A bold but smooth espresso martini mocktail made with chilled espresso, brown sugar syrup, and a spiced non-alcoholic spirit. This non-alcoholic martini is beautiful, tasty, and easy to make!
I am celebrating 3 years of sobriety tomorrow (cue the confetti!) and recently decided to share more delicious mocktail recipes I've discovered over the years. Espresso martinis are having a major comeback and as someone who is coffee-obsessed, I HAD to create a non-alcoholic version!
For more tasty non-alcoholic beverages, check out our Grapefruit Ginger Beer Mocktail and Honey Blackberry Smash Mocktail recipes next!
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
- Espresso. You want to use really strong espresso for this mocktail. Cold brew, freshly ground, or k-cups work fine. If you have an espresso machine, that's even better! Chill your coffee before making your mocktail.
- Seedlip Spice 94. This is an aromatic, spiced non-alcoholic spirit that replaces the vodka in this espresso martini mocktail. You may omit this ingredient or use another non-alcoholic vodka alternative.
- Brown sugar syrup (ingredients listed below). This rich simple syrup provides a sweet, syrupy element and acts as a substitute for Kahlua. Our Starbucks Copycat Vanilla Syrup is also delicious in this mocktail.
- Coffee beans. An espresso martini isn't complete without those 3 iconic coffee beans on top!
Brown Sugar Syrup
- ¾ cup water
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
How To Make This Mocktail
- Make the brown sugar syrup by bringing the water and brown sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the syrup reaches a boil, remove it from the heat and allow the sugar to completely dissolve. Stir in the vanilla extract and chill the syrup in the refrigerator.
- Add the chilled espresso, Seedlip Spice 94, and brown sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill the shaker about ⅔ full with ice. Vigorously shake the cocktail shaker back and forth using both hands for about 45 seconds.
- Strain the mocktail into a martini glass. Shake what's left in the cocktail shaker again for about 15 seconds and strain that into the glass to add more foam on top. This step is key in getting that thick foam layer that espresso martinis are known for!
- Garnish the martini by placing three coffee or espresso beans on top and enjoy!
What Is an Espresso Martini?
An espresso martini is a caffeinated cocktail made with strong coffee, vodka, and coffee liqueur (typically Kahlua). The ingredients are shaken and strained into a martini glass.
Espresso martinis have a bold coffee flavor combined with rich sweetness from the coffee liquor and a bite that comes from vodka.
This non-alcoholic espresso martini combines those same flavors with a smoother finish and no after-burn. Coffee lovers, you may also love our Starbucks Copycat Chocolate Cream Cold Brew!
More FAQs
The white foam layer that espresso martinis are known for is simply froth made from shaking the ingredients vigorously in a cocktail shaker. Fresh, good-quality espresso helps you get the most impressive layer of foam!
For the best flavor and an impressive foam layer, your espresso martini must be made with fresh, good-quality espresso! If you do not have an espresso machine, use freshly ground espresso in a French press.
Luckily, we live in a time where there are tons of great non-alcoholic spirit options available to create incredible-tasting mocktails. My favorite vodka alternatives are all of the Seedlip non-alcoholic spirit flavors, Caleno non-alcoholic spirit, and Amass Riverine non-alcoholic spirit.
Recommended Tools For This Recipe
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📖 Recipe
Espresso Martini Mocktail (Virgin Espresso Martini)
Ingredients
Brown Sugar Syrup
- ¾ cup water
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Espresso Martini Mocktail
- 2 ounces chilled espresso
- 1 ½ ounces Seedlip Spice 45
- 1 ounce brown sugar syrup
Instructions
- Make the brown sugar syrup ahead of time by bringing the water and brown sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the syrup reaches a boil, remove it from the heat and allow the sugar to completely dissolve. Stir in the vanilla extract and chill the syrup in the refrigerator.
- Add the chilled espresso, Seedlip Spice 94, and brown sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill the shaker about ⅔ full with ice. Vigorously shake the cocktail shaker back and forth using both hands for about 45 seconds.
- Strain the mocktail into a martini glass. Shake what's left in the cocktail shaker again for a few seconds and strain that into the glass to add more foam on top. This step is key in getting that thick foam layer that espresso martinis are known for!
- Garnish the espresso martini by placing three coffee or espresso beans on top and enjoy!
Notes
- For the best flavor and an impressive foam layer, your espresso martini must be made with fresh, good-quality espresso.
- Seedlip Spice 94 is a spiced non-alcoholic spirit that takes the place of vodka in this mocktail. You may omit this ingredient or substitute another non-alcoholic spirit or ½ ounce of heavy cream.
Loretta Van buren
Excellent
Ashley Boyd
Thank you!