Tequila espresso martini is a modern twist on the classic coffee cocktail. Blending rich espresso with citrus & light spice from the tequila along with hints of vanilla and orange, this coffee and tequila cocktail is smooth & bold.
Need a coffee-themed mocktail to offer as well? Caffè shakerato fits the bill perfectly.
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Why I Love Espresso Martini With Tequila
- Quick & easy: This drink is ready in around 5 minutes.
- Appearance: The elegance of the contrasting dark bottom with the latte-coloured crema top makes it a visually striking drink.
- Taste: Bold coffee flavour, gentle sweetness, nuances of vanilla & citrus and the flavour profile of the tequila make this a well-rounded, mellow & intriguing espresso martini variation to linger over.
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If you fancy delving further down the route this Mexican espresso martini takes you, have a look at my spicy Ancho Reyes cocktail recipe.
Ingredients Notes
Espresso: This tequila coffee drink is best made with freshly brewed espresso. Use 15g-18g of your favourite espresso powder to pull a 40ml shot of espresso.
Tequila: This is the star ingredient in cocktail. Use your favourite brand of silver tequila. Fo me that is Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila.
Coffee liqueur: Given the that this is a recipe for Mexican espresso martini, the ideal coffee liqueur to use is Kahlúa, which is from Mexico.
Triple Sec: Use Cointreau or another quality triple sec orange-flavoured liqueur.
Vanilla syrup: Tying the flavours together nicely, resulting in a vanilla orange tequila cocktail. Either make your own vanilla syrup or pick up a bottle online.
How To Make Tequila Espresso Martini (Step-By-Step Instructions)
Full instructions and measurements are given in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Add a handful of ice to the base of your cocktail shaker.
Step 2. Pour in the espresso, tequila, coffee liqueur, Cointreau and vanilla syrup.
Step 3. Secure the lid of the shaker and give it a hard shake for 30-40 seconds.
Step 4. Strain your drink into a cocktail glass. Garnish with coffee beans (if desired) and serve immediately.
Insider Tip
Don't wait for the espresso to cool - you should make this drink as soon as your espresso has been pulled. Doing so ensures that the crema on top of this coffee and tequila cocktail is as thick and creamy as it can be.
Expert Tips
- Use plenty of ice: It dilutes the drink, chills it and also helps to build up that beautiful crema.
- Chill the serving glass: If possible put you glass into the freezer or fridge for 15 minutes to ensure your coffee and tequila cocktail is served ice-cold.
- Measure ingredients accurately: Don't try to eyeball or guess the measures as it's easy to upset the balance of flavours and sweetness in a cocktail. Use a cocktail jigger, kitchen measuring spoons or digital kitchen scales to measure with precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don't have to use expensive tequila since it has to compete alongside the punchy flavour of coffee. Pick a reasonable quality bottle - I enjoy Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila.
I have devised this tequila coffee drink using silver tequila (also know as white tequila or tequila blanco). This tends to express notes of grass, citrus & pepper. However, feel free to experiment with other types of tequila such as reposado (aged) and añejo (extra aged), which will introduce deeper notes of vanilla, caramel, dried fruits, and warm baking spices.
If you do not own a coffee machine try brewing the coffee in a cafetiere (French press) or a moka pot.
In a pinch you could use strong instant coffee (1 rounded teaspoon dissolved in 50ml hot water). It won't taste quite as good as the version made with freshly brewed espresso and you will struggle to achieve the foamy top but you'll still get a tasty coffee and tequila cocktail.
Yes, you can. For absolute ease, just try your hand at a caffè shakerato, which is an Italian iced espresso drink. Alternatively, to turn the recipe here into a non-alcoholic espresso martini:
1. Replace the tequila with a non-alcoholic tequila alternative such as Clean Co.
2. Omit the coffee liqueur and replace the Cointreau with 5ml Triple Sec flavoured syrup.
3. Add in a dash of non-alcoholic bitters to build depth of flavour.
Variations
- Decaffeinated tequila coffee cocktail: Just swap your regular espresso for decaff.
- Mezcal switch: Replacing the tequila with Mezcal will introduce smoky notes to your Mexican espresso martini.
- Cinnamon swap: Either replace or substitute half of the vanilla syrup with cinnamon syrup to increase the spice profile in your tequila coffee drink..
Serving Suggestions
Think along the lines of sweet coffee and chocolate bakes to serve alongside your Mexican espresso martini.
More Espresso Martini Variations
Have you made this Mexican espresso martini with tequila? Please rate the recipe or leave a comment - I love hearing how you get along with my creations.
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📖 Recipe
Tequila Espresso Martini
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker or a sturdy jar with a screwtop lid
Ingredients
- 40 ml Espresso freshly brewed using 15g espresso
- 40 ml Tequila
- 10 ml Kahlúa Coffee liqueur
- 10 ml Vanilla Syrup
- 5 ml Cointreau or Triple Sec
- 3 Coffee Beans optional - garnish
Instructions
- Put a large handful of ice into the base of your cocktail shaker.
- Add the espresso, tequila, Kahlúa, Cointreau and vanilla vodka.
- Secure the lid of the shaker and shake hard for 30 seconds to dilute the drink, chill it and build up the frothy top.
- Strain into a cocktail glass, garnisg with espresso beans if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- Don't wait for the espresso to cool - you should make this drink as soon as your espresso has been pulled. Doing so ensures that the crema on top of this coffee and terquila cocktail is as thick and creamy as it can be.
- Use plenty of ice: It dilutes the drink, chills it and also helps to build up that beautiful crema.
- Chill the serving glass: If possible put you glass ino the freezer or fridge for 15 minutes to ensure your drink is served ice-cold.
- Measure ingredients accurately: Don't try to eyeball or guess the measures as it's easy to upset the balance of flavours and sweetness in a cocktail. Use a cocktail jigger, kitchen measuring spoons or digital kitchen scales to measure with precision.
- Decaffeinated espresso martini: Just swap your regular espresso for decaff.
- Mezcal swap: Replacing the tequila with Mezcal will introduce smoky notes to your Mexican espresso martini.
- Cinnamon swap: Either replace or substitute half of the vanilla syrup with cinnamon syrup to increase the spice profile.
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