Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 16 to 18 muffin cups with paper liners and set pans aside.

Step 2

Whisk the flour, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Step 3

Place the butter in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. With mixer on medium speed, gradually beat in the sugar. Once the sugar is all added, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat for a couple of minutes, until very light.

Step 4

Beat in the eggs and the vanilla.

Step 5

Turn mixer to low and beat in half of the dry ingredients until just combined, then beat in half of the sour cream and all of the milk.

Step 6

Beat in the remaining dry ingredients, again just until incorporated, then the remaining sour cream. The batter will be thick.

Step 7

Divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake 18 to 24 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.

Step 8

Cool the cupcakes in the pans for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Step 9

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until very smooth.

Step 10

Add 4 tablespoons of milk, the espresso powder, vanilla, and salt and beat to combine.

Step 11

With mixer on low, gradually beat in 4 cups of the powdered sugar.

Step 12

Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, then turn mixer to medium and beat until smooth. Add additional powdered sugar if frosting is too thin and additional milk if frosting is too thick.

Step 13

Pipe or spread frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and decorate with espresso beans (if desired). Serve.

Step 14

Uneaten cupcakes can be stored at room temperature, covered, for two or three days or in the fridge, covered, for 3 or 4 days. (I think the cupcakes taste best at room temp though.)

Step 15

You can also store them in the freezer, tightly wrapped, for up to 2 months.