Enjoy this fun twist on a classic cocktail! The Tequila Espresso Martini is the perfect drink for coffee lovers who also love tequila.

Tequila espresso martini topped with 3 coffee beans in a gold rimmed coupe glass.

Don’t be intimidated by this fun coffee cocktail! You can make them at home, without any bartending experience, for a fun dinner party or girls’ night in. All you need are a cocktail shaker, espresso, coffee liqueur, and tequila. The result is a bold cocktail with a strong coffee flavor and your favorite tequila.

Serve these tequila espresso martinis with chocolate desserts, like my Chocolate Cherry Brownies, Booty Dip, or Brownie Batter Dip!

Why You’ll Love This Tequila Espresso Martini

Perfect for Tequila Lovers: If you prefer tequila over vodka or most other spirits, this tequila espresso martini is the perfect way to enjoy a coffee cocktail. The tequila pairs wonderfully with the espresso and coffee liqueur for a rich, flavorful drink.
Simple Ingredients: The ingredients in this drink are probably on your bar cart already! It’s just coffee, tequila, and coffee liqueur.
Smooth and Delicious: This espresso tequila martini is more flavorful than a vodka espresso martini, but it’s still perfectly smooth. Tequila lovers and coffee lovers will both adore this cocktail.

Two tequila espresso martinis topped with 3 coffee beans in a gold rimmed coupe glass next to spilled coffee beans.

Ingredients

Tequila: The biggest thing that makes this espresso martini recipe different is the addition of tequila. Coffee and tequila is a delicious combination, and the tequila shines through the cocktail. Blanco, or silver, tequila and reposado are the best tequilas to use for this espresso cocktail.
Coffee Liqueur: Applify the coffee flavor and add a little sweetness with your favorite coffee liqueur, like Kahlua or Mr Black.
Espresso: You can’t have an espresso martini without espresso! Fresh espresso is best for this cocktail because it creates a better froth. Just be sure to let the espresso cool before making this drink, or it will melt the ice and make your martini watery.
Simple Syrup: Add a little more sweetness with a splash of simple syrup or agave. If you like flavored coffee, try a flavored coffee syrup to change how it tastes.

Variations

Add a Little Baileys: Make your espresso martini even creamier with a little bit of Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur. It also adds a rich flavor that is perfect for a coffee cocktail.
Make It Decaf: If you’re enjoying your tequila espresso martini in the evening, you may not want a shot of espresso. Instead, you can use decaf espresso. Then you get a delicious nightcap, and you can still sleep.
Try Cold Brew Concentrate: Skip the hassle of brewing fresh espresso and just use a bit of cold brew concentrate. Your martinis may not froth as much, but it eliminates the need for an espresso machine.

Tequila espresso martini in a gold rimmed coupe glass.

How to Make a Tequila Espresso Martini

An espresso martini with tequila is a unique twist on the classic cocktail. It’s the ideal drink for tequila lovers who also love bold espresso cocktails.

Step 1: Add Your Ingredients: In a cocktail shaker, combine the espresso, tequila, coffee liqueur, and syrup.

Step 2: Shake Shake Shake: Add a handful of ice to the cocktail shaker. Secure the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds to combine and chill the ingredients. Don’t skip on shaking so you get a thick, foamy froth!

Step 3: Strain and Serve: Strain the tequila espresso martini into a chilled martini glass. You may need to shake the strainer to get all of the foam out at the end. Top with 3 espresso beans or coffee beans, and enjoy!

What Type of Glass Do I Use for an Espresso Martini?

Making cocktails at home is fun and more affordable than drinking out! You don’t need a lot of fancy glasses and barware, just a few basic glasses that elevate the experience and flavor of the drinks. Be sure to have either martini glasses or coupe glasses on your bar cart!

Martini Glass: These cone-shaped wide-mouth glasses taper into a point and have a stem. The large mouth allows the spirits of the cocktail to “breathe” or disperse evenly throughout the drink. Meanwhile, the inverted cone shape helps keep the ingredients from separating. The stem keeps your hands away from the cocktail, which keeps it colder for longer.
Coupe Glass: This stemmed glass also has a wide mouth to help the cocktail breathe. The bowl shape of the glass is great for foamy and aromatic drinks. For drinks without ice, a long stem keeps the drink from heating in your hands.

Tips

Use Fresh Espresso for Froth: The best way to get a good froth on your espresso martini is to use fresh espresso. It results in a creamy texture and thick froth on top of your cocktail.
Shake It Up: You need to shake an espresso martini for 30 seconds! This helps the cocktail froth, it adds a little dilution to the spirit-heavy drink, and it chills it. Since you don’t serve a martini over ice, the shaker should be frosty and almost too cold to hold when you strain it.
Choosing the Best Tequila: Espresso martinis with tequila are the ideal cocktail because the flavor of a good tequila enhances the drink. Silver tequila adds a little extra flavor but is closer to a classic vodka espresso martini. However, a reposado tequila has rich notes of caramel that complement coffee beautifully and make the drink taste richer.

Batching and Storing

Creating a batch of espresso martinis is tricky. Part of what makes the cocktail so great is the foam that naturally forms on top after shaking, but if you mix multiple martinis in a pitcher, you miss out on the foam.

One way to make batching work is to make the martinis in a pitcher, then pour two to three at a time into a cocktail shaker to shake. Then, you get the foam and have a big batch made a few hours ahead of time.

More Delicious Tequila Cocktails to Try (That Aren’t Margaritas)