Frozen Espresso Martini
A frozen espresso martini with vodka, coffee liqueur and cold espresso — a coffee slush sized for Margaritaville machines.
Jump to recipe ↓The espresso martini’s revival made it one of the most-ordered cocktails of the 2020s.
Frozen, it’s a grown-up coffee slush.
Frozen Espresso Martini recipe
Ingredients (1 drink)
- 1½ oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 1½ oz cold espresso or cold brew concentrate
- ⅓ oz simple syrup (paid link)
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Three coffee beans. Glass: Coupe.
Instructions
- Brew espresso and chill.
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add all ingredients.
- Run the cycle.
- Garnish with three coffee beans.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vodka | 3⅓ oz | 4½ oz | 3 oz | 3¾ oz | 7⅔ oz |
| coffee liqueur | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
| cold espresso or cold brew concentrate | 3⅓ oz | 4½ oz | 3 oz | 3¾ oz | 7⅔ oz |
| simple syrup | ¾ oz | 1 oz | ⅔ oz | ¾ oz | 1⅔ oz |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- The ingredient list is written for a single 12 oz drink, which matches the 1-drink setting on Key West and Fiji dials. Multiply by 2 or 3 and set the Number of Drinks dial to match.
- This batch uses about 4.25 fl oz of liquid for 1 drink. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Chilled espresso avoids melting the ice.
About boozy milkshakes
Ice-cream drinks use the shaver differently: the fat and sugar in ice cream and cream liqueurs make the texture thick and creamy. Soften the ice cream for 5 minutes, measure it in tablespoons, and rinse the jar promptly afterward — dairy residue is harder to clean once it dries.
Tips for the best texture
- Chill espresso.
- Three beans for luck.
- Add cream for a creamy version.
- Contains caffeine.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with three coffee beans and serve in a coupe. Serve boozy milkshakes in chilled glasses with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate or crushed cookies. They are rich, so a 6–8 oz pour is plenty per person. Rinse the jar and blade soon after, following your manual’s cleaning steps, because dairy dries onto plastic quickly.
Variations
- Creamy: Add 1 oz half-and-half.
- Mocha: Chocolate syrup.
- Salted caramel: Caramel syrup.
Mocktail swap
Skip vodka and liqueur; add cold brew and syrup.
Shop the ingredients
- Monin Pure Cane Syrup (simple syrup), 750 ml (paid link)
We link to mixers, syrups and juices only — alcohol isn’t sold through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Hot espresso?
Chill first.
Caffeine?
Yes.
Strength?
2½ oz spirits.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
