Anyway, does the esp8266 have totem-pole outputs, like I am used to on other microcontrollers? I.e. is it sourcing current in high state and sinking current in low state? This is necessary if you want to drive a mosfet successfully. Otherwise the charge built up on the gate won't flow away on "low" and the mosfet remains in conducting state.
Also always included a resistor between microcontroller output and mosfet if not using a mosfet driver, something between 20 - 100 Ohms will be OK. Lower is better because of faster transitions, but also increases the risk of damaging the mosfet.
I'll also look into a MOSFET driver. Sounds helpful.
Thanks for helping and educating a noob!
http://www.irf.com/product-info/datashe ... ir4426.pdf
The ir4426 and ir4427 are more or less the same parts, inverting and non-inverting. If you use this, it almost can't go wrong. The also supply and extra level of isolation so the power to your motor (probably >> 3.3V) won't end up on the ESP8266 by accident.