North Italia Espresso Martini Recipe

I love going to North Italia. It is a great spot for family dinners or a fun night with friends. The food is always good, and the drinks are made with care.

One drink on their menu is my absolute favorite: the espresso martini. The rich coffee, the clean vodka, and the sweet coffee liqueur all come together perfectly. It is the best drink to enjoy after a good meal.

I know, coffee and vodka might sound like a strange mix. But trust me, it works! It is smooth, tasty, and feels like a little party in a glass.

Today, I am so excited to share my copycat North Italia espresso martini recipe with you. You can make this amazing drink right in your own kitchen.

What is an espresso martini?

An espresso martini is a coffee cocktail that blends vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur. It’s not a true martini since it doesn’t use gin or vermouth, but it is served in a martini glass.

The drink was first made in the 1980s in London, but now you can find it on menus all across the United States.

The strong coffee shot makes it bold, while the liqueur adds sweetness and balance. It’s smooth, lightly bitter, and usually topped with a few coffee beans for garnish.

North Italia Espresso Martini Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz. (45ml) Vodka: Use good quality vodka for this drink. You don’t need the most expensive bottle, but don’t go too cheap either. The vodka should be smooth and clean tasting. Grey Goose, Tito’s, or Ketel One work great. If you can’t find these, any premium vodka will do. You can substitute with gin if you want something different, but it won’t taste the same.
• 1 oz. (30ml) Coffee Liqueur: Kahlua is what I use most of the time. It’s sweet and has a good coffee taste. You can also use Tia Maria or Mr. Black if you have them. If you don’t have coffee liqueur, you can make your own by mixing simple syrup with strong cold coffee and a little vanilla extract.
• 1 Shot Fresh Espresso: You need real espresso, not regular coffee. I make mine with an espresso machine at home. If you don’t have one, you can get espresso from a coffee shop. Ask them to make it extra strong. You can also use a Moka pot or French press with finely ground coffee.
• Ice: Use plenty of ice for shaking. The ice helps chill the drink and creates the foam on top. Regular ice cubes work fine. Don’t use crushed ice because it melts too fast. You want the ice to stay solid while you shake the drink.
• Coffee Beans for Garnish: Three coffee beans on top is traditional. They should be whole beans, not ground coffee. The beans add smell and look nice. You can use any coffee beans you have. Dark roast beans look better than light roast.

Recommended Kitchen Equipment

1. Cocktail shaker or mixing glass – Mix ingredients and create foam
2. Fine mesh strainer – Remove ice chips for smooth texture
3. Jigger or measuring cup – Measure vodka and coffee liqueur correctly
4. Martini glass – Serve the drink (chill in freezer first)
5. Espresso machine or coffee maker – Make fresh espresso
6. Bar spoon – Place coffee beans without disturbing foam

How To Make North Italia Espresso Martini

Step 1 | Get your Espresso Ready

Brew 1 shot of fresh espresso using your machine or method. Let it sit for a few minutes. While the espresso is brewing, get your shaker ready with ice. Fill your cocktail shaker about half full with ice cubes. The ice should be fresh and not melting.

Step 2 | Add the Vodka and Coffee Liqueur

Pour 1 1/2 oz. (45ml) vodka into the shaker first. Measure it carefully because too much vodka will make the drink too strong. Add 1 oz. (30ml) coffee liqueur next. This adds the sweet coffee taste that balances the espresso.

Step 3 | Add the Espresso

Now add the hot espresso shot to the shaker. The hot espresso hitting the cold ice creates steam and helps make the foam on top. This step is key for getting the right texture.

Step 4 | Shake it Up

Put the lid on your shaker tight and make sure it won’t leak. Shake the drink hard for about 15 seconds—harder than you think you need to. This vigorous shaking creates the smooth texture and foam that makes this martini special.

Step 5 | Strain the Drink

Let the drink sit for a few seconds after shaking to allow the foam to settle on top. Then, double strain the drink through a fine mesh strainer into your martini glass. This removes any ice chips and makes the drink smooth.

Step 6 | Garnish and Enjoy

The drink should have a nice foam layer on top. Place 3 whole coffee beans in a triangle pattern on the foam. The beans should float on top. Serve right away while it’s still cold.

Tips for a Perfect Espresso Martini

• Use freshly brewed espresso for the best flavor. Stale or old coffee won’t give the same rich taste.
• Shake hard for at least 15 seconds to create that signature foamy top.
• Always double strain to avoid ice chips in your drink.
• Chill your martini glass before pouring for a smoother, longer-lasting cold drink.
• Add a tiny pinch of salt to bring out the coffee flavor. It enhances the richness without making the drink taste salty.

What to Enjoy with North Italia Espresso Martini

The North Italia espresso martini pairs beautifully with both sweet and savory foods.

At the restaurant, you’ll often see it served after a pizza or pasta meal, almost like a dessert drink.

The bold coffee flavor goes well with chocolate desserts, cheesecakes or cake recipe and even something light like tiramisu.

You can also enjoy it with salty snacks like nuts or cheese boards because the rich drink balances out the savory bites.

I personally love it with a slice of chocolate cake – it feels like the perfect match.

At North Italia, the drink usually comes at the end of the meal, served chilled and foamy, making it a satisfying way to finish dinner.

North Italia Espresso Martini Recipe FAQs

1. Can I make the North Italia espresso martini without an espresso machine?

Yes! You can use strong brewed coffee or cold brew concentrate instead of espresso. Just make sure it’s strong and chilled before adding it to the shaker, so you still get that rich flavor.

2. Can I make this drink ahead of time?

You can mix the vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso ahead of time, but don’t shake with ice until you’re ready to serve. Shaking is what creates the foam, and that’s what makes the drink look and feel fresh.

3. Can you store leftover espresso martini?

You can’t store this drink once it’s made because the foam disappears quickly and ice melts. The drink needs to be served right away while cold. However, you can prep ingredients ahead of time.

4. Can you store leftover espresso martini?

You can’t store this drink once it’s made because the foam disappears quickly and ice melts. The drink needs to be served right away while cold. However, you can prep ingredients ahead of time.

5. Why do espresso martinis have coffee beans on top?

The three beans are a traditional garnish. They don’t change the taste much but are said to symbolize health, wealth, and happiness.

6. Is this drink very strong with alcohol?

This cocktail contains about the same amount of alcohol as other martinis. The 1.5 oz of vodka plus the alcohol in the coffee liqueur makes it a standard-strength cocktail. The coffee flavor can mask some of the alcohol taste, making it seem less strong than it is.

7. My drink didn’t get foamy. What did I do wrong?

The foam comes from two things: fresh espresso and hard shaking. Make sure your espresso is fresh (not instant coffee already dissolved in water) and that you shake the drink for a full 15 seconds. The harder you shake, the more foam you will get.

8. Is this drink too strong for beginners?

Not at all – it’s smooth if mixed right. The coffee and liqueur hide the alcohol bite. Start with less vodka, like 1 ounce, to ease in. Sip slow and enjoy the flavors. I’ve shared it with friends new to cocktails, and they loved it.

Continue to Content

North Italia Espresso Martini Recipe

Yield: 1 glass

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

North Italia espresso martini recipe in just 5 minutes! A smooth blend of vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur topped with coffee beans.

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz (45ml) Vodka – smooth and clean tasting
• 1 oz (30ml) Coffee Liqueur – such as Kahlua, Tia Maria, or Mr. Black
• 1 shot (1 oz / 30ml) Fresh Espresso – hot and freshly brewed
• Ice cubes – enough to fill shaker halfway
• 3 Whole Coffee Beans – for garnish
• (Optional) Pinch of salt – enhances coffee flavor

Instructions

1. Brew 1 shot of fresh espresso using your machine or method. Let it sit for a few minutes. While the espresso is brewing, get your shaker ready with ice. Fill your cocktail shaker about half full with ice cubes. The ice should be fresh and not melting.
2. Pour 1 1/2 oz. (45ml) vodka into the shaker first. Measure it carefully because too much vodka will make the drink too strong. Add 1 oz. (30ml) coffee liqueur next. This adds the sweet coffee taste that balances the espresso.
3. Now add the hot espresso shot to the shaker. The hot espresso hitting the cold ice creates steam and helps make the foam on top. This step is key for getting the right texture.
4. Put the lid on your shaker tight and make sure it won’t leak. Shake the drink hard for about 15 seconds—harder than you think you need to. This vigorous shaking creates the smooth texture and foam that makes this martini special.
5. Let the drink sit for a few seconds after shaking to allow the foam to settle on top. Then, double strain the drink through a fine mesh strainer into your martini glass. This removes any ice chips and makes the drink smooth.
6. The drink should have a nice foam layer on top. Place 3 whole coffee beans in a triangle pattern on the foam. The beans should float on top. Serve right away while it’s still cold.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1 cocktail
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 205Sodium: 10mgCarbohydrates: 15gSugar: 12gSugar Alcohols: 20g

I hope this north italia espresso martini recipe helps you make a rich and simple drink at home. I like how fast it comes together and how it feels like a small treat.

Try it tonight and tune the taste to match what you like. Share how it turns out – I would love to hear your notes.