Looking for the perfect cocktail to elevate your next dinner party or holiday celebration? Look no further than the irresistible Frangelico espresso martini!
This decadent twist on the classic espresso martini recipe blends the rich, bold flavor of espresso with the smooth, nutty notes of Frangelico, creating a hazelnut espresso martini that will leave your guests craving more.
Whether you’re hosting a cozy Christmas gathering or a chic cocktail party, this coffee cocktail recipe is guaranteed to impress. The best part? It’s incredibly simple to make! With just a few ingredients and a shaker, you’ll have a perfectly crafted espresso martini with Frangelico that combines elegance with unforgettable flavor.
Ready to discover your new go-to cocktail drink for the holidays or your next dinner party? Keep reading to learn how to create this show stopping drink that’ll keep the compliments coming!
Equipment Needed To Make This 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)
If you love coffee cocktails, try this italian siciliano cocktail, an eggnog martini, or one of these flavored espresso martini recipes.
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 my 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.
Hazelnut Espresso Martini Ingredients
So what’s in an espresso martini? The classic ingredients are coffee liqueur, vodka and espresso.
For my coffee martini recipe I’ve added a few extra ingredients to give this classic espresso martini recipe a modern twist.
- Hazelnut liqueur
- Godiva chocolate liqueur (optional)
- Egg white (optional)
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 my top recommendations for espresso coffee beans for you to try.
However, if you don’t have an espresso machine don’t worry – I have a great cheats option for you below to achieve the same result.
Frangelico
The essential ingredient for this 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), shaking vigorously with ice, 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 may not 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.
Next 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!
Espresso Martini FAQs
What’s 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.
Before You Go
I hope you enjoy this espresso Frangelico martini recipe. Find even more of the best alcoholic coffee drinks in this guide or try this white russian cocktail.
You can find more coffee drinks recipes here or browse all my coffee recipes.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frangelico Espresso Martini Recipe
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating below or a review in the comments section.
Frangelico Espresso Martini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 1 oz espresso
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz Kahlua
- 1 oz Frangelico
Optional Ingredients
- 1 oz Godiva chocolate liqueur
- ½ oz pasteurized egg white
- 3 coffee beans whole, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill your cocktail glass with extra ice cubes to chill them.
- Put the ice cubes into a cocktail shaker (or glass jar).2 cups ice cubes
- Add the espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur (Kahlua), hazelnut liqueur (Frangelico), Godiva and egg white (if using) to the cocktail shaker and replace the lid.1 oz espresso, 1 oz vodka, 1 oz Kahlua, 1 oz Frangelico
- Shake the cocktail shaker vigorously for at least 30 seconds until chilled and frothy.
- Tip the extra ice out of the cocktail glass.
- Strain the cocktail mix through a cocktail strainer into the chilled glass.
- Top with a few coffee beans (optional) and serve immediately.
Notes
- Espresso should be warm to achieve the frothy layer on top. If you don’t have espresso, use strong brewed coffee.
- If you don’t have Kahlua, substitute an additional ounce of espresso coffee.
- If you don’t have Frangelico, Amaretto would be a good alternative.
- For a sweeter drink, add the optional Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Crème de Cacao or 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.
- If you add egg white, use only pasteurized egg whites. If you do not have pasteurized egg white or have an allergy to egg, do not add egg whites.
- The egg white creates a frothy top if you are not using espresso. You can achieve the frothy layer without egg white if you use warm espresso, shake well and strain through a cocktail strainer.
- Note however that the drink is still delicious without the creamy top!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Coffee Recipes To Try
If you loved this coffee martini recipe, here are some more great recipes with coffee to try at home.
- Gingerbread Flavored White Russian Cocktail
- Iced caramel macchiato
- 15 holiday coffee drinks to make at home
- How to make cold brew in a french press
