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Meet my favorite cocktail for girls’ night in! These cold brew martinis are smooth, refreshing, and have just the right amount of sweetness. Even better, you don’t need an espresso machine to make this cocktail! With vodka, coffee liqueur, and homemade cold brew, it’s the loveliest drink to sip with friends. Cheers!

Two cold brew martinis without espresso on a pink counter next to coffee beans, a crystal decanter, and gold cocktail shaker.

Apparently, the 90s have made a comeback in every way possible. Bucket hats. Bike shorts. And, espresso martinis.

Of course, I was only four when the 90s came to an end, so while I did partake in jelly shoes and troll dolls, I certainly wasn’t sipping anything with vodka. But, as someone who can only muster the strength to roll out of bed with the promise of coffee, I’m here for this cocktail’s return to the contemporary.

Espresso martinis were created by legendary British bartender, Dick Bradsell, at Fred’s Club in the late 80s. As the story goes, a young model walked up to the bar and asked Bradsell for a drink to “wake me up and f**k me up”. Honestly? My kind of gal.

Anyways, back in my barista days, I used to make gallons and gallons of cold brew. Of course, it’s lovely for sipping but it turns out that it’s also a great alternative for espresso in martinis! For those of us without espresso machines (or who don’t want to brew a hundred espressos for a crowd), this cold brew version is a lovely alternative that’s just as good at the OG.

If you too are a fan of drinks like coffee hot buttered rum, you need to get on this one ASAP. With just three ingredients, it’s ridiculously easy to make and lovely for sharing with friends with a side of light gossip. Let’s make drinks!

Cold brew concentrate

A decanter of vodka, bottle of coffee liqueur, jar of cold brew, and martini glasses on a pink counter.

The key ingredient in this recipe is cold brew concentrate. This is an undiluted version of cold brew that is extra strong. You’ll want cold brew concentrate (not diluted cold brew) because it’s very strong and adds a ton of coffee flavor. If you can’t find it in the grocery store, cold brew coffee concentrate is super easy to make at home! You can also use decaf.

You will also need a splash of coffee liqueur to add even more coffee flavor without making the drink too boozy. I like this local liqueur from 10 Torr or Kahlúa! Lastly, you’ll need vodka for a smooth, creamy texture.

Looking for a more classic espresso martini? If you have a machine, you can also use a shot of espresso instead of cold brew!

How to make this drink

Three steps to making a coffee cocktail. In photo 1, a hand is pouring a gold shot glass of coffee into a glass cocktail shaker on a pink counter next to bottles of liquor. In photo 2, the hand is pouring a shot glass of coffee liqueur. In photo 3, the hand is pouring a shot glass of vodka.
Add the cold brew concentrate, coffee liqueur, & vodka to a cocktail shaker.

If you like a sweeter cocktail, try adding 1/4-1/2 ounce of simple syrup. I find that the coffee liqueur adds enough sweetness, but feel free to adjust the drink to your tastes!

Three steps to making a cold brew martini. In photo 1, a clear cocktail shaker is filled with cold brew, liquor, and ice on a pink counter next to alcohol bottles. In photo 2, a hand is shaking the cocktail shaker. In photo 3, the hand is pouring the espresso martini in a glass.
Fill the cocktail shaker with ice & shake until the drink is chilled. Lastly, pour the martini in a chilled glass and garnish the top with 3 coffee beans.

    Shake the drink just until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds. If you shake it for too long, the cocktail will end up watery!

    Two cold brew martinis on a pink background next to a glass decanter, gold cocktail shaker, and coffee beans.

    Batch cocktail

    If you want to make batch espresso martinis for a crowd (without having to brew espresso all night), this recipe is the best solution! Just multiply the ingredients by however many cocktails you want to make. Add everything to a pitcher, cover, and refrigerate for later. When you’re ready to serve, just shake the cocktail with ice a few at a time. Then, pour and enjoy!

    Here’s the ratio for 8 cocktails:

    • 12 ounces vodka (360 milliliters)
    • 8 ounces coffee liqueur (240 milliliters)
    • 8 ounces cold brew concentrate (240 milliliters)

    To keep the cocktails nice and cold for serving a crowd, chill the martini glasses before you shake and pour. Just pop the martini glasses in the freezer for at least 1-2 hours before you’re ready to serve.

    Make-ahead

    Single martinis are best enjoyed right after you pour the drink. But, you can still make a big batch of this cocktail in advance for later! Just add the cold brew, coffee liqueur, and vodka to a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. When you’re ready to serve, give the drink a good stir before you shake the martinis.

    Depending on the size of your cocktail shaker, you should be able to shake about 3-4 cocktails at a time. This makes it so much easier to serve a crowd!

    Two cold brew martinis on a pink counter next to a crystal decanter, gold and glass canister, coffee beans, and glass cocktail shaker.
    The 3 coffee beans are said to represent health, wealth and happiness which comes from the tradition of serving Sambuca in Italy. The beans are called con la mosca, which means “with the fly”.

    If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!

    5 from 1 vote

    The Best Cold Brew Martinis (No Espresso!)

    Yield: 1 cocktail
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Meet my favorite cocktail for girls' night in! These cold brew martinis are smooth, refreshing, and have just the right amount of sweetness. Even better, you don't need an espresso machine to make this cocktail! With vodka, coffee liqueur, and homemade cold brew, they're the loveliest drink to sip with friends. Cheers!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/2 ounces vodka (45 milliliters)
    • 1 ounce coffee liqueur (30 milliliters)
    • 1 ounce cold brew coffee concentrate, homemade or store-bought (30 milliliters)
    • Coffee beans, for garnish

    Equipment

    • Jigger
    • Cocktail Shaker
    • Martini glasses chilled

    Instructions 

    • Combine the vodka, coffee liqueur, and cold brew coffee concentrate in a cocktail shaker.
    • Fill the shaker with ice. Cover and rapidly shake until the outside of the shaker is very cold and frosty, about 30 seconds.
    • Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 3 coffee beans and enjoy!

    Notes

    Use good quality coffee concentrate. There are a lot of store-bought options available, but if you can swing it, I definitely recommend making it yourself. Or, buy a high-quality brand at a coffee shop or well-stocked grocery store. It makes a huge difference!
    If you like a sweeter cocktail, try adding 1/4-1/2 ounce of simple syrup. Some coffee liqueurs are sweeter than others so you may need to adjust the ratios a bit. I find that the coffee liqueur adds enough sweetness, but feel free to add simple syrup if you like!
    Cold brew martinis don’t get as much foam on top as the espresso version. If you want to guarantee a foam top, you can also add 1 ounce of egg whites or 2 Tablespoons of aquafaba (canned chickpea liquid) to the cocktail before you shake it. I’ve also gotten a nice foam lid from adding 1/2 ounce of half-and-half to the cocktail. Just keep in mind, it will make the martini creamy!
    If you’re making multiple drinks at once, start by dividing just half of the martinis between the glasses. Then, top each drink with the remaining cocktail. You want to make sure everyone gets foam on top!
    For an extra smooth martini, I recommend double straining the drink through a fine-mesh sieve. The sieve will remove any bits of ice that slip through the shaker.
    Serve the martinis right away. The foam will melt the longer the drink sits.
    Cuisine: American
    Course: Drinks
    Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
    Serving: 1martini, Calories: 206kcal, Carbohydrates: 11.2g, Protein: 0.2g, Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 7mg, Potassium: 98mg, Sugar: 11.2g, Calcium: 4mg
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