Homemade Baileys espresso martini is a creamy and indulgent twist on the classic cocktail. Smooth Irish cream, rich espresso and a splash of vodka combine in this quick & easy Baileys coffee cocktail recipe.
Try it with a wedge of Irish coffee cake. And if you adore espresso martini drinks give m,y recipes for rum espresso martini and ginspresso martini a go.
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Why I Love This Baileys Cocktail
This twist on the classic espresso martini includes a generous measure of Baileys, creating an indulgent Irish cream espresso martini with a smooth & velvety finish. It gets my vote for lots of reasons:
- Only 4 ingredients.
- Quick and easy: It can be ready in 5 minutes.
- Creamy & smooth: The Baileys adds just the right level of silky creaminess to this drink.
- Tastes like dessert: Well, not quite. It's sweet, but not as sweet as say, tiramisu!
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If you love coffee cocktails as much as I do, then don't miss my coffee brandy Alexander or my Drambuie coffee cocktail. And if you're partial to a drop of Baileys in warm drinks too then take a look at my Irish hot chocolate, my Irish latte and my Irish mocha.
Ingredients Notes
Baileys: The star of the show in this coffee cocktail is, of course, the Baileys Irish Cream. I'm a self-confessed brand snob when it comes to certain alcoholic drinks and I'm afraid Baileys Irish Cream is one such brand I've yet to find a close rival for.
Baileys is a beautiful blend of Irish whiskey and spirits, Irish dairy cream, rich chocolate and vanilla. All of these partner with the coffee in this recipe extremely well. Use alternative brands at your own peril.
Espresso: It's up to you which brand of espresso coffee you use and you can even use decaffeinated coffee if preferred.
Coffee Liqueur: The best coffee liqueur for this creamy espresso martini cocktail is Tia Maria. It adds just the right level of sweetness to the drink and pushes the coffee flavour up a touch.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1: Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the coffee, vodka, Baileys and coffee liqueur.
- Step 2: Secure the lid and shake for 30-40 seconds until the drink is well-chilled.
- Step 3: Strain into a cocktail glass and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Make sure your equipment is scrupulously clean: Baileys splits if it comes into contact with even a small trace of anything acidic such as lemon juice.
- Freshly brew your coffee (and add it to the shaker warm): The best creamy top will be achieved with freshly brewed espresso.
- Use plenty of ice: This creamy espresso martini with Baileys is intended to be served well-chilled.
- Chill your glass for 15 minutes: A chilled serving glass helps ensure your Baileys vodka cocktail is served ice-cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. A classic espresso martini contains espresso coffee, vodka and coffee liqueur in varying proportions. Irish cream liqueur is not present. The coffee flavour is pronounced and the best versions have only a hint of sweetness about them.
Espresso coffee is the best choice for this Baileys coffee cocktail. It delivers a rich, full flavour that stands up to the other ingredients well.
For a spectacular creamy top on your Baileys coffee martini, use freshly brewed espresso coffee and a touch of sweetness (usually simple syrup). In addition, a long, hard shake helps to build the foam.
In this recipe, the Baileys Irish Cream and coffee liqueur provide all the sugar - no simple syrup is required.
Yes, you can. Brewing espresso in a coffee machine produces a shot with a luscious crema which helps to produce that enviably creamy top. If you don't have a coffee machine, brew your coffee in a cafetiere (French press) or dissolve 1 heaped teaspoon of instant coffee in 40ml hot water. While these methods won't give you that signature creamy top, your Irish cream espresso martini will still taste great.
No, you do not. Since the espresso goes into the shaker hot, a dry shake can cause leaks. Instead, add ice from the start and shake vigorously for 30-40 seconds to build up the creamy top.
Yes, this Baileys coffee cocktail does contain caffeine. It can be lowered by using decaffeinated coffee but the coffee liqueur still contains some.
This recipe for espresso martini with Baileys uses 40ml espresso from 15g grounds plus the liqueur so expect roughly 90-100mg of caffeine.
Anytime you like - it's your drink. I have a preference to serve it later in the evening as a nightcap-style cocktail as it is sweeter and creamier than other drinks.
Just a word of warning though - too many of these Baileys coffee cocktails before bed and the caffeine may keep you up all night.
Yes, you can, but nothing beats the luscious, velvety top you get when it's made fresh. If you don't mind sacrificing a little of that perfect finish, you can mix all of the ingredients in advance, chill the batch and simply shake with ice at the point of serving.
Variations
You'll notice that this espresso martini with Baileys contains only a splash of vodka. That's because the true stars here are the rich espresso coffee and the creamy Baileys. The vodka simply adds boozy depth and a touch of robustness without stealing the spotlight. Trust me, it's a great balance.
If you prefer a bolder kick of alcohol, feel free to increase the vodka to 40ml for a more potent version.
Other ways to take this Baileys coffee cocktail include:
- Irish espresso martini with vanilla vodka: Swap the vodka for an extra layer of flavour.
- Espresso martini with Baileys and Kahlúa - Tia Maria is popular in the UK but perhaps less so elsewhere in the world. Kahlúa is slightly sweeter and has a less pronounced coffee flavour than Tia Maria but works well in this Baileys cocktail.
- Baileys Irish cream espresso martini without vodka: Make it with rum instead for a rich and warming twist - great in winter.
- Vegan creamy espresso martini: Use Baileys Almande in place of classic Baileys Irish Cream.
- Salted Caramel Baileys espresso martini: Use Salted caramel Baileys for a sweet-salty deviation.
- Chocolate Baileys espresso martini: Use Baileys Chocolat Lux for ultimate indulgence.
- Non-alcoholic creamy espresso martini: Make a caffé shakerato and add in 15ml single cream.
Baileys Desserts To Serve With A Baileys Espresso Martini
Have you made this creamy espresso martini? If you have please give it a rating or leave a comment - I love to hear how you get along with my creations.
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Baileys Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 40 ml Espresso coffee freshly brewed using 15g ground espresso coffee
- 40 ml Baileys Irish Cream
- 20 ml Vodka
- 10 ml Coffee liqueur Tia Maria works really well
Instructions
- Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Pour in the coffee, vodka, Baileys and coffee liqueur
- Secure the lid and shake for 30-40 seconds until the drink is well-chilled
- Strain into a cocktail glass and serve
Notes
- Make sure your equipment is scrupulously clean: The Irish Cream will curdle if it comes into contact with even a small trace of anything acidic such as lemon juice.
- Freshly brew your coffee (and add it to the shaker warm): The best frothy top will be achieved.
- Use plenty of ice: This espresso martini with Baileys is intended to be served well-chilled.
- Chill your glass for 15 minutes: A hilled glass helps ensureyour drink is served ice-cold.
- Baileys espresso martini with vanilla vodka in place of regular vodka.
- Espresso martini with Baileys and Kahlua - Tia maria is popular in the UK but perhaps less so elsewhere in the world. Kahlua is slightly sweeter and has a less pronounced coffee flavour than Tia Maria but works well in this Baileys cocktail.
- Creamy espresso martini without vodka: Make a it with rum instead!
- Make it vegan by using Baileys Almande in place of classic Baileys Irish Cream.
- Salted Caramel Baileys espresso martini: Use Salted caramel Baileys.
- Chocolate Baileys espresso martini: Use Baileys Chocolat Lux.
- Non-alcoholic creamy espresso martini: Make a caffé shakerato and add in 15ml single cream.
Jane Coupland says
I hope you enjoy this cocktail as much as I do - it's the perfect excuse to open a bottle of Baileys whatever the season!