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Espresso Martini

Crafted with two liquors and a shot of espresso, the Espresso Martini may be the buzziest cocktail of them all. Discover the story behind the tasty tipple and learn how to craft one at home.

Espresso Martini Surrounded by Beans
Image: ©2foodtrippers

The Espresso Martini is a dream drink for multi-taskers. Not only does the popular cocktail look and taste divine, but its combination of alcohol and caffeine provides an effective punch that alleviates the necessity to chug a Red Bull at the end of the night.

Make no mistake – this caffeinated cocktail isn’t for lightweights or teetotalers. Instead, it’s a serious drink for people who like staying alert while getting a buzz. And the best part? The Espresso Martini is super easy to craft at home.

History Of The Espresso Martini Cocktail

Espresso Martini with Brown Tiles
Like many modern cocktails, the Espresso Martini’s history traces back to a London bar. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Despite having ingredients associated with Italy, Mexico and Russia, the Espresso Martini doesn’t have roots in any of these countries. A fixture at Australian bars and pubs, it’s also not from down under. Instead, the United Kingdom gets credit for this caffeinated cocktail.

This drink’s origin story involves a London bartender and an early 80s supermodel who wanted a cocktail that would “wake her up and then f**k her up .” The bartender was Dick Bradsell and the bar was the Soho Brasserie. As for the thirsty model’s name, that remains a mystery.

Fun Fact
Dick Bradsell invented a handful of cocktails including the Bramble, the Carol Channing, the Russian Spring Punch, the Treacle and the Wibble. However, the prolific bartender’s Espresso Martini is the one that has achieved icon status.

What Is An Espresso Martini?

Espresso Martini with City View
The Espresso Martini is a sophisticated sipper with a sense of urbanity. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Originally called a Vodka Espresso, the Espresso Martini is a modern cocktail that combines espresso with vodka and coffee liqueur to create double potency in a glass.

It goes without saying that the Espresso Martini is a caffeinated beverage since each shot of espresso has 64 grams of caffeine. And that’s not counting the caffeine in the coffee liqueur!

Nespresso Machine
We use this simple Nespresso machine at home. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

We use a Nespresso machine to make espresso at home which technically makes our cocktail a Nespresso Martini. Since it takes us just a couple minutes to pop a pod into the machine, we can be spontaneous when the Espresso Martini (or should we say Nespresso Martini?) craving hits us.

Beyond containing a solid amount of caffeine, the Espresso Martini also has a fairly high alcohol content. The good and bad news is that this cocktail doesn’t taste particularly strong. In other words, be extra careful not to over imbibe when you drink Espresso Martinis.

Ingredients

Espresso Martini Mise en Place
The ingredients for our Espresso Martini recipe include vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and coffee beans. Not pictured is the ice required for the shaking step. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

We love crafting cocktails with ingredients we can count on one hand. The Espresso Martini fits into this category with the its concise ingredient list:

  • Vodka
  • Coffee Liqueur
  • Espresso
  • Coffee Beans (garnish)
  • Ice Cubes (for shaking)

While some mixologists add simple syrup when they craft Espresso Martinis, our Espresso Martini recipe omits the liquid sweetener.

We don’t add sugar to our non-alcoholic coffees and flat whites and we follow the same approach here. We find that the coffee liqueur provides plenty of sweetness; however, you can add simple sugar to the ingredient list if you prefer more sugary cocktails.

Kahlua and Asolut Vodka Bottles
You can use any coffee liqueur or Vodka in this Espresso Martini recipe. We crafted this particular Espresso Martini with Kahlúa and Absolut Vodka. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

We typically use Kahlúa and whatever vodka we have on hand when we craft Espresso Martinis at home. Most recently, we’ve been crafting this and other vodka cocktails with Absolut.

Discover our favorite vodka cocktails.

Not only does Kahlúa taste delicious over ice, the dark Mexican coffee liqueur is also a key ingredient in Black Russian, White Russian and Mudslide cocktails. Other popular coffee liqueurs include Australia’s Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur and Jamaica’s Tia Maria.

Brewing Espresso with Nespresso Machine
Brewing a shot of espresso with our Nespresso machine is both quick and easy. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

While you could technically craft an Espresso Martini with regular coffee, don’t do it!

Not only does espresso have a specific flavor and consistency, but it also has a creamy element called crema. Without crema, your Espresso Martini won’t have a frothy top layer and your coffee beans will tragically sink to the bottom of the glass.

Pro Tip
Chill freshly brewed espresso about 15 minutes before you craft an Espresso Cocktail. Otherwise, your hot espresso will melt the ice which will dilute the cocktail.

How To Craft An Espresso Martini

Shaken Espresso Martini
Crafting an Espresso Martini at home doesn’t require any special mixology skills or equipment. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The first step in crafting an Espresso Martini is to measure the vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso. We use a Japanese jigger to both avoid spillage and ensure accurate measurements.

Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.

Measuring Vodka for Espresso Martini
Measuring alcohol with a Japanese jigger is both quick and easy. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Pour the vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso into a cocktail shaker as you measure each. We like using a Boston shaker since it doesn’t leak and is dishwasher safe.

Pouring Espresso into Espresso Martini
For efficiency, we pour each ingredient into the shaker as we measure it. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The next step is to vigorously shake the ingredients with ice for about 30 seconds until they are thoroughly mixed and chilled.

Pro Tip
Don’t be wimpy when shaking this cocktail. If you do, you’ll end up with an equally wimpy layer of froth.

Espresso and Other Espresso Martini Ingredients
Once your ingredients are in the shaker, it’s go time. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The final step is to strain the cocktail into a martini glass and garnish with three coffee beans.

Straining Espresso Martini into Martini Glass
Straining the Espresso Martini reveals a frothy top layer. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

While you could use a different number of beans, using three beans symbolizes health, wealth and happiness in Italy. That’s a good enough reason for us. Plus, a trio of beans looks snazzy on top of this cocktail.

Variations

Espresso Martini on Ledge
We adore drinking Espresso Martinis but will understand if you want to try additional caffeinated beverages. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The Espresso Martini may be the world’s most popular espresso-based cocktail but it’s not the only cocktail to drink when you want an alcoholic pick-me-up. Consider the following caffeinated options If you feel like experimenting:

  • Leave out the espresso and craft a Black Russian.
  • Replace the espresso with cream to craft a White Russian.
  • Combine espresso with tonic to craft a non-alcoholic Espresso Tonic.
  • Combine coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar to craft an Irish Coffee. Don’t forget the whipped cream!

Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Espresso Martini?

The Espresso Martini is a modern cocktail that combines espresso with vodka and coffee liqueur to create double potency in a glass.

Is the Espresso Martini strong?

The Espresso packs a whammy since it includes both caffeine and alcohol.

What are the ingredients in an Espresso Martini?

Vodka, Coffee Liqueur, Espresso, Coffee Beans (garnish) and Ice Cubes (for shaking)

Is the Espresso Martini shaken or stirred?

The Espresso Martini is shaken, not stirred.

What type of glass is best for the Espresso Martini?

We like to serve this cocktail in a small martini glass but you could use a coupe glass instead.

Did you craft this cocktail? If so, please rate the recipe below.

Espresso Martini Surrounded by Beans
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5 from 2 votes

Espresso Martini Recipe

This sophisticated cocktail is an ideal pick-me-up for both cocktail connoisseurs and coffee fans.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Cocktail
Servings: 1
Calories: 231kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce coffee liqueur
  • 1 ounce espresso (chilled)
  • 3 coffee beans (garnish)
  • ice cubes (for shaking)

Instructions

  • Combine vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and ice cubes in a shaker.
  • Shake vigorously for 30 seconds or until the cocktail is well mixed, chilled and frothy.
  • Strain into a martini glass.
  • Add coffee beans as garnish.

Pro Tips

  1. Add a 1/2 ounce of simple syrup if you want to craft a sweet Espresso Martini.
  2. You can use coffee instead of espresso; however, you won't get the same frothy top layer.

Estimated Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 33mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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About The Authors

About The Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers their unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.

Funding
We purchased the ingredients and tools used to craft this cocktail.

Original Publication Date: October 28, 2021

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