How To Make A Frangelico Espresso Martini Cocktail

Impress your friends with this delicious Frangelico espresso martini cocktail recipe.

A modern take on a classic espresso martini recipe, it is a luxurious coffee cocktail you can easily make at home.

Equipment Needed For Our Frangelico Espresso Martini Cocktail Recipe

To make your homemade espresso martini recipe you will need the following items.

Don’t worry if you haven’t made cocktails at home before – I have listed an alternative common item for each piece of cocktail equipment too:

• Espresso machine (or coffee maker)
• Cocktail shaker (or glass jar with lid)
• Jigger (or measuring cup)
• Hawthorne strainer (or regular small strainer)
• Cocktail martini glasses (or regular glasses)

Read more: Best espresso machines under 500

As you can see, making an espresso martini at home is pretty simple in terms of equipment.

But if you want to make coffee cocktails at home more often, below I have listed our top suggestions for cocktail making gear.

How to make espresso martini without espresso machine

If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can still make a great espresso martini with a coffee maker, stovetop coffee maker or a French press coffee maker.

If you are using brewed coffee, make it much stronger than you would to drink as regular coffee.

Note you won’t naturally achieve the crema on top of the cocktail if you don’t use espresso but see my note regarding egg white in the ingredients below as an alternative.

Try this: Christmas eggnog coffee

Hazelnut Espresso Martini Ingredients

So what’s in an espresso martini? The classic ingredients are coffee liqueur, vodka and espresso.

For our coffee martini recipe we have added a few extra ingredients to give this classic espresso martini recipe a modern twist.

• Hazelnut liqueur
• Godiva chocolate liqueur (optional)
• Egg white

Espresso

Espresso coffee is an essential ingredient for your Frangelico martini.

The reason espresso is preferred over brewed coffee is that the espresso crema is what produces the foamy white top on this martini espresso cocktail.

Listed below are two of our top recommendations for espresso coffee beans for you to try.

However, if you don’t have an espresso machine don’t worry – we have a great cheats option for you below to achieve the same result.

Frangelico

The essential ingredient for our simple espresso martini recipe is hazelnut liqueur.

We have used Frangelico as it is one of the most common brands, but any other brand will work just as well.

Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

If you love sweet cocktail drinks, you can add some Godiva chocolate liqueur to your espresso hazelnut martini recipe.

I have listed the chocolate liqueur as an optional ingredient. The recipe still tastes great without it, but if you enjoy chocolate liqueur then an espresso chocolate martini with Frangelico is pretty delicious.

And if you are looking for easy dessert cocktails as an alternative to a coffee dessert, an espresso chocolate hazelnut martini is sure to impress your friends!

Egg White – How to make espresso martini frothy

The secret to the gorgeous layer of froth on top of a classic espresso martini is using warm espresso (with a layer of crema) and straining the mix into your cup once shaken to aerate the mix as you pour.

If you use a French press or brewed coffee, you won’t be able to produce this creamy layer as the coffee is not produced under pressure and does not create a crema layer.

You may be able to achieve it using stove top coffee, as it uses pressure to extract the coffee and often has a small layer of crema, but I haven’t tested it to be sure.

So to solve this problem, pasteurized egg white is an optional ingredient for your hazelnut coffee martini recipe to achieve the foamy white top on your coffee martini if you don’t have an espresso machine.

The egg white produces a similar result but note you should only use pasteurized egg white as a standard egg may contain bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. And no one wants that.

If you don’t have egg white or espresso, your coffee cocktail drink won’t have the foamy white layer on top, but it will still taste delicious.

How To Make Espresso Martini At Home

Step 1 – Brew your coffee

The first step is to brew your espresso. Using a warm shot of espresso is the secret to naturally achieving the frothy layer commonly seen on an espresso martini cocktail.

If using brewed coffee, brew it stronger than you would normally drink.

Step 2 – Blend your ingredients

It is a good idea to chill your cocktail glasses to keep your drink chilled for longer.

So pop a few ice cubes into each martini glass, or put the glasses in the freezer while you prepare the cocktail mix.

Fill your cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add your espresso, vodka, Kahlua and Frangelico to the shaker.

If you are using the Godiva chocolate liqueur and egg white, add those now too.

Step 3 – Shake and Pour

Pop the lid back on the cocktail shaker and shake hard for a good 30 seconds. It is an excellent arm workout!

Empty the ice cubes out of your chilled cocktail glasses.

If you have a cocktail strainer (or even a small regular strainer), pour the cocktail mix from the shaker through the strainer into your glasses.

The recipe will make one large (and strong) cocktail drink but if you have traditional small martini glasses this will make two smaller drinks.

Allow the froth to settle and top with a few coffee beans if you have them handy.

Drink and enjoy your espresso Frangelico cocktail!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best coffee liqueur for espresso martini?

The traditional coffee liqueur for an espresso martini is Kahlua. If you prefer something less sweet, Tia Maria is a good option. For something a little different, try Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur.

Is Frangelico A Coffee Liqueur?

No, Frangelico is a golden hazelnut flavored liqueur from Italy. An alternative, similar liqueur is Amaretto. The Frangelico pairs nicely with coffee liqueur to make a frangelico espresso martini. Popular coffee liqueurs are Kahlua and Tia Maria.

Can You Use Normal Coffee In Espresso Martini?

The unique taste and look of an espresso martini is thanks to the use of espresso shots in the cocktail. If you don’t own an espresso machine, the best alternative is a moka pot.

You can use a drip coffee maker or french press, but be sure to increase the strength of the coffee and use egg white to achieve the signature frothy layer on top.

Are Espresso Martinis Cold Or Hot?

Espresso martinis are cold cocktails, made by shaking the ingredients together with ice in a cocktail shaker. The hot espresso when chilled and shaken produces a foamy crema when poured into the cocktail glass.

I hope you enjoy this espresso Frangelico martini recipe. You can find more coffee drinks recipes here or browse all our coffee recipes.

If you want to make great coffee at home, read about the best coffee beans here.

More Coffee Recipes To Try

If you loved this coffee martini recipe, here are some more great recipes with coffee to try at home.

• Easy white russian cocktail
• Iced caramel macchiato
• 15 holiday coffee drinks to make at home
• How to make cold brew in a french press
• Siciliano cocktail drink

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