Affogato Espresso Martini: The Ultimate Coffee Dessert Cocktail
Espresso Martini Meets Vanilla Ice Cream — with Five Liqueur Twists to Try
Is it a cocktail?
Is it dessert?
We'd argue there's no particular reason it can't be both.
Our Affogato Espresso Martini takes the rich coffee character of an Espresso Martini and finishes it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
As the ice cream slowly melts, it becomes part of the drink — adding creaminess and sweetness to the coffee, vodka and liqueur underneath.
And then comes the fun part.
Change the liqueur and you can turn the same basic recipe into chocolate, caramel, nutty, coffee or Jaffa versions.
It's particularly good for Easter.
But we'd happily eat — or drink — one at any time of year.
What Is an Affogato Espresso Martini?
A traditional Italian affogato is beautifully simple: vanilla gelato or ice cream served with hot espresso poured over it.
An Espresso Martini brings together vodka, espresso and coffee liqueur.
This recipe borrows a little from both.
We shake vodka, espresso and your choice of liqueur into a cold cocktail, then add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top.
The result starts as a cocktail and gradually becomes creamier as the ice cream melts into the glass.
How to Make an Affogato Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 30ml TMD Neutral Vodka
- 15ml liqueur of your choice
- 15ml freshly brewed espresso, cooled
- Ice
- 1 small scoop vanilla bean ice cream
- Garnish of your choice
Method
- Add the vodka, liqueur and cooled espresso to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for around 15–20 seconds, until well chilled and frothy.
- Strain into a chilled Martini or coupe glass.
- Carefully place a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top.
- Finish with a garnish that suits your chosen liqueur.
Coffee beans, grated chocolate, orange zest, crushed nuts or a little caramel can all work beautifully.
Then serve it immediately.
Why Does the Ice Cream Work?
This is where the drink changes as you enjoy it.
At first, you have the chilled coffee, vodka and liqueur underneath with cold vanilla ice cream sitting above.
Then the ice cream begins to soften.
Vanilla and cream gradually mingle with the espresso, rounding out its bitterness and changing the texture of the cocktail.
You can leave it to melt naturally or give everything a gentle stir.
Either way, don't take too long admiring it.
Five Affogato Espresso Martini Variations
The base recipe stays the same.
Just change the 15ml of liqueur and choose a garnish to match.
1. Choc 'n' Chilli Affogato
Replace your liqueur with Choc 'n' Chilli Liqueur.
Chocolate, coffee and vanilla make natural partners, while the chilli adds warmth at the finish.
Garnish: grated dark chocolate and a very light sprinkle of chilli.
Best for: someone who wants their Easter chocolate with a little attitude.
2. Salted Caramel Affogato
Use Butter Caramel Liqueur for a rich caramel variation.
The combination of espresso, caramel and melting vanilla ice cream pushes this one firmly into dessert territory.
Garnish: a little caramel drizzle and a tiny pinch of sea salt.
Best for: the dessert lover.
3. Macadamia Affogato
Add Macadamia Nut Liqueur for a nutty variation that works particularly well with coffee and vanilla.
Garnish: finely crushed toasted macadamias.
Best for: something rich without going completely chocolate.
4. Double Coffee Affogato
Sometimes the answer is simply more coffee.
Use our Coffee Liqueur alongside the fresh espresso for the most classic version of the five.
Garnish: three coffee beans or a light dusting of cocoa.
Best for: Espresso Martini traditionalists.
5. Jaffa Affogato
Use Jaffa Liqueur to bring chocolate and orange into the coffee-and-vanilla combination.
It's an especially good direction for Easter, when chocolate is already doing most of the heavy lifting.
Garnish: grated dark chocolate and fresh orange zest.
Best for: anyone who thinks chocolate is better with citrus.
Which Liqueur Should You Choose?
Think about the dessert flavours you already enjoy with coffee.
If you like chocolate, try Choc 'n' Chilli.
If you're a caramel person, reach for Butter Caramel.
For something nutty, choose Macadamia.
If the coffee is the whole point, use Coffee Liqueur.
And for chocolate and orange, Jaffa is hard to overlook.
Once you understand the basic recipe, there's nothing stopping you experimenting with other liqueurs in your cabinet.
That's really the point of this cocktail.
One recipe. A lot of possible desserts.
Make It an Easter Dessert Cocktail
This cocktail originally found its way onto our Easter table for a reason.
Coffee.
Chocolate.
Ice cream.
Liqueur.
It already sounds like dessert before you've shaken anything.
For an Easter version, garnish with a little grated chocolate, half a small Easter egg or a few chocolate curls.
You can even let everyone choose their own liqueur and turn dessert into a small Affogato Espresso Martini tasting.
Same base cocktail.
Completely different glass depending on the bottle you choose.
Cocktail or Dessert?
We still haven't decided.
And we're not particularly interested in doing so.
The Affogato Espresso Martini sits happily somewhere between the two: cold espresso, vodka and liqueur underneath, vanilla ice cream slowly melting from the top.
Make it for Easter.
Make it after dinner.
Or make one because you've reached that difficult moment when you can't decide between ordering coffee and ordering dessert.
Sometimes you don't have to choose.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Affogato Espresso Martini?
An Affogato Espresso Martini combines elements of two classics: the Italian affogato and the Espresso Martini. Our version combines vodka, fresh espresso and liqueur before adding a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
Can you put ice cream in an Espresso Martini?
Yes. Adding a small scoop of vanilla ice cream turns an Espresso Martini into a richer dessert-style cocktail. As the ice cream melts, it adds creaminess, vanilla flavour and sweetness to the drink.
What liqueur goes well in an Espresso Martini?
Coffee, chocolate, caramel and nut liqueurs are natural partners for espresso. Citrus flavours such as chocolate-orange can also work particularly well. The best choice depends on whether you want the cocktail to taste more like coffee, chocolate or dessert.
Can I make an Affogato Espresso Martini for Easter?
Absolutely. Chocolate, coffee, vanilla and dessert liqueurs make it particularly suited to Easter. Finish it with grated chocolate, chocolate curls or a small piece of Easter chocolate.
Should espresso be hot or cold in an Espresso Martini?
For this recipe, we recommend allowing the freshly brewed espresso to cool before shaking it with the other ingredients. This helps prevent excessive ice melt while you're trying to chill the cocktail.
