What does an espresso martini taste like?
An espresso martini tastes like sweet, boozy iced coffee: fresh espresso and coffee liqueur shaken with vodka into a cold, silky drink with a creamy foam on top.
Espresso martini
cold coffee with a kick
An espresso martini is vodka, coffee liqueur and a fresh shot of espresso, shaken hard so the coffee whips into a tan foam. It tastes like the best part of an iced latte, minus the milk: roasty and a little bitter from the espresso, sweet and vanilla-ish from the liqueur, with the vodka mostly hiding in the background. A good one is silky and balanced. A bad one is either syrupy or tastes like day-old coffee. It's also caffeinated, so plan accordingly.
Where you’ll see it
On almost every bar and brunch menu, served up with three coffee beans on the foam. Riffs swap in tequila, add salted caramel or vanilla, or use cold brew instead of espresso.
Order it if you like coffee and want a sweet, after-dinner drink with a little pep.
Quick questions
- Does an espresso martini have caffeine?
- Yes. It's made with a real shot of espresso, so expect about as much caffeine as a small coffee.
- Is an espresso martini sweet?
- Usually a little. The coffee liqueur and any added syrup make it sweet, but the espresso keeps it from tasting like dessert.
- What's the difference between an espresso martini and a White Russian?
- A White Russian has cream and no espresso, so it is sweet, milky and mellow. An espresso martini has real espresso and no cream, so it is roastier and livelier.