Chocolate Espresso Martini (Dairy Free)
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Looking for a rich, indulgent twist on a classic espresso martini? With the bold flavor of cold brew coffee, smooth vodka, and a double hit of chocolate from crème de cocoa and chocolate bitters, this dairy-free Chocolate Espresso Martini is delicious and easy to make at home.
We don’t have room for an espresso machine in our house, so I use a tip I got from a local distillery (with delicious espresso martinis) and using cold brew coffee – made with espresso roast coffee – in place of fresh brewed espresso. You get the delicious coffee flavor and creamy cocktail foam you want, but without needing to have an espresso machine.
Whether you’re hosting friends or winding down after dinner, this martini delivers a balance of coffee and cocoa that’s a little sweeter than its classic espresso martini cousin. It’s the ideal cocktail for chocolate lovers, coffee enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys a sweeter sip.
Ingredients
Everything you need for these delicious Chocolate Espresso Martinis can be found at your local liquor store and/or grocery store.
- Cold brew coffee – This is different than iced coffee. Cold brew is a concentrated coffee that you add water to when you drink it. You can purchase cold brew coffee or make it yourself with my espresso cold brew coffee recipe.
- Vodka – I use plain vodka in this recipe to allow the chocolate and coffee to be the main flavors. Choose your favorite brand.
- Creme de cocoa – Choose from the clear or brown varieties, the flavor is the same. This spirit will give your drink chocolate flavor without any dairy.
- Coffee liqueur – Choose your favorite brand for this liqueur. Kahlua and Mr. Black are popular brands.
- Chocolate bitters – Adding depth of flavor and another chocolate layer, chocolate bitter will also keep your drink from becoming too sweet.
- Cocoa powder – This is for garnish, but I highly recommend it. Sprinkling the top of your cocktail with cocoa powder gives your nose a whiff of chocolate just as you take each sip, making your cocktail a fuller experience.
- Coffee beans – Three coffee bean set atop the cocktail foam is the classic espresso martini garnish, so I’m keeping it here. Feel free to skip it if you want.
How to Make a Chocolate Espresso Martini
Combine all ingredient exceptoin cocoa powder and coffee beans in a cocktail shake with ice. Shake very well and very hard for 10-15 seconds. (This is what gives you the foam)
Strain into a coupe or martini glass. Sprinkle with a dusting of cocoa powder and top with 3 whole coffee beans. Sip and enjoy!
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Chocolate Espresso Martini (Dairy Free)
Ingredients
- 2 oz cold brew coffee, NOT iced coffee
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz creme de cocoa
- 0.25 oz coffee liqueur
- 4 dashes chocolate bitters
- Cocoa powder, garnish
- Coffee beans, garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker half filled with ice cubes, combine cold brew coffee, vodka, creme de cocoa, coffee liqueur, and chocolate bitters.2 oz cold brew coffee, 1 oz vodka, 1 oz creme de cocoa, 0.25 oz coffee liqueur, 4 dashes chocolate bitters
- Cover and shake very hard for 10-15 seconds. (The harder you shake, the better the foam on the top of your cocktail.)
- Strain into a coupe or martini glass.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder and top with three coffee beans set in the middle of the cocktail foam. Sip and enjoy!Cocoa powder, Coffee beans
Prefer Your Coffee with Cream?
If you’re a fan of creamy coffee drinks, you can easily adjust this recipe to suit your tastes. Add a splash (about 0.5 oz) of heavy cream to the cocktail shaker with the other ingredients for a richer, smoother sip. Or swap out the creme de cocoa for a creamy chocolate liqueur. Godiva and Mozart both make delicious chocolate cream liqueurs.
Want That Signature Creamy Cocktail Foam?
The signature foam on top of an espresso martini – including this chocolate one – doesn’t come from the espresso specifically. It comes from how hard you shake any kind of coffee with ice in a metal cocktail shaker.
The cold brew in this recipe, combined with shaking lots of air into it, will give you a nice creamy foam on the top of your cocktail. So don’t skimp on shaking! Make sure your cocktail shaker is half filled with ice, cover it tightly, and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds before pouring.
Don’t Miss These Coffee Drinks
If you love this Chocolate Espresso Martini, try my classic Espresso Martini, Gingerbread Espresso Martini, or Coffee Old Fashioned. Have guests who don’t drink alcohol? Shake them up my non-alcoholic Espresso Martini Mocktail.
