Signature cocktail

Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini is what you make for after dinner drinks, or when you need a pick-me-up but don’t want to fall behind the pack on a night out with your mates! Dangerously drinkable with a good slog of liquor, this coffee cocktail is crowd favourite just like your LuckyLadds topless waiter will be.

Ingredients

  • 40ml / 1 1/3oz Vodka
  • 20ml (2/3 oz) Kahlua
  • 20ml (2/3 oz) espresso coffee , cooled
  • 3 coffee beans , garnish
Espresso Martini

The Perfect Espresso Martini Recipe

The Espresso Martini is smooth, bold, creamy, and honestly one of the most dangerously easy cocktails to drink on a night out. With vodka, Kahlua, and fresh espresso shaken over ice, it’s the perfect mix of strong coffee flavour and cocktail kick. Whether it’s after dinner drinks, girls night cocktails, or the point of the night where everyone suddenly needs a second wind, this one always disappears fast.

What You’ll Need ☕

  • 40ml vodka
  • 20ml Kahlua
  • 20ml fresh espresso coffee, cooled
  • Ice (the ice will help with frothing, so be generous)

Optional Garnish

  • 3 coffee beans
  • Cocoa powder dusting
  • Chocolate shavings

A studio cocktail styling scene featuring an espresso martini served in a coupe glass with creamy foam and coffee bean garnish. The setup includes Absolut vodka, Kahlua coffee liqueur, fresh espresso coffee, ice bucket, cocktail shaker, coffee beans, and chocolate truffles arranged on a wooden table with soft purple and pink lighting.

How To Make An Espresso Martini

This cocktail is all about the shake. The harder you shake it, the creamier and smoother the espresso foam becomes on top.

  1. Chill Your Glass: Place your martini or coupe glass in the freezer while preparing the cocktail.
  2. Add Ingredients To A Shaker: Add vodka, Kahlua, cooled espresso coffee, and plenty of ice into a cocktail shaker.
  3. Shake Hard: Shake aggressively for around 15 seconds until the shaker feels icy cold. This creates the creamy foam layer.
  4. Strain Into Glass: Double strain into your chilled glass for a smooth finish.
  5. Garnish & Serve: Float three coffee beans on top and serve immediately.

A close-up cocktail preparation scene showing an espresso martini being strained from a cocktail shaker into a coupe glass with creamy foam forming on top. The setup includes Absolut vodka, Kahlua coffee liqueur, fresh espresso, ice, coffee beans, cocktail tools, and chocolate truffles arranged on a wooden table with purple studio lighting.

Why Everyone Loves Espresso Martinis

It’s basically the cocktail version of saying “we’re definitely not going home yet.” Rich coffee flavour, smooth sweetness, and just enough kick to wake everyone back up after dinner or halfway through a big night out. One Espresso Martini somehow always turns into another, especially once everyone sees them coming out topped with that thick creamy foam and coffee bean garnish.

Three espresso martinis served in coupe glasses with thick creamy foam and classic coffee bean garnish. The scene includes Absolut vodka, Kahlua coffee liqueur, cocktail shaker, ice, coffee beans, chocolate truffles, and cocoa dusting arranged on a wooden tabletop with warm purple studio lighting for a premium cocktail bar atmosphere.

Delicious Espresso Martini Variations

Salted Caramel Espresso Martini

Add salted caramel syrup for a sweeter dessert-style version.

Chocolate Espresso Martini

Add chocolate liqueur or chocolate bitters for a mocha-style cocktail.

Vanilla Espresso Martini

A splash of vanilla syrup softens the coffee flavour beautifully.

Baileys Espresso Martini

Add Baileys for a creamier and smoother version.

Frozen Espresso Martini

Blend with ice for a frozen cocktail version perfect for summer nights.

Five espresso martini variations displayed in coupe glasses on a wooden tabletop with warm purple cocktail bar lighting. The drinks include salted caramel, chocolate, vanilla, classic espresso martini, and frozen espresso versions, styled with coffee beans, chocolate truffles, espresso coffee, cocktail tools, vodka, Kahlua, and ice for a premium cocktail photography scene.

Shake up your menu

More cocktails to try

Want variety at the bar? Mix in one of these LuckyLadds-approved cocktails to keep every round exciting.

Two vibrant scorpion punch cocktails served in tall glasses with orange slices, mint leaves, whipped foam and striped paper straws on a marble surface, styled for tropical party drinks, cocktail recipe blogs and fun cocktail making classes.

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Scorpion Cocktail Punch

The Scorpion is a potent and complex tropical cocktail, often served as a punch. Its origins trace back to the mid-20th century, and its recipe has evolved over time, resulting in many variations. While recipes vary, rum is a constant, and you’ll frequently find orange juice and orgeat syrup. Traditionally served in a scorpion bowl, it can be quite a showstopper with a flaming shot of rum at its center.

  • 1 1/2 (750-milliliter) bottles aged rum
  • 1/2 (750-milliliter) bottle white wine
  • 4 tablespoons gin
  • 4 tablespoons brandy
  • 2 cups lemon juice
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup orgeat syrup
  • 2 sprigs fresh mint
  • Orange slices, for garnish
  • Lemon slices, for garnish
  • Gardenias or edible flowers, for garnish
Scorpion Cocktail Punch
Frozen strawberry daiquiri cocktail in a hurricane glass garnished with fresh strawberries on a wooden table under pink and green neon lighting, perfect for tropical hens parties, summer cocktail recipes and cocktail making classes.

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Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiris are the ultimate poolside thirst quencher. Made with strawberries, rum, lime juice, and sugar. Use frozen strawberries for an extra-slushy texture! A lucky Ladds summer favourite they are nearly as cool as your topless waiter.

  • 1 1/2 cups white rum
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice, from about 6 juicy limes
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup simple syrup, depending on your preferred sweetness
  • 1 16-ounce package frozen strawberries
  • 4 cups ice cubes
  • Strawberries, lime wheels, or little umbrellas for garnish, optional
Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri
Bright blue lagoon cocktail served in a hurricane glass filled with ice and garnished with an orange slice and maraschino cherry against a vibrant yellow background, perfect for tropical hens parties, summer celebrations and cocktail making classes.

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Blue Lagoon

Everything you need to know about the Blue Lagoon is right in the name. Tall, refreshing and bluer than the bluest Caribbean sky, the cocktail turns vodka, blue curaçao and lemonade into a drink you’ll want to dive into.

  • 30ml vodka
  • 30ml blue curaçao
  • 120ml ounces lemonade
  • Garnish: lemon wheel
  • Garnish: maraschino cherry
Blue Lagoon

Let's Go

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Party Hosts

Games and Activities Hosts for a Perfect Party

Equal parts host, flirt and chaos coordinator. Hand-selected, professionally trained, talented and skilled, ready to run fun activities at your best party ever. A LuckyLadd host is an absolute must!

Model posing shirtless with his t-shirt over one shoulder, you can see luckyladds branding on his shirt and a large tattoo one one arm. He is tanned and Brazilian with a muscular physique.
Gabriel Perth
Anthony posing shirtless with his hands together over his chest. He is tanned and has large lean physique. His head is slightly leaning back and is handsome.
Anthony
Hot and handsome Brazilian guy shirtless with a good body smiling.
Jorge
Hero image of our topless waiter and nude life drawing model Costa posing with his hands on his hips. In his LuckyLadds uniform black belt with luckyladds branding and black dress pants.
Costa
Featured Queens

Drag Queens for Outrageous Fun

Bold entrances, cutting banter, and unhinged party hosting, our drag entertainers know how to turn your hens party ideas into a full-blown event. Expect personality, polish, and pazaz.

Fierce and beautiful drag queen Tara Zaan wearing a neon blue and black latex full body suit. His matching blue and black eye and lip makeup and horns.
Tara Zann
Cookie Cartel wearing a circus themed red and yellow outfit. The outfit features large red silk shoulder pads then long sleeves in red with yellow x pattern. It has lots of yellow ropes hanging down and tappers at the waist. You can see the start on gold knee high boots.
Cookie Cartel
Ashley Whispers wearing a short white party dress and white long gloves. The drag queen is also wearing big clunky diamond jewellery.
Ashley Whispers
Drag Queen Moesha posing with a sultry look on her face, she is in a lycra green, yellow and white outfit with black gloves. She is looking stunning and has long black hair.
Moesha

Got a question about our cocktails?

Our cocktails are fun! And we bet you have heaps of questions. Here are the most common questions hens organisers have asked us. Your question not answered here? Reach out to us!

Why does an Espresso Martini get foam on top?

The foam comes from freshly brewed espresso being shaken hard with ice. The coffee oils and air create that signature creamy top layer.

Why are there three coffee beans on top?

Traditionally the three beans represent health, wealth, and happiness.

What coffee works best for Espresso Martinis?

Fresh espresso gives the strongest flavour and best crema for foam.

Should espresso be hot or cold before shaking?

Slightly cooled is best. Hot espresso melts the ice too quickly.

Can I make a sweeter Espresso Martini?

Yes, add vanilla syrup, caramel syrup, or extra coffee liqueur.

Why is my Espresso Martini watery?

Usually from not enough ice or shaking for too long after the ice has melted.

Can I use cold brew coffee?

Yes. Cold brew creates a smoother less bitter cocktail.

Can I make a dairy-free creamy Espresso Martini?

Yes, oat milk or coconut cream work really well in creamy variations.

What garnish works besides coffee beans?

Chocolate shavings, cocoa powder, caramel drizzle, or even crushed biscuits work well.

Inspiration

Cheers to Espresso Martini

Stories, planning tips, and cocktail inspo to keep the celebrations flowing.

A casual summer pool party scene featuring five friends standing together in a backyard swimming pool holding bright green Midori Illusion cocktails garnished with pineapple and cherries. The setting includes tropical inflatables, palm trees, sunshine, and cocktail styling with fresh pineapple and tropical fruit around the poolside for a relaxed Australian summer party atmosphere.

The Famous Midori Illusion Cocktail

A candid outdoor backyard gathering featuring women of mixed ages enjoying elderflower and passionfruit gin cocktails in a relaxed Australian garden setting. The scene includes rustic outdoor furniture, warm afternoon lighting, fresh fruit garnishes, and a casual social atmosphere perfect for summer entertaining.

How To Make An Elderflower & Passion Fruit Gin And Tonic

A relaxed Australian-style backyard gathering featuring vibrant pink Water Dragon cocktails served on a rustic outdoor table during golden hour. Friends socialise in the background while dragon fruit garnished cocktails create a fun tropical party atmosphere with warm outdoor lighting and casual summer styling.

Mouth Watering, Water Dragon Cocktail Recipe