21 Bold Espresso Drink Recipes to Put Some Serious Pep in Your Step (2024)

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By Starla Gatson

Last updated: October 18, 2022

Can’t get enough of espresso’s bold flavor? Or perhaps you find yourself reaching for the rich joe when you need a particularly strong pick-me-up. Whatever your reason may be, you know it’s true: there’s nothing quite like a good shot of espresso.

If you love the stuff as much as we do, you’re in luck! We’ve got some delightful and delicious espresso-based coffee recipes for you to try. Grab your favorite finely ground espresso beans and fire up your trusty espresso machine — you’ve got brewing to do.

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Effortless Iced Espresso

Who says you can only enjoy rich and dark espresso served hot? Certainly not us! Our iced espresso recipe is a fast and easy way to cool off while getting a kick of caffeine. Give it a try; we’re sure you’ll be hooked!

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Whipped Espresso

Remember the part of 2020 when we were all making cup after cup of Dalgona coffee? You couldn’t dare forget to post a picture of the aesthetically-pleasing brew on Instagram, either! It’s time to bring the beverage back to your morning coffee routine...only this time, use a shot of espresso!

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Espresso Martini co*cktail

Sometimes, the evening calls for a boozy coffee co*cktail, and the classic espresso martini is always happy to oblige. This recipe blends Kahlua, vodka, simple syrup, and espresso, of course, into the perfect after-dinner treat.

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Bone Dry Cappuccino

If you’re a budding barista who prides themselves on being up-to-date with all of the coffee world’s trends, tricks, and lingo, you should know how to make a bone dry cappuccino. It’s easy to do; all you need is a decent cappuccino maker (or espresso machine and milk frother) and our recipe, and you’ll be crafting this cappuccino variation in no time.

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Affogato

Photo Credit:itsnotcomplicatedrecipes.com

A great dessert doesn’t have to be complicated, and the Italian affogato is proof! This little espresso and ice cream treat only takes a couple of minutes to whip up — perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth in a pinch.

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Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso

Photo Credit:milkandpop.com

There’s just one problem with Starbucks Coffee’s brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso drink: it’s so addictive! That means you’ll likely find yourself spending way more money on coffee than you’d like. You don’t have to quit your shaken espressos cold turkey, though; just use Milk and Pop’s recipe to make it at home!

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Dirty Iced Chai Latte

Something beautiful happens when chai tea and a shot of espresso come together. Not convinced? Try our dirty iced chai latte recipe; you’ll see just how good this pairing can be. It’s so creamy and delicious that both coffee and tea lovers alike won’t be able to resist!

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Caramel Cappuccino

One of the cappuccino’s most appealing characteristics is its customizability. Three simple ingredients — espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam — leave plenty of room for an at-home brewing pro to include their favorite add-ins...like caramel! Our caramel cappuccino recipe is perfect for those looking to add a little something extra to the classic Italian coffee drink.

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Classic Cuban Coffee

Whether you have Cuban roots or just want to dive into the country’s coffee culture, you’ll enjoy the rich flavor of good old cafecito, or Cuban coffee. Our recipe outlines every step of Cuban coffee brewing, so if you want something that tastes authentic, you’ll definitely want to check it out.

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Smooth Caramel Macchiato

The fancy-sounding name of this drink — macchiato — may have you convinced that you have to be a pro barista to make one yourself, but check out our recipe, and you’ll see that whipping up a good caramel macchiato in your kitchen is easier than you thought. All you need is strong espresso, steamed milk, and sweet caramel, and soon enough, you’ll be making top-notch macchiatos.

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Signature Gingerbread Latte

Move over, peppermint; another iconic Christmas coffee flavor is on its way! Meet the gingerbread latte. This combination of espresso, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, and a milk of your choice create a cup full of cheer. This warm drink is a perfect companion on any cool December morning.

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Skinny Cinnamon Oat Milk Latte

The more health-conscious coffee drinker will appreciate this skinny cinnamon oat milk latte recipe. But don’t worry; though all of the ingredients used are low or free of fat and sugar, the drink is still full of flavor!

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Simple Peppermint Mocha

Picture this: you’re curled up on the couch in front of a roaring fireplace, a warm mug filled with something delicious in your hand. What’s in your cup? A peppermint mocha, of course! Let the flavors of peppermint, chocolate, and strong coffee warm you from the inside out, and use our recipe to do it.

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Sweetened Spanish Latte

Spain is a country that takes its coffee seriously, and luckily for you, you don’t have to plan a trip to Madrid or Barcelona to enjoy it. With a shot of espresso and condensed milk or sugar, you can enjoy a sweet Spanish latte whenever you want — no traveling required.

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Vanilla Soy Latte

Searching for more non-dairy coffee drinks to try? Then, take a look at our vanilla soy latte recipe! This dairy-free beverage is high in protein and classic vanilla flavor, and it’s good ‘til the last drop!

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Easiest Iced Cappuccino

The cappuccino is arguably one of the most popular coffee drinks, but because it’s traditionally served hot, it’s usually not the best beverage to have in your hand on a sweltering summer day. That doesn’t mean you’ve got to sip something else, though. Just enjoy the cappuccino over ice, and use this recipe to do it!

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Simple Iced Latte

Getting yourself going early in the morning is hard enough. Why make things even more difficult with a complicated coffee routine? Keep things simple with our two-ingredient iced latte recipe. Milk brings out all the flavors of your favorite espresso beans nicely, creating a pick-me-up you’ll look forward to sipping every morning.

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Cortado

Not a fan of foam? Then, the cortado just might be the perfect coffee drink for you. This little beverage is made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk, creating a creamy and delicious union of flavors.

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Toasted White Chocolate Mocha

The toasted white chocolate mocha is a well-loved piece of Starbucks Coffee’s winter menu, and with the flavors of rich espresso and sweet white chocolate, it’s easy to understand why. But you don’t have to make a trip to one of the popular franchise locations to enjoy one of these drinks; just use our recipe to make it at home!

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Golden Turmeric Latte

Photo Credit:loseweightbyeating.com

The turmeric latte is one of the latest trends to sweep across the coffee industry. With its nice earthy flavor and impressive health benefits, it’s no wonder so many have fallen in love with this golden-hued drink. All you need is almond milk, honey, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, pepper, and strong coffee to make it at home!

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Low-Calorie Peppermint Mocha

Photo Credit:loseweightbyeating.com

We love a good coffeehouse peppermint mocha as much as the next person, but when you down as many of them as we do, the calories start to add up. Don’t give up the seasonal drink cold turkey, though; just make your own healthier version at home.

From day to night you have a variety of espresso drinks to give a whirl! Happy caffeinating!

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21 Bold Espresso Drink Recipes to Put Some Serious Pep in Your Step (2024)

FAQs

What to mix with espresso shot? ›

You can begin to experiment with more or less water to adjust strength, steamed milk or cream for richness and flavorful additions like chocolate sauce and whipped cream to make a nearly endless variety of espresso drinks.

What coffee drink is made with extra strong espresso and stained with a little milk? ›

Macchiato means "stained" or "spotted", so it has a literal meaning for these coffee types. Compared to the Latte Macchiato, here, you just add "spotting" of the foamed milk directly on top of the espresso shot - no steamed milk or anything else.

What Starbucks drink has two shots of espresso? ›

Starbucks Doubleshot® on Ice: Starbucks Coffee Company.

How do you make an espresso shot better? ›

You must coarsen your grind if your shot takes well over 30 seconds. You must adjust your grind finer if your shot time is under 25 seconds. Try tasting every shot you pull - even the ones that aren't perfect. You might discover another recipe that's more pleasant for you.

What is the strongest espresso drink? ›

Ristretto. A Ristretto is the strongest coffee type! It's similar to an espresso in the way that it's made. Water is still pulled through coffee beans to create the coffee but a Ristretto uses less water.

What is the strongest espresso drink with milk? ›

Cappuccino. A cappuccino is undoubtedly one of the most recognized coffee drinks around the world. The drink consists of a double shot of espresso and with equal parts steamed milk and milk foam. The result will be stronger than most milk-based beverages because there's less steamed milk diluting the espresso.

What is an espresso with heavy cream called? ›

Espresso con panna ( lit. 'espresso with cream') is a single or double shot of espresso topped with whipped cream. In France and in the United Kingdom it is known as café viennois.

How do real Italians drink espresso? ›

A "caffè" is a strong shot of espresso. Do not ask for a large double-shot skinny vanilla latte with whipped cream on top, as this is not part of the Italian coffee culture. Instead, be prepared to order an espresso shot or a "macchiato," which is an espresso with a dash of steamed milk.

What do Italians put in their espresso? ›

Most people in Milan (Northern Italy) nowadays put brown sugar in their espresso, a minority use white sugar and a small percentage get their coffee with no sugar. There's also a few who put honey in their coffee, I especially like it.

What is an espresso with milk called? ›

Cappuccino. A traditional Italian cappuccino is a coffee drink that is prepared with shots of espresso and steamed milk. A cappuccino is rich in flavor and texture. If you like some sweetness to your coffee drink without losing the coffee flavor, then you will love a cappuccino.

What drink has 3 shots of espresso? ›

Red Eye. A cup of American style drip coffee with a shot of espresso added. Also called a Shot in the Dark or an Eye Opener. Variations of the Red Eye include the Black Eye, made with two shots of espresso, and the Dead Eye, made with three shots of espresso.

What is 2 shots of espresso called? ›

Doppio - Italian for “double,” doppio is a double shot of espresso and is the gold standard. Most coffee shops serve a doppio, or double shot, as the default order when you ask for an espresso.

What is 2 shots of espresso? ›

Starbucks popularized the double shot (doppio) in America in the 1990's, though they weren't its inventors. A double shot uses 14g of coffee and produces around 60ml of espresso (about 2 liquid ounces). Double shots are now the standard in America and many places around the world.

Do you mix espresso with anything? ›

A barista will always put a spoon on the side of an espresso shot, and we suggest you do the same when making espresso at home. You might be surprised to hear this has nothing to do with adding sugar, but instead with the act of stirring espresso itself.

Should you add anything to espresso? ›

You should try to drink an espresso as is, unless it is something made terribly. Anything you add to the espresso is really to try to cover up the defects of the shot. For a well made espresso, I recommend drinking it in 3 sips while it is still hot.

What liquor goes well with espresso? ›

Here are six spirits that make an excellent addition to your coffee.
  • Rum + Coffee. While rum and coffee taste great by themselves, pairing them together creates an even better drinking experience! ...
  • Chocolate Liqueur + Coffee. ...
  • Sambuca + Coffee. ...
  • Whisky + Coffee. ...
  • Tequila + Coffee. ...
  • co*cktail Bitters + Coffee.

What alcohol is best with espresso? ›

Whether it's a warming cup of hot coffee, a quick shot of espresso, or an iced coffee drink, some distilled spirits work better with coffee than others. When you want to spike your coffee, dark liquors like brandy and whiskey, and sweet nutty or creamy liqueurs are among the best choices.

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