Espresso Martini with Baileys

This Espresso Martini with Baileys is rich, creamy, and perfect for coffee lovers. It’s easy to customize and ideal for sipping after dinner.

Here’s a fun twist on the popular espresso martini: the Espresso Martini with Baileys! Now, I’m typically a fan of the classic recipe. But adding Baileys Irish cream here brings in chocolate-vanilla notes that are just the right thing to offset bitter coffee.

It’s kind of like a Mudslide meets classic Espresso Martini situation, with a crunchy coffee bean rim! After I discovered this variation, I’ve perfected my own spin on the recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Cocktail

Here’s what makes this creamy espresso martini special:

Cool, creamy flavor: The Baileys and Kahlua add just enough sweetness to complement the depth of the bitter espresso. The crunchy coffee rim seals the deal for me!
Easy to customize: Swap in decaf espresso for late-night sipping, or make it easier using purchased cold brew (which I do for my frozen Espresso Martini)
Party-friendly: This dessert cocktail is easy to batch for entertaining and always a hit, with the massive popularity of the Espresso Martini

Ingredients You’ll Need

The Espresso Martini is a popular vodka martini with espresso, vodka and Kahlua that blew up in popularity in the early 2020’s. For this spin, you’ll also need Baileys Irish Cream to add even more creaminess. Here’s what you’ll need to make this drink:

Freshly brewed espresso (or strong coffee): A shot of espresso from an espresso machine has the best flavor and that essential frothy layer: just make sure it’s room temperature before adding it. But my favorite short-cut is purchased cold brew concentrate. Even better, it’s already cold!
Vodka: The spirit base for this drink: use a mid-range vodka (no need to be fancy).
Kahlua: This coffee liqueur adds depth. If you don’t have Kahlua, use Tia Maria or any quality coffee liqueur. You can also skip the Kahlua entirely, but the drink will be less sweet and less coffee-forward (I recommend using it here).
Baileys Irish cream: This Irish whiskey-based cream liqueur adds vanilla and chocolate to create that signature creaminess. See my Baileys Irish Cream guide for more.
For the rim (optional): Finely ground coffee beans and sugar make a crunchy garnish

Helpful Equipment

You don’t need a fancy bar setup to make this drink, but here are a few key tools:

Cocktail shaker with strainer: A cocktail shaker is essential for the Espresso Martini: shaking it vigorously is what makes all the difference. If you don’t have a shaker, you can use a large mason jar with lid or even a protein shaker bottle and a hand-held strainer.
Espresso maker or French press: Any of these will work for brewing your espresso or strong coffee. I have guides for making espresso at home, French press espresso, and Moka Pot coffee. Or, skip the coffee making and buy a bottle of cold brew concentrate (or homemade cold brew coffee).
Coffee grinder (for the rim): If you’re making the coffee bean rim, you’ll need a way to grind coffee beans very finely.

How to Make an Espresso Martini with Baileys

There’s not much to an Espresso Martini with Baileys! Once the glass is rimmed, simply make your espresso and shake up the drink in a cocktail shaker. Here are a few notes on the method:

Make the espresso. Make a shot of espresso using an espresso machine, French press, or a Moka Pot. Bring the coffee to room temperature.
Prepare your glass: If you’re adding the coffee bean rim, mix equal parts finely ground coffee beans and sugar on a flat plate. Wet just the outer rim of your martini glass (water works fine), then gently dip the outer edge into the coffee-sugar mixture.
Shake in a cocktail shaker. Place the Baileys, Kahlua, vodka and espresso in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake. Shake for at least 20 seconds.
Strain into a glass and garnish. Strain into a prepared martini glass or stemmed cocktail glass. If you’re not doing the coffee bean rim, garnish with three coffee beans or espresso beans floating on top: that’s the traditional bartender approach (like in my Classic Espresso Martini).

Tips for a Perfect Foam Top

I’ve made an espresso martini without getting the right foam top, so I’ve tested a few variables to see what helps:

Shake it up: Vigorous shaking for about 20 seconds is non-negotiable. This breaks down the oils in the espresso and creates tiny bubbles to form the foam.
Use fresh espresso if you can: Freshly brewed espresso creates better foam than coffee that’s been sitting around.
Chill your glass: This doesn’t make the foam, but a cold glass can help the foam stay stable longer. Plus, it’s just more fun drinking out of a cold glass!

When to Serve + Pairing Ideas

With its sweet flavor, this Espresso Martini with Baileys is the ideal after dinner dessert drink. It’s fun to serve alongside desserts like:

It’s also great for holiday entertaining, perfect as a Christmas cocktail or festive enough for New Year’s Eve drinks.

Variations & Easy Flavor Twists

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, try these simple variations:

Chocolate swirl inside glass: Add a chocolate drizzle inside the glass like my Chocolate Martini, and a chopped chocolate rim.
Chocolate-dipped rim: Or dip the glass rim in chocolate sauce (similar to my Mudslide recipe).
Peppermint twist: Add a splash of peppermint schnapps or a few drops of peppermint extract for a holiday version. You could also rim the glass in crushed peppermint candies.
Salted caramel: Drizzle salted caramel sauce inside the glass before pouring.

Notes on Shelf Life

The alcohol components of this cocktail recipe have excellent shelf life. The vodka and Kahlua can be stored at room temperature for several years. The Baileys should be refrigerated after opening and will last about 2 years.

This drink is best made fresh to order. The frothy foam doesn’t last long (about 5 to 10 minutes), so mix it right before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a good substitute for Kahlua in an espresso martini?

Tia Maria is the closest substitute: it’s also a coffee liqueur with a similar sweetness level. Some people use Baileys in place of the Kahlua entirely, but you’ll lose some of that deep coffee flavor.

Is Baileys or Kahlua better for an espresso martini?

For a classic espresso martini recipe, Kahlua is traditional because it doubles down on the coffee flavor without adding cream. Baileys creates a creamier, more dessert-like version that many people prefer. This recipe uses both for a full, delicious flavor. If you had to choose just one, go with Kahlua for a more traditional coffee cocktail, or Baileys if you want something that tastes more like a Baileys coffee in cocktail form.

What foods pair well with an espresso martini made with Baileys?

Chocolate desserts are the classic pairing, like my favorite flourless chocolate cake, olive oil brownies, chocolate mousse, or chocolate bark. If you’re serving it without dessert, fresh fruit or a cheese plate with dried fruits would work well.

Is an espresso martini meant to be served before or after dinner?

Traditionally, an espresso martini is an after-dinner drink. But there are no hard rules! Some people love them at brunch (especially with the decaf option), and they make fantastic signature cocktails for evening parties. Just be mindful that the caffeine content might keep you up if you drink them too late, which is where the decaf version comes in handy.