Christmas Coffee Cocktails to Make at Home

Everyone loves an espresso martini at Christmas time. It’s the first order of the night at every Christmas party and the cocktail that keeps you buzzing for the New Year’s Eve countdown.  

So we’ve given it a few seasonal outfits. Below you’ll find festive espresso martini twists, creamy after-dinner coffee cocktails, and shortcuts for when you’re pouring for a crowd. No bartending skills required. 

Every recipe works with Grind pods, a cafetière, or even instant coffee. And if you want one pink box to get you started, our Espresso Martini Gift Set has you covered. 

What You Need to Make Coffee Cocktails at Home

You don't need a whole bar setup. You just need these five things: 

• A cocktail shaker (but a large jam jar or mason jar with a tight lid will suffice)

• Plenty of ice

• Coffee liqueur

• Vodka

• Coffee

The coffee is the bit that matters most (obviously we’d say that, but it’s true). Make it strong, then let it cool if you have time. Hot coffee melts your ice, which waters down the drink and flattens that silky foam on top. 

• Pods: one shot (about 40ml) per drink. 

• Cafetière: use roughly double your usual amount (about 15g of ground coffee per 100ml of water) and brew for four minutes.

• Instant: two teaspoons in 40ml of water. You can stir our instant coffee directly into cold water, so you don’t need to wait for it to cool. 

Want everything you need in one go? The Grind Espresso Martini Gift Set comes with a shaker, mini vodka bottles, a refillable coffee tin, and speciality coffee. 

Best Coffee for Coffee Cocktails

Pick whichever suits your kitchen: 

• Have a pod machine? Grab our Nespresso® compatible compostable coffee pods. Our House Blend has a chocolatey depth that goes great with vodka and cream. 
• Use a cafetière? Our speciality ground coffee comes in 227g bags from £10.95. 
• No machine? Our craft instant coffee is the no-machine method, and nobody could guess. 

Don't forget the ice! Ice does two jobs: it chills the drink and, when you shake with enough vigour, it whips up the foam. Use more than you think you need. Fill the shaker at least two-thirds full. 

Our Grind ice cube tray means you’ll never run short. 

Festive Espresso Martini Twists

All three of these seasonal twists build on our classic espresso martini recipe, so start there if you want the base method. Then add a little Christmas. 

Christmas Spiced Espresso Martini 

Warm cinnamon, a hit of orange, and a star anise on top. 

Ingredients: 
40ml vodka
40ml strong coffee, cooled
15ml coffee liqueur
15ml cinnamon syrup 
1 strip of orange zest

Method:

1. Add the vodka, coffee, coffee liqueur, and cinnamon syrup to a cocktail shaker. 
   
2. Fill with ice and shake hard for 15 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Twist the orange zest over the glass to release its oils, then drop it in.
5. Garnish with one star anise. 
   

Quick cinnamon syrup recipe: simmer 100g sugar, 100ml water, and 2 cinnamon sticks for five minutes. Cool, then strain. It keeps for a week in the fridge. 

Baileys Espresso Martini

A creamy and sweet festive treat, best made with Grind x Baileys coffee pods. 

Ingredients: 
30ml coffee (x1 Grind x Baileys coffee pod)
30ml vodka
30ml Baileys Original Irish Cream
Coffee beans for garnish

Method:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, then add all the ingredients except for the coffee beans.
2. Give it a good shake.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with three whole coffee beans on top.
   

Cold Brew Espresso Martini

Cold brew is smoother and less bitter than hot coffee poured over ice, so it makes your espresso martini silky smooth and full of rich flavour. Use our Cold Brew Bottle to make a batch of cold brew the day before. 

Ingredients: 
40ml cold brew coffee
30ml vodka
30ml coffee liqueur
Coffee beans for garnish

Method:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, then add all the ingredients except for the coffee beans.
2. Give it a good shake.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with three whole coffee beans on top.
   

Creamy After-Dinner Coffee Cocktails

Being too full for pudding isn’t something we personally experience, but apparently it happens. You can serve these creamy coffee cocktails instead of dessert, with a dessert, or alongside a cheeseboard. 

Irish Coffee Recipe

Hot, strong, topped with a cloud of cream. A classic holiday recipe. 

Ingredients: 
120ml hot, freshly-brewed coffee
40ml Irish whiskey
2 tsp brown sugar
30ml double cream, lightly whipped

Method:

1. Add the coffee and sugar to a warm heatproof glass or mug and stir until the sugar dissolves.
2. Stir in the whiskey.
3. Pour the cream slowly over the back of a warm spoon so it floats on top. Don’t stir. 
   

Tips on getting the cream to float instead of sink: 
• Whip it only until it just thickens. It should still pour, like melted ice cream.
• Don’t skip the sugar: it makes the coffee denser, which helps hold the cream up. 
• Pour slowly and keep the spoon close to the surface. 

White Russian Recipe

A staple on the cocktail menu in Grind restaurants, super easy to make at home. 

Ingredients: 
50ml vodka
25ml coffee liqueur
25ml double cream (or whole milk for a lighter version)

Method:

1. Fill a short tumbler with ice.
2. Pour in the vodka and coffee liqueur.
3. Slowly pour the cream over the top and let it swirl down. 
   

Optional garnish: a grating of dark chocolate. 

Want more fresh coffee flavour? Cut the coffee liqueur to 15ml and add 30ml of cold brew coffee. You get a bolder, less sweet drink that tastes more like coffee and less like dessert.

Baileys Coffee Recipe

The simplest drink here, and possibly the most popular at 4pm on Christmas Day. 

Just pour 50ml of Baileys into 150ml hot coffee, stir, and top with whipped cream if you’re feeling a little extra. 

For more ideas, try our best Baileys coffee recipes. Or shop our Grind x Baileys Coffee Pods. 

Coffee Cocktails for a Christmas Party

Shaking drinks one at a time is great when you’re a party of two. For twelve, it’s a shift behind the bar. Do the work before the doorbell goes. 

Espresso Martini Jug (serves 8)

Ingredients: 
320ml vodka
320ml strong coffee, cooled
160ml sugar syrup 

Method:

1. Mix everything in a jug or large bottle and chill in the fridge for up to a day.
2. When it’s time, pour 200ml into a shaker (enough for two martinis), fill with ice and shake hard.
3. Strain into chilled martini glasses, garnish with a few coffee beans, and repeat. 
   

Don’t skip the shake. It’s what gives you the foam, and the foam is half the fun. 

Want a zero-effort alternative? Our Espresso Martini Cans are ready to pour. Chill, crack open, serve over ice. No one has to know. 

Which Coffee Cocktail When? 

Non-Alcoholic Christmas Coffee Drinks

Whether you’re the designated driver, avoiding alcohol, or just pacing yourself, you should still be able to enjoy a delicious drink.

Alcohol-free Espresso Martini: shake 50ml non-alcoholic spirit, 40ml cooled Grind coffee, and 15ml sugar syrup hard with ice. Strain into a martini glass and top with three coffee beans. 

Vanilla Cold Brew: pour cold brewed coffee over ice, add 10ml vanilla syrup and a splash of milk. Simple, smooth, and very easy to make. 

For more festive coffee ideas, with or without the booze, head to our Christmas coffee drinks guide. 

Shake Up Your Christmas with Grind

Want to be everyone’s favourite guest this holiday season? Turning up with a Grind Espresso Martini Gift Set will do it. And if you’re hosting, you could probably do with keeping one for yourself. 

Please enjoy responsibly. For more information, visit drinkaware.co.uk. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Most Popular Coffee Cocktail?

The espresso martini, by a long way. It’s the coffee cocktail our restaurants pour most, especially in the run-up to Christmas. Vodka, fresh speciality coffee, and a little sugar syrup, shaken hard for that famous foam. It’s a class for a reason.

Get the method in our classic espresso martini guide. 

Can You Make an Espresso Martini without a Coffee Machine?

Yes. Brew extra-strong coffee in a cafetière (about 15g of ground coffee per 100ml of water), or dissolve two teaspoons of Grind instant coffee in 40ml of water. No shaker either? A jam jar with a tight lid works.

Which Coffee is Best for Coffee Cocktails?

Strong, smooth speciality-grade coffee with chocolatey notes, so it holds its own against vodka and cream. Our House Blend does exactly that, whether you use our Nespresso® compatible coffee pods, ground coffee, or whole bean coffee. Always cool it before shaking.

How Do You Make a Baileys Espresso Martini?

Shake 40ml of cooled coffee, 30ml vodka, 30ml Baileys and 10ml coffee liqueur hard with ice, then strain into a chilled glass. For extra Irish cream flavour, brew the coffee with Grind x Baileys coffee pods.

What Coffee Cocktails Can I Make for a Christmas Party?

Go for drinks you can prep ahead. A jug espresso martini, mixed earlier and shaken to order, keeps queues short. Add a Christmas spiced espresso martini for something seasonal, White Russians for the after-dinner crowd, and espresso martini cans for when you'd rather be mingling than behind the bar.

Related Articles: 

Grind Espresso Martini Recipe

Best Baileys Coffee Recipes

Christmas Coffee Drinks Guide