Espresso Martinis

E is for Espresso!

This year I'm participating in a bi-weekly challenge with some blogging friends to post recipes using all of the letters in the alphabet. It can feature a food that begins with the letter of the week or the recipe name can contain the week's letter.

There were so many great choices for the letter E but I kept going back and forth between these martinis and some espresso cookies. In the end obviously the martinis won out but I'll definitely be making the cookies soon as well.

I have been doing a pantry clean out and had some chocolate espresso sugar that I wanted to use up so I made a simple syrup and used it to rim my gorgeous martini glasses. I chilled them first, dipped them and then popped them back into the freezer.

I do not own an espresso machine so I chose to go instant. I'm sure that my Italian ancestors are probably rolling over, but it is what it is. If all you have is regular coffee, brew it extra strong and use that, but it won't be as foamy as espresso.

I made 4oz according to the package directions and then let it cool while I pulled out the rest of the ingredients.

You need coffee liqueur, and my preference is Kahlua. You also need vodka, and my husband's preference is Tito's so that what I used. If it's not already in the fridge be sure to pop them in there ahead of making the drinks.

Incredibly helpful for measuring small amounts if you don't have a jigger is this mini measuring cup. I bought it on a whim and I use it a ton.

The parts to my cocktail shaker have gone missing so I improvised and used a Ball jar with a lid. Fill it to the top with ice and then add in the Kahlua, vodka and espresso.

If you are normally a black coffee drinker this will be perfect. For those who prefer a sweeter coffee I would definitely add simple syrup to the espresso to taste. Likewise, if you can't drink coffee without cream, you can add it as well.

Put the lid on the jar and shake until it's very foamy. Strain into your chilled glasses and enjoy! If you didn't rim the glasses garnishing with a few chocolate covered espresso beans would be nice.

Thank you again to Wendy for hosting the 2025 Alphabet Challenge and to the other bloggers for sharing their recipes this year! Check them out using the links down below! You can see all of the recipes I've made for the challenge here- Alphabet Challenge 2025.

Espresso Martinis

Ingredients

For the rim:

Simple syrup or light corn syrup
Chocolate espresso sugar

For the cocktail:

2oz Kahlua
2oz Vodka
4oz espresso, cooled
Simple syrup, if desired, to taste

Instructions

Place glasses into freezer. Put simple syrup into bowl and chocolate espresso sugar into another. Dip rim of glass into the syrup and then into the sugar. Place glasses back into the freezer.
Fill a 16oz jar or cocktail shaker with ice. Add Kahlua, vodka, espresso and simple syrup if desired. Shake until foamy and condensation forms outside of the shaker. Strain into the chilled glasses.