenders and mixologists adding their own little twists to the espresso martini recipe. Nina May, a restaurant in New York City enhances the coffee lover cocktail with “Swing’s coffee, vodka, chocolate bitters, orange essence, and a chocolate crumble garnish” Caruso’s Grocery in Washington D.C. serves house-made espresso-rum liqueur, vanilla bean-infused vodka, and fresh espresso shaken in a cocktail shaker then served in a cocktail glass with a notable light brown froth.
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What Are The Ingredients In Kahlua
- First, you pour the water into a big saucepan, and then you spread the sugar out in an equal layer across the bottom of the pan.
- Put the heat on a setting between low and medium.
Can You Make An Espresso Martini With Cold Brew
Combine vodka, coffee liquor, and either espresso or cold brew concentrate in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Put in some ice, cover the container, and mix it up really well until its very cold. The ice water from the serving glass should be discarded, and then the drink should be strained into the glass. Garnish with coffee beans, if desired, and enjoy!
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Should You Use Hot Or Cold Espresso
Again, this is a topic with varied opinions, but based on my experience hot espresso or hot coffee produces the best espresso martini.
I think it has something to do with the oils that are in the coffee beans and the crema that you see in fresh espresso that helps create the creamy foam on top of the martini.
But if all you have is cold brew or room temperature coffee it will also work, you may just end up with less foam than if you were using hot espresso.
It is however important to add the hot espresso last if using it, so that it doesnt melt all the ice while you measure and pour the other ingredients.
Faqs About This Espresso Martini Recipe
What are espresso martinis made of?
Espresso martinis are made with vodka and coffee liquor as the alcohol components, espresso as the coffee component, and then either simple syrup or sugar for a bit of sweetness to balance out the natural bitter flavor.
What liquor is best for an espresso martini?
The best liquor for an espresso martini is definitely Kahlua for the coffee liquor and either Grey Goose or Ciroc for the vodka. These are the best options, but any liquors will work great to make a delicious vodka espresso drink.
Does an espresso martini have vodka?
Yes, an espresso martini has vodka.
Vodka is the best liquor to use since it has a more subtle taste that takes on the flavor of whatever it’s mixed with. But, if you don’t want to use vodka, you can actually use milk along with the coffee liquor for a less strong drink that’s still delicious.
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What Makes An Espresso Martini Frothy
The secret to a frothy espresso martini is to use machine brewed espresso. Youll notice that when using a coffee machine the coffee has foam on top , you wont get that by using a French press or instant coffee .
Alternative to a coffee machine If you dont have a coffee machine you can add one egg white to the cocktail shaker, it doesnt affect the taste of the cocktail but is used to give a beautiful foam on top.
Alternative to egg whites If the thought of raw egg whites put you off you can buy cocktail foam in small bottles online. You only add one or two drops to each cocktail and it creates a lovely foam on top of your cocktail after shaking.