Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini

The Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini gives a classic espresso martini a holiday twist by shaking up vodka, cooled espresso, chocolate liqueur and orange liqueur. Strain it into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange twist and a few shavings of grated chocolate.

This one tastes like the chocolate oranges you get in your stocking at Christmas, but with a coffee kick. It’s quite rich but not heavy, and it’s great after dinner or as a pick me up before heading out for the evening.

Why You’ll Love This

This martini is rich, smooth and full of flavor.

• Chocolate and orange is a classic combo
• Espresso adds a bold coffee kick
• Only four main ingredients
• Feels fancy but is easy to make
• Great as an after dinner drink
• Perfect for holiday parties

A sweeter riff on the classic espresso martini, this cocktail is perfect for coffee fans.

Tasting Notes

Roasted espresso kicks things off and is followed by smooth chocolate liqueur, lending sweet cocoa flavors. A dash of orange liqueur adds citrus brightness and makes the chocolate even more noticeable. The vodka is clean tasting and lets the other flavors shine. A hard shake gives it a nice foam on top, and the orange peel and grated chocolate add aroma.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for one martini.

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 1 oz espresso, brewed and cooled
• 1/2 oz chocolate liqueur
• 1/2 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau or triple sec)
• Orange peel and grated chocolate, for garnish

Suggested Liquor Brands and Substitutions

Here are a few good picks for each ingredient.

• Tito’s or Absolut Vodka
  Smooth and easy for mixing.
• Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
  Rich and creamy chocolate flavor.
• Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur
  A darker, less sweet chocolate option.
• Cointreau
  A bright, clean orange liqueur.
• Cold brew concentrate instead of espresso
  A handy shortcut with no espresso machine.

Grand Marnier also works as the orange liqueur and adds a slightly richer, cognac based flavor.

Equipment and Glassware

Here’s what you’ll want for this martini.

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Strainer
• Martini glass
• Espresso machine or coffee maker
• Microplane or grater for the chocolate

A fine mesh strainer helps catch small ice chips for a smooth pour.

How to Make It

Brew the espresso first so it has time to cool.

1. Chill a martini glass by filling it with ice water.
2. In a shaker, combine the vodka, cooled espresso, chocolate liqueur and orange liqueur.
3. Add ice to the shaker.
4. Seal it tight and shake hard for 15 to 20 seconds.
5. Dump the ice water from the martini glass.
6. Strain the drink into the chilled glass.
7. Twist the orange peel over the drink and rub it around the rim.
8. Garnish with the orange peel and a sprinkle of grated chocolate.

The hard shake is what gives the drink its foamy top, so don’t hold back.

Pro Tips

These tips will help you make a great espresso martini.

• Cool the espresso. Hot espresso melts the ice and waters the drink down.
• Shake hard. A strong shake creates that classic foam on top.
• Use fresh espresso. Fresh coffee gives the best flavor and foam.
• Chill the glass. A cold glass keeps the drink crisp.
• Rub the rim with orange. It adds an extra burst of citrus aroma.
• Grate the chocolate fresh. A microplane gives light, fluffy shavings.

Espresso can be made ahead and refrigerated. This is a great way to simplify entertaining.

Variations

Here are a few fun ways to change it up.

• Salted Chocolate Orange
  Add a tiny pinch of sea salt to the shaker.
• Creamy Chocolate Orange
  Add a splash of Baileys.
• Spiced Chocolate Orange
  Add a dash of cinnamon to the shaker.
• Peppermint Chocolate
  Swap the orange liqueur for peppermint schnapps.
• Mocha Orange
  Use coffee liqueur instead of half the vodka.

The creamy version is a great dessert drink for the holidays.

When to Serve and Pairings

This martini is great for evenings and special occasions.

• After dinner drinks
• Holiday parties
• Date nights
• New Year’s Eve
• Girls’ night out
• Dessert parties

Food pairings that work especially well include:

• Chocolate cake
• Tiramisu
• Biscotti
• Orange shortbread
• Chocolate covered strawberries

FAQs

Here are a few common questions about this martini.

Can I use regular coffee?
Strong brewed coffee or cold brew concentrate works if you don’t have espresso.

Why didn’t my drink get foamy?
Shake harder and use fresh espresso. Both help create foam.

Can I use triple sec?
Yes. Triple sec works great as the orange liqueur.

Will this keep me up?
It has about one shot of espresso, so it does have caffeine.

More Cocktails to Try

If you enjoyed this Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini, try one of these next.

• Espresso Martini
• Salted Caramel Espresso Martini
• Eggnog Espresso Martini
• Cinnamon Roll Espresso Martini
• Red Velvet Espresso Martini