Rum Espresso Martini

As someone who has been making cocktails at home for over a decade, getting creative and giving a twist to a classic cocktail becomes a part of the job. 😉 This rum espresso martini recipe puts a new spin on a classic espresso martini recipe. Strong, bold espresso mingles with a home-infused rum (or you can use a store-bought option!) for a fresh take on an iconic drink.

This recipe was inspired by my vanilla infused rum recipe, which is a super simple way to level up your at-home cocktail game. When it’s used in this coffee cocktail, the warm and smooth flavor of the infused rum plays up the flavors of the espresso and Kahlua liqueurs. It also uses this brown sugar simple syrup recipe, which is perfect for adding a toasty caramelized flavor to cocktails!

💕 why you'll love this rum espresso martini recipe

🍹 rum based twist. Rum has been making quite a comeback, especially in cocktails. A lot of people also don’t realize that Khalua, which is in most espresso martini recipes, is a rum-based liqueur!

🔀 customizable. You can customize this cocktail to your liking, making it the vanilla infused rum or another dark or spiced rum. This means it’s perfect for a variety of guests at your next party! You can also freeze the espresso into espresso ice cubes and make this cocktail frozen.

🤌 well-balanced. Rum and coffee go so well together because many rums are made using sugarcane. The espresso and rum are balanced by the deep flavors of vanilla and brown sugar simple syrup. It’s a match made in heaven!

🛒 ingredients

• espresso - espresso is an important factor in this cocktail, so opt for quality if you can. Brewing espresso in a way that produces crema (the foam on top of the coffee) is important for producing a thick froth and velvety mouthfeel. But you can do just fine with a strongly brewed coffee flavor-wise, too. Be sure to prepare one double shot per cocktail.
  
• vanilla infused rum - I love using homemade liquor infusions whenever I can in cocktails because it takes the flavor to the next level. You do not have to use your own infused rum for this cocktail. If you can find vanilla rum at your local liquor store, feel free to use that! Otherwise, I recommend using a good, dark rum for this recipe. Brands like Ten to One, Havana Club, or Hamilton have some of my favorite dark rums! You can also use a spiced rum for a spicy twist!
  
• Kahlua - Khalua is a rum-based coffee liqueur that is used in a variety of coffee cocktails. It works perfectly in this espresso martini reinvention because it helps play up the flavor of the rum. You can use another rum-based coffee liqueur if you like. Sometimes I like to add a little more luxury by using Koloa coffee rum.
  
• brown sugar simple syrup - brown sugar simple syrup adds a wonderfully complex flavor to this cocktail. You can also use regular simple syrup. Or, you can use another flavor like vanilla simple syrup to play up the vanilla flavor. In a pinch, you can use 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar per cocktail in place of simple syrup.
  
• ice - you’ll need ice for shaking your cocktails in the cocktail shaker. Opt for larger ice cubes if possible so that your cocktail doesn’t dilute as you’re shaking it.

🍳 instructions

Step 1: Brew a double shot of espresso according to the manufacturer's instructions on your machine. Set it aside to allow it to cool slightly.

Step 2: Fill your cocktail shaker with ice, and slowly pour in the cooled espresso.

Step 3: Add the vanilla infused rum to the cocktail shaker.

Step 4: Next, add the Kahlua liqueur.

💡tips and tricks for getting it right

🍽️ serving tips

How and Where to Serve Your Rum Espresso Martinis:

• holiday brunch or breakfast - Looking for Christmas cocktails? This is a great cocktail for a holiday breakfast or brunch!
• happy hour - this espresso cocktail is the perfect cocktail for happy hour because it provides a little pick-me-up from the long workday.

Choose your Glass:

• chill your glass - take a few extra moments to chill your cocktail glass for the best experience for your guests. Whether you put ice in the glasses for up to 15 minutes or stick them in the freezer, a chilled martini glass or coupe makes a big difference when serving this drink!
• coupe or martini - The traditional glass for an espresso martini is either a martini glass or a coupe glass.
• small size - Make sure your glass is on the smaller side— this cocktail is small but mighty at only around 6 ounces in volume, so a larger martini glass could leave you with a “glass half-full” kinda feeling. 😅
• pour it over ice - If you like, you can serve your cocktail on ice. Sure, it’s less traditional, but it could be a good option for a party.

Garnish:

• coffee beans or espresso beans - The official garnish of an espresso martini is three coffee beans to symbolize health, wealth, and happiness.
• foamy layer - When shaken vigorously, a nice foam layer forms on top of your martini so you can layer the beans on top of the foam.
• rim the glass - You can also rim your cocktail glass with a little brown sugar simple syrup and then dip it into vanilla sugar or a mix of ground espresso and sugar for another garnish!

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

If things didn’t go according to plan, don’t worry! Try one of these fixes.

• too sweet - if your cocktail is too sweet, try adding a bit more espresso or rum.
• not sweet enough - if your cocktail is bitter or too strong, add in more dark brown sugar simple syrup to balance things out.
• not enough liquid in the glass - if your glass is too large for your cocktails, you have a few options. You can either double the recipe per glass, or you can add a bit of cream, milk, or water to make the cocktail larger. You can also serve the cocktail over ice. Shh…I won’t tell. 🤫

⚖️ scaling tips

Espresso martinis are super easy to scale up if you’re having a party.

You can mix all the ingredients together in a pitcher, stash it in the fridge, then shake and serve the cocktails as your guests arrive.

In order to keep the frothy foam layer on the cocktails, it’s best to shake them just before serving.

🔆 top tip

Kahlua is a rum-based coffee liqueur, which is why swapping the classic vodka for vanilla-infused rum works so well in this reimagined cocktail!

♻️ substitutions & variations

♻️ substitutions

Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!

• use a different rum - there is a type of rum for everyone! If you don’t have time to infuse your own rum, you can use store-bought vanilla rum, aged rum, or spiced rum instead.
• use a different liquor - Vanilla vodka is also a great option to use in this cocktail!
• simple syrup - switch out the flavor of simple syrup you use to give your cocktail a different flavor. You can use regular simple syrup or a seasonal flavor of syrup for a holiday twist, like with these peppermint espresso martinis or these pumpkin espresso martinis.
• cold brew - if you don’t have access to an espresso maker, you can use cold brew coffee or cold brew concentrate in this cocktail recipe with good results!

🎛️ variations

Feeling like a rebel?! 😈 Feel free to stray from the recipe card using these variations, or leave me a comment with your own!

• chocolate - Follow the recipe for this chocolate espresso martini, but use the vanilla rum and dark brown sugar simple syrup to give your cocktail a deeper rum taste!
• creamy - add in an ounce or two of cream or milk of your choice for a rich and creamy cocktail.
• frozen - freeze the espresso into espresso ice cubes, then add all the ingredients to a blender for a frozen take on this cocktail.

🧰 necessary equipment & storage tips

🧰 tools needed

• cocktail shaker - Even though I like to take photos using clear shakers, when I’m mixing up drinks at home, I only use this cocktail shaker by Elevated Craft. It’s double-walled, so your hands don’t get cold while shaking, and it has measurements in the cap.
  
• coupe glass - The standard glass for an espresso martini is a coupe glass, not a martini glass. This is because martini glasses tend to be larger than coupe glasses.
  
• measuring beakers - I love using these OXO nesting measuring beakers because you can use them for so many more recipes besides cocktails. They’re perfect for measuring small amounts of liquid!
  
• espresso machine - You’ll need a way to make espresso for this beverage, but that doesn’t mean you have to go out and spend $1,000 on an espresso machine. You can buy espresso from your local coffee shop, or you can use strongly brewed drip coffee or cold brew in a pinch. If you do want to buy a nice machine, I have and love the Breville Barista Pro espresso machine. It’s changed my life, and that’s no joke! I also have friends who have and love their Nespresso machines, and I prefer those to Kurigs because the quality is top notch!

optional equipment

• cocktail strainer - you can double strain your martinis to make sure there are absolutely no ice chips in your drinks using a mesh cocktail strainer.

🫙 storage tips

It is best to drink this cocktail shortly after making it.

You can prepare this cocktail in a large batch ahead of time, and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to shake and serve it.

💬 q+a

Do I have to use espresso in this recipe?

No way! While I prefer to use fresh espresso, you can also use cold brew or very strong brewed coffee. Just be sure to let the coffee cool before using it. Pouring hot espresso or coffee directly over ice can cause it to taste bitter.

What kinds of rum work well in an espresso martini?

This recipe calls for home-infused vanilla rum, but you can also use dark, aged, or spiced rum with great results! Generally speaking, if you want to keep the flavor light, choose to use a light white rum, or silver rum, in the cocktail.

How can I get a layer of foam on my espresso martini?

Shake your espresso martini vigorously for 30-60 seconds over ice to get the best, strongest froth in your cocktail. Use larger ice cubes if you can, because they won’t dilute your espresso martini as much as smaller cubes.