Updated June 2026.
The IBA Espresso Martini is 50 ml vodka, 30 ml Kahlúa, 10 ml sugar syrup, and one strong espresso. Fifty milliliters of 40% vodka is 1.13 NIAAA standard drinks before you count the coffee liqueur. Kahlúa’s US ABV is on the neck (often 20% in the US — confirm). “Best vodka” is a clean 40% bottle that still tastes like coffee after the shake. This is not a 2023 top-10 tasting.
30% botanical or essence vodkas change the math. Related: IBA drink math, vodka guide, coffee liqueur vs cream.
What the shaker actually needs
| Job | Typical bottles | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 40% unflavored vodka | Ketel One, Absolut, Tito’s, Grey Goose | IBA 50 ml; 1.13 drinks |
| Coffee liqueur | Kahlúa (IBA names it) | Adds ethanol — read that ABV |
| Skip for this drink | 30% essences; cream liqueurs as the “vodka” | Different class and proof |
If Kahlúa is 20%, 30 ml adds about 0.34 of a drink — the IBA glass is then ~1.5 drinks. Four of those are about six drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. No 2026 MSRP.
Sources
- IBA Espresso Martini (2026 page): 50 ml vodka, 30 ml Kahlúa, 10 ml sugar syrup, 1 espresso.
- 27 CFR 5.142. NIAAA December 2025. Kahlúa US percent is label-dependent.