Picture this: You’re taking a sip of a Chocolate Espresso Martini and the moment it touches your lips, you’re greeted with flavors dancing on your tongue. The dark, rich coffee liquor delivers the deep, bittersweet notes of freshly brewed espresso, awakening your senses with robust flavor – savoring every drop of the cream chocolate liquor, it envelops your taste buds with an indulgent sweetness.
The vodka adds to a subtle kick, elevating the drink with its smooth and clean finish – a harmonious coffee, chocolate, and a hint of alcoholic warmth that lingers gently on your lips.
How to Mix Chocolate-Espresso Martini
Here’s what you need for this recipe:
- 1 oz (30 ml) vodka
- 1 oz (30 ml) coffee liqueur (e.g., Kahlúa)
- 1 oz (30 ml) chocolate liqueur (e.g., Godiva)
- 1 oz (30 ml) freshly brewed espresso, cooled
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Ice cubes
- Optional: Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder for garnish
- Optional: Espresso beans for garnish
Alternative Ingredients:
- Coffee Liqueur – Tia Maria, homemade coffee syrup (adjust sweetness)
- Liqueur – Dark creme de cacao, chocolate-flavored syrups
- Vodka – Vanilla vodka, whipped cream-flavored vodka
- Espresso – strong brewed coffee, instant coffee granules dissolved in hot water (cooled), cold brew
- Sweeteners – Agave nectar, maple syrup, honey
- Garnish – Crushed graham crackers (for rimming) or cinnamon
How to Mix This Martini
Step 1: Before you start mixing this drink, make sure you chill your martini glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes – this will keep your cocktail nice and frosty longer.
Step 2: Meanwhile, brew a shot of espresso and let it cool to room temperature.
Step 3: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add the vodka, coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur, cooled espresso, and simple syrup to the shaker.
Step 4: Shake the mixture vigorously for about 10-15 seconds, so everything will be mixed, chilled, and create a frothy top.
Step 5: Take one of the martini glasses from the freezer and strain the cocktail into it.
Step 6: If you want it extra fancy, garnish your Chocolate martini with dark chocolate shavings, cocoa powder dusting, or a few espresso beans.
Finally, enjoy it while it’s cold and frothy – it’s a perfect dessert cocktail!
Expert Tips
- You want all your ingredients and glass to be as chilled as possible as this will help maintain the temperature of the drink and simultaneously the experience of it.
- As with all cocktails, use fresh and high-quality ingredients, especially when it comes to coffee liqueur and chocolate liqueur – the better the quality, the more flavorful your martini will be.
- If you’re a fan of chocolate, use the chocolate bitter taste to balance the sweetness of the rest of the drink, alternatively, you can also adjust the amount of sweetener you add.
- Get creative with garnishes! A chocolate rim or one lined with graham crackers for a more s’mores-inspired twist can make a big difference.
- Remember that cocktail-making is an art, and personal preferences vary, so don’t be afraid to experiment and create your own variation of this easy cocktail.
What to Serve with This Drink
- Chocolate treats – chocolate truffles, chocolate-dipped strawberries, or chocolate mousse
- Cheese and charcuterie board – An assortment of cheeses, cured meats, crackers, and some fruits like figs or grapes.
- Mini desserts – tiramisu cups, cheesecake bites, or panna cotta
- Nuts and olives – bowl of mixed nuts or a plate of assorted olives.
- Canapés – Bruschetta with toppings like smoked salmon, goat cheese, or prosciutto
- Fresh berries – Raspberries or strawberries
What you pair with your cocktail will be depending on your personal preferences and the occasion – however, no matter whether you opt for sweet or savory, the key is to experiment with different flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Looking for some answers to your questions? We’ve got you!
How do you make a Chocolate Espresso Martini?
To make this easy cocktail, combine 1 oz coffee liqueur, 1 oz chocolate liqueur, 1 oz vodka, 1 oz freshly brewed espresso, and 1/2 oz simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice – shake well, strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish.
Can I make a non-alcoholic Chocolate Espresso Martini?
Absolutely! For this, just replace the alcohol with a non-alcoholic coffee liqueur, chocolate syrup, or chocolate sauce.
How do I rim a martini glass with crushed graham crackers for garnish?
When you’re just starting out, it can be a bit tricky. I find it easiest to moisten the glass rim with a lemon wedge or a sweetener (honey, agave, etc.) and then dip the moistened rim into a plate of crushed graham crackers a few times to evenly coat it.
Is it better to shake or stir a Chocolate Espresso Martini?
For this martini, you want to shake it rigorously for 10-15 seconds to create the froth on top, if you just stir, you will miss out on this!
Best Chocolate Espresso Martini Recipe | Coffee Lovers
Ingredients
Here’s what you need for this recipe:
- 1 oz 30 ml vodka
- 1 oz 30 ml coffee liqueur (e.g., Kahlúa)
- 1 oz 30 ml chocolate liqueur (e.g., Godiva)
- 1 oz 30 ml freshly brewed espresso, cooled
- 1/2 oz 15 ml simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Ice cubes
- Optional: Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder for garnish
- Optional: Espresso beans for garnish
Alternative Ingredients:
- Coffee Liqueur – Tia Maria homemade coffee syrup (adjust sweetness)
- Liqueur – Dark creme de cacao chocolate-flavored syrups
- Vodka - Vanilla vodka whipped cream-flavored vodka
- Espresso – strong brewed coffee instant coffee granules dissolved in hot water (cooled), cold brew
- Sweeteners – Agave nectar maple syrup, honey
- Garnish – Crushed graham crackers for rimming or cinnamon
Instructions
- Before you start mixing this drink, make sure you chill your martini glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes – this will keep your cocktail nice and frosty longer.
- Meanwhile, brew a shot of espresso and let it cool to room temperature.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add the vodka, coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur, cooled espresso, and simple syrup to the shaker.
- Shake the mixture vigorously for about 10-15 seconds, so everything will be mixed, chilled, and create a frothy top.
- Take one of the martini glasses from the freezer and strain the cocktail into it.
- If you want it extra fancy, garnish your Chocolate martini with dark chocolate shavings, cocoa powder dusting, or a few espresso beans.