Coffee liqueur, fresh espresso and a good hard shake — the foam is the whole point.
beClink Editorial·March 7, 2026
Time
5 min
Serves
1
Base
Coffee liqueur
Glass
Coupe or martini glass
Garnish
Three coffee beans
An Espresso Martini is mostly technique. The ingredients are simple and the difference between a good one and a disappointing one is entirely in how hard you shake it. Ten seconds is not enough. Fifteen is the minimum, and your arms should know about it.
The version without alcohol is not a compromise here, because almost nothing in this drink was ever carried by the alcohol. Coffee, sugar and air are doing all of it — which is why a well-made one is indistinguishable across the room, and why the foam matters more than the bottle.
From your kitchen: fresh espresso, vanilla syrup, ice cubes.
In this glass
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Make it yours
Mocha
A bar spoon of chocolate syrup, or half the coffee liqueur swapped for a chocolate one. Dessert, and unashamed about it.
Less sweet
Halve the vanilla syrup and add a little more espresso. The coffee comes forward immediately.
Rounder
A bar spoon of simple syrup. A rum alternative carries sugar that a vodka does not, so if you have made this with rum before and it tastes leaner now, that is what is missing.
Salted
A pinch of flaky salt in the shaker. It sharpens the coffee remarkably.
Dairy-free and creamy
A tablespoon of oat milk in the shaker. It builds a denser head than the drink makes on its own, and it stays dairy-free.
Iced
Serve long over ice with soda. Same flavors, completely different drink.
Decaf
Decaf espresso, everything else unchanged. It foams identically, and it is the version that can be a nightcap.
With a rum alternative
Swap the vodka for 15 ml of non-alcoholic white rum. Sweeter and rounder, and it does the job of the syrup above on its own.
How to serve & pair
Serve it well chilled in a coupe, and drink it while the foam is still there — this is a drink with a shelf life measured in minutes.
It pairs with tiramisu, chocolate desserts, biscotti, espresso brownies, and cheese boards with dark chocolate. Made for after dinner, holiday gatherings, or an alcohol-free cocktail night.
Common questions
What can I use instead of coffee liqueur?
Double the espresso and add a little more vanilla syrup — you lose some body and the drink still works. A non-alcoholic coffee liqueur is closer to the original, and unlike traditional Kahlúa it is both alcohol-free and dairy-free, which the cream-based substitutes are not.
Can I make it without espresso?
Strong cold brew is the best substitute and it still builds a head. Instant coffee tastes acceptable but will not foam properly, and a moka pot works if you let it cool for a minute first. What you cannot use is weak coffee — there is nothing else in the glass to hide it.
Why won't mine foam?
Either you skipped the dry shake or the shake was too short. Fresh espresso straight from the machine foams best, because the crema is already there before you start. Fifteen seconds with ice, hard enough that your arms notice.
Is it vegan and dairy-free?
As written, yes — the foam comes from the coffee and the shake rather than from cream or egg white. That is worth knowing, because a traditional espresso martini often uses Kahlúa, which contains dairy, or a cream liqueur.
Does it have caffeine?
Yes, roughly one espresso's worth. Worth knowing if it is a nightcap — the decaf version below foams exactly the same way.
Do I need the vodka alternative?
Not strictly, but it adds body the coffee alone does not have. Without it the drink is thinner and a little sharper. An espresso martini was a vodka drink before it was anything else, so a non-alcoholic vodka is the closest to the original — and unlike a full-strength one it brings a little flavor of its own, which is no bad thing in a glass this dark.
Vodka
