The Best Hazelnut Espresso Martini Recipe

The Espresso Martini has long been a popular cocktail, but if you want to elevate your bartending game, this Hazelnut Espresso Martini recipe delivers the ultimate caffeine kick with a nutty twist.

With more people now getting into craft coffee and cocktails, it’s no surprise that many now want to perfect their very own drinks at home. While it may look a little complex when watching a mixologist prepare your beverage, it couldn’t be easier. With just a few ingredients and some specialist equipment, you can turn your kitchen into your very own bar.

Our recipe includes a refreshing twist to the classic recipe, swapping out vodka for luxury coffee rum, as well as a nutty addition of hazelnut syrup. It’s a versatile cocktail that’ll have your guests impressed.

Why Our Recipe?

As big fans of coffee, an Espresso Martini is often our choice when heading out for meals or casual drinks. However, as people who aren’t crazy about vodka, we wanted to craft something that would be just as tasty without being so alcoholic or strong in taste.

Our Hazelnut Espresso Martini is much sweeter than the classic beverage due to the addition of the hazelnut syrup, almost tasting like a normal coffee. The coffee rum is also much lower in alcohol content, meaning you can savour your drink without it feeling as though you’re just consuming spirits.

And after buying a professional coffee machine with a specialist cold-pressed function, it’s one of the most fun cocktails to make.

What You Need

Unlike some of the more advanced cocktails, our Hazelnut Espresso Martini ingredients are fairly easy to find in most supermarkets. They also last for quite a while, meaning you don’t need to worry about having to use them over one weekend.

Better still, you could use the hazelnut syrup in your normal daily coffee or an iced latte, and the coffee liqueur can also be used for Baby Guinness shots.

Hazelnut Espresso Martini Ingredients

• Fresh Espresso (30 ml) – This is the most important factor when making an authentic Espresso Martini. Proper espresso machines create a crema that then goes on to produce that bold flavour and classic thick foam the cocktail is known for. We make our shots using the Ninja Luxe Café Premier, but you can also use a Nespresso Pod Machine, stovetop Bialetti Espresso Maker, or premium instant coffee (two teaspoons of coffee like Nescafé Gold or Azera with 30 ml of water).
• Kahlúa/Tia Maria Coffee Liqueur (25 ml) – An essential for an Espresso Martini to cut the acidic taste of freshly brewed espresso. Kahlúa is our go-to for its sweetness and notes of vanilla and caramel. Additionally, when it’s shaken over ice, the ingredients help to make that signature micro-foam.
• Divine Rum Coffee Liqueur (50 ml) – A cold-brewed twist to the traditional vodka shot added to an Espresso Martini. Divine uses a Caribbean rum that adds a subtle spice to the drink without a harsh bitterness. We recommend using this over traditional or vanilla vodka if you’re after a strong coffee taste that doesn’t feel synthetic.
• Hazelnut Syrup (10 ml) – Hazelnut has always paired well with coffee and introduces a nuttiness that perfectly complements the roasted coffee beans. We advise using a non-alcoholic syrup (like Cafe Plus or Monin) if you want to keep the overall alcohol content in the drink down.
• Ice – You’ll need a good amount of ice (10 decent-sized cubes will do). The ice is needed to chill the glass during preparation and when shaking the drink.
• Coffee Beans – Garnish the drink with a few coffee beans that should sit neatly on top of your drink.

What Cocktail Shaker to Use

To make our Hazelnut Espresso Martini, we recommend using a Cobbler Shaker. The three-piece set is incredibly easy to use and ideal for creating that icy, frothy crema.

The shaker consists of a large metal tumbler, a tapered lid with a built-in strainer, and a small cap that goes over the strainer. This provides ample room to aerate the ingredients and release the coffee’s natural oils. The cup can get quite cold, so if this is something you want to avoid, consider wrapping it in a towel before shaking.

Thanks to the built-in filter, all that’s needed is to pour the cocktail directly into the glass. There’s no need to strain or struggle to remove any other sections, and you only have a few parts to wash afterwards.

If you have a different shaker or preference, it doesn’t matter so much. As long as you shake with plenty of ice, you should still end up with a delicious cocktail with a rich foam.

How to Make Our Hazelnut Espresso Martini

1. Add ice to your martini glass and set it aside. You can always chill these in your freezer too, just be careful when handling and make sure there’s enough room first.
2. Brew your fresh espresso. We use the double basket and built-in Cold-Pressed setting on our Ninja Luxe that brews a highly concentrated shot at a lower temperature, perfect for an Espresso Martini. You can also make an espresso using your pod machine or with instant coffee.
3. While the machine prepares your shot, add the Kahlúa coffee liqueur (25 ml), rum coffee liqueur (50 ml), and Hazelnut Syrup (10 ml) to the cocktail shaker.
4. Fill the shaker up halfway with ice and then pour in your espresso shot (30 ml).
5. Make sure the lid is on securely and shake vigorously for 30 seconds – the shaker should become ice-cold, and you’ll likely see frost appearing.
6. Remove the ice from your martini glass and strain the mixture until it reaches the top – you should see a thick foam appearing. If there is no foam, you likely need to shake more.
7. Garnish the top of your drink with three single coffee beans, forming a triangular shape – and enjoy.

FAQs

Can I Use Instant Coffee for my Hazelnut Espresso Martini?

Yes, mix two teaspoons of high-quality instant coffee with 30 ml of boiling water. You’ll know if it’s suitable for use in a cocktail if you notice a light cream or foam on the top. While it won’t taste as good as an espresso made from a specialist machine, it still does the trick, especially if you don’t yet want to invest in heavy equipment.

You can also purchase high-quality brew concentrate from most supermarkets, which can be poured directly into your shaker, although you may struggle to get a foamy top.

Can I Substitute the Hazelnut Syrup for a Different Flavour?

Absolutely, swap out the Hazelnut Syrup for vanilla or caramel, or whatever else you want. You can even just use simple syrup (sugar syrup) if you don’t fancy a specific flavour. We advise adding some form of syrup, though, just to cut the bitterness of the coffee – if you find it’s too sweet, add in 5 ml of syrup instead, or add in more if you prefer things sweeter.

You can make your own sugar syrup by boiling 300g of caster sugar with 150 ml of water, leaving it to cool until it turns into a thick consistency. You can then keep it in your fridge for a few weeks.

Can I Make a Non-Alcoholic Alternative?

Of course, you don’t need alcohol to still make a delicious Hazelnut Espresso Martini. Simply combine 60 ml of Espresso with 30 ml of Cold Brew Concentrate or Lyre’s Coffee Originale, 20 ml of Simple Syrup, and 10 ml of Hazelnut Syrup. Follow the same process detailed above.

Because you lose the density of alcohol, more espresso is needed to provide the crema that locks in the foam. If you find the foam dissipates too quickly, adding 15 ml of aquafaba (chickpea water) to the shaker can help. It doesn’t have a flavour but creates a meringue-like froth.