Alcohol-free espresso martini
Cold espresso, a little vanilla and a thick head of foam. Rich, dark and caffeinated.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Martini glass
- Strength
- Alcohol-free
How to make an alcohol-free espresso martini
- Chill the glass. Fill a martini glass with ice and water, or put it in the freezer.
- Make the coffee. Brew a strong espresso, or use cold brew. Leave it to cool for a few minutes: hot coffee melts the ice and flattens the foam.
- Shake. Put the espresso and vanilla syrup in a shaker with plenty of ice. Shake as hard as you can for 15 seconds.
- Strain. Tip the ice from the glass and double strain the drink in, so the foam is smooth and no ice shards get through.
- Garnish. Set three coffee beans on the foam.
- Glass
- Martini glassNo martini glass? A coupe.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Three coffee beans on the foamOr: A dusting of cocoa powder.
What you need to make an alcohol-free espresso martini
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Cocktail shakerA two-piece Boston tin is the easiest to use and clean.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Fine strainerA small tea strainer catches ice shards.
Bottles we'd use
- Alcohol-free coffee liqueurSwap 20 ml in for the vanilla syrup for a deeper, more liqueur-like flavour. Lyre's Coffee Originale is an example.Find it on Amazon
- Vanilla syrupMonin or Torani are easy to find.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The alcohol-free espresso martini story
The espresso martini is vodka, coffee liqueur and fresh espresso, shaken until it grows a pale foam. The coffee is the star, and it is also the easiest part to keep.
Make the espresso strong and let it cool before you shake, or it will melt the ice and water the drink down. Vanilla syrup adds the rounded sweetness that the coffee liqueur usually brings. It does contain caffeine, so it is best before the evening.
Alcohol-free espresso martini: your questions answered
What is in an alcohol-free espresso martini?
An alcohol-free espresso martini is made with 60 ml strong espresso and 20 ml vanilla syrup. Garnish: three coffee beans on the foam.
Is an alcohol-free espresso martini shaken or stirred?
An alcohol-free espresso martini is shaken, not stirred. Shaking hard with ice chills it quickly and helps build the creamy foam on top, which stirring cannot do. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.
Is this alcohol-free espresso martini alcohol-free?
Yes. This alcohol-free espresso martini is made without any alcoholic ingredients, so it suits drivers and anyone taking a night off.
What glass do you serve an alcohol-free espresso martini in?
Serve an alcohol-free espresso martini in a martini glass. No martini glass? A coupe.
