Description

Indulge in a Café Mocha Martini! This creamy, boozy iced coffee cocktail is the perfect after-dinner drink for coffee and chocolate lovers

Ingredients

The key to an exceptional Café Mocha Martini lies in the quality of its core components, especially the coffee. Using fresh, high-quality ingredients is non-negotiable.

The Core Spirits & Liqueurs:

1.5 oz Vodka: Use a high-quality, unflavored vodka. Its clean profile allows the coffee and chocolate to shine. Brands like Grey Goose, Tito’s, or Ketel One are perfect.
1 oz Coffee Liqueur: This is a primary flavor driver. While Kahlúa is the classic choice, for a more intense coffee flavor, consider Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, which is less sweet and more robust.
1 oz Dark Crème de Cacao: This provides the “mocha” chocolate element. The dark version has a more bittersweet, sophisticated chocolate flavor compared to the sweeter white crème de cacao.
1 oz Freshly Brewed Espresso, cooled: This is the soul of the drink. Do not use instant espresso if you can avoid it. A freshly pulled shot provides an irreplaceable aromatic complexity and crema. If you must, use a high-quality instant espresso like Medaglia d’Oro, dissolved in 1 oz of hot water and then cooled.

The Creamy Element:

0.5 oz Heavy Cream or Half-and-Half: This adds the essential velvety body that mimics the steamed milk in a café mocha. For a richer, thicker texture, use heavy cream. For a slightly lighter version, half-and-half works beautifully.

The Sweetener (Optional):

0.25 oz Simple Syrup: This is your tool for customization. Taste your mixture before shaking. If you prefer a sweeter drink, this will perfect it. The bitterness of the espresso and dark crème de cacao often means you may not need it.

For the Garnish:

Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans
Dark Chocolate Shavings (use a vegetable peeler on a bar of high-quality chocolate)
A light dusting of Cocoa Powder

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Glassware
Begin by chilling your martini glass or coupe. Place it in the freezer for at least 15-20 minutes. A frosty glass is essential for serving a cocktail that is meant to be enjoyed cold and maintains its temperature.

Step 2: Brew and Cool the Espresso
Brew a fresh shot of espresso (about 1 oz). If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can use a Moka pot or a strong AeroPress concentrate. It is crucial to let the espresso cool to at least room temperature before using it. Adding hot espresso to the shaker will melt the ice prematurely, causing over-dilution and a watery martini.

Step 3: Combine the Liquid Ingredients
In a Boston shaker or standard cocktail shaker, combine the 1.5 oz of vodka, 1 oz of coffee liqueur, 1 oz of dark crème de cacao, the cooled 1 oz of espresso, and the 0.5 oz of heavy cream. If you are using the optional simple syrup, add it now.

Step 4: The “Dry” Shake (Optional but Recommended)
Secure the lid on your shaker tightly and shake the mixture without ice for about 10-15 seconds. This “dry shake” helps to emulsify the cream with the other liquids, creating a smoother, more integrated texture and a better, longer-lasting froth on top of the finished drink.

Step 5: The Iced Shake for Chill and Dilution
Now, open your shaker and add a generous scoop of fresh, high-quality ice. Secure the lid again. Shake this mixture vigorously and with conviction for a full 20-30 seconds. The shaker should become very cold, and you should see a rich, tan-colored foam developing inside. This is essential for proper chilling, dilution, and creating the signature frothy head.

Step 6: The Strain and Pour
Remove the lid from your shaker and use a Hawthorne strainer (or the built-in strainer) to strain the cocktail into your chilled martini glass. Strain it carefully to hold back the ice, allowing the beautiful, frothy foam to pour on top.

Step 7: The Grand Finale Garnish
For the final, decadent touch, place three chocolate-covered espresso beans in the center of the foam, a classic espresso martini signature. Alternatively, or in addition, sprinkle a generous amount of dark chocolate shavings over the top. For a final flourish, you can lightly dust the surface with cocoa powder using a fine-mesh strainer

Notes

Cocktail Shaker (Boston or Cobbler)
Hawthorne Strainer (if using a Boston shaker)
Jigger
Espresso Machine, Moka Pot, or AeroPress
Chilled Martini Glass or Coupe
Fine-Mesh Strainer (for dusting cocoa)

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Category: Drinks
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 280
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 15mg
Fat: 6g
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 1g