Cold Brew Martinis

Cold brew martinis offer a refreshingly smooth twist on the classic espresso martini, perfect for coffee lovers looking for a chilled and mellow cocktail. They're a perfect blend of rich coffee flavor, liqueur, and vodka without the need for fresh espresso.

🥰Why you'll love these cold brew martinis:

1. You don't need espresso. There's no need to brew fresh espresso at home or run out to a coffee shop to make this cocktail. All you need is homemade or store bought cold brew.
2. It's easy to quickly make several martinis. The nice thing about cold brew coffee is that it's already cold. So if you're making a jug of cold brew or buying a bottle from the store, then you will have plenty of cold brew ready to go for multiple cocktails. You get to skip the part where you have to cool down the espresso, which makes this a much speedier process.
3. Cold brew is smooth and easy to drink. Espresso can be strong and bitter and that's not how everyone likes it. But cold brew is smooth and mellow, which is why people enjoy it in the first place. It's easier to sip it as part of this cocktail or enjoy it on its own.

If you like refreshing, easy-to-sip cocktails, check out my recipes for an Elderflower Gin and Tonic, a Carrot Juice Cocktail, and an Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail. For another delicious coffee beverage, try my Amaretto Latte. Or for something less sweet, how about a Smoked Negroni?

Jump to:

• 🥰Why you'll love these cold brew martinis:
• ☕Ingredients
• 🍊Substitutions & Variations
• 🍸Instructions
• ⭐Top Tip
• 🥄Equipment
• 💭FAQ
• 🍪Pairing
• 📖 Recipe
• 🍹Related
• 💬 Comments

☕Ingredients

Here's everything you need to make yourself a cold brew martini.

• Cold brew coffee - For these martinis, you can use your own homemade cold brew coffee or buy a bottle of cold brew from the store. There are many good bottled options available these days. While there may be several simple ways to make cold brew at home, I've found it's often more economical to buy cold brew by the bottle. It can take a lot of ground coffee to make cold brew since it's brewed at a stronger rate with more coffee grounds than the typical cup. One of my favorite bottled cold brews is from La Colombe, but Stok and Califia Farms are decent, too. Bon Appetit ranked several of the most popular options.
• Vodka - A good quality vodka is important. With only three ingredients in these martinis, there isn't anywhere to hide cheap liquor. I love to make drinks with Vermont-made spirits, and for these cold brew martinis, I used vodka from the Village Garage Distillery in Bennington, Vermont. It's a smooth vodka, which with the smoothness of the cold brew, creates a very drinkable martini.
• Espresso or coffee liqueur - Use your favorite coffee liqueur. While Kahlua is one of the most popular and easy-to-find options, it's certainly not the only one. Try different brands to see the differences in flavor and quality. I like Luxardo, which has a pleasant mix of chocolate and coffee flavors. It's great for desserts like my Cherry Tiramisu, too.
• Coffee beans - For the classic espresso martini garnish.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

🍊Substitutions & Variations

• Make it sweeter - Espresso martinis commonly include simple syrup. When testing this recipe, I found that including simple syrup created too sweet of a cocktail for my liking. Don't forget, the liqueur is sweetened as well. But if you're into extra-sweet drinks, add ½ ounce of simple syrup to your cocktail shaker.

• Get creative with flavors - You can incorporate many additional flavors into cold brew martinis. If you're adding simple syrup to your cocktail, use a flavored syrup. Or add ½ to 1 teaspoon of extract, such as vanilla or almond. If you want stronger notes of chocolate, dust the cocktail with cocoa powder before serving and maybe top it off with chocolate covered espresso beans. For fresher flavors, a sprig of mint or a piece of orange rind used as a garnish can contribute to the flavor experience by adding appealing aromas.

🍸Instructions

Making a cold brew martini takes just a little pouring and shaking.

🥄Equipment

Cocktail shaker and strainer - A cocktail shaker is a helpful tool to shake up a cocktail and get it cold. A strainer that fits inside the shaker is another helpful component so you can strain the cocktail and leave behind the ice. However, if you don't have a shaker handy, try using a mason jar with a lid.

Coupe or Martini Glass - Can you drink your cold brew martinis in whatever glass you want? Of course. But to enjoy the experience of a martini, try a martini or coupe glass. Check your local thrift stores to build a cocktail glass collection without having to spend much money. You also won't feel bad when you inevitably break one.

💭FAQ

🍪Pairing

These recipes would go nicely with cold brew martinis.

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📖 Recipe

🍹Related

Looking for other cocktail recipes like this? Try these: