Espresso Martinis
Who doesn’t love an espresso martini? It’s the perfect pick me up after a meal or to get you pumped for a night out, or ease into the after dinner mode without completely passing out.. The basic recipe is also the perfect canvas to create some delicious variations. Here we start with the basics (espresso, vodka and coffee liqueur) and build on that. Many recipes include Irish cream in the basic recipe and that is entirely a preference. The beauty of these cocktails is they’re great in all forms.
The Espresso Martini was born in London in the 1980s and is rumored to be invented when a young lady (also sometimes rumored to be Kate Moss or Naomi Campbell) requested that the bartender make her something to wake her up and fuck her up. Whelp, if you’ve ever had one of these babies it certainly has the potential to do just that.
Like all cocktails it’s all about proportions and having a good basic to start from. Beyond that the varitation are endless. Typically equally parts espresso, vodka and coffee liquer (most also have Irish Cream as well), we prefer to up the espresso. Similarly we recommend you play around with your own ratios and decide for yourself what you like.
Tips and Trixx:
We can not stress this enough, use real espresso!
Real espresso creates the foam that you’ll find at the top of a perfectly made espresso martini in a restaurant.
Coffee will get the job done but won’t foam like espresso.
If you see an espresso martini on a restaurant menu and it does not include espresso, it’s not an espresso martini. By all means, indulge if you must, just know the coffee flavor will come from the coffee liquor (typically Kahlua) which is sweet. In this case you will get a sweet coffee flavored martini. A good rule of thumb, ask your server if they have espresso, and then ask if they make their espresso martini’s with espresso.
If you don’t have an espresso machine, plan ahead and stop into your local coffee shop prior to mixing.
Getting the espresso to foam requires a long shake. While shaking with ice make big circles to get the air in there. You can also use a milk frother prior to shaking with ice. Also see our tips and trixx page for tips on foaming cocktails.
The Basic
Ingredients:
2 oz Espresso or Iced Coffee Concentrate
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Coffee Liquor (typically Kahlua)
1 oz Irish Cream (typically Baily’s)
Ground nutmeg or whole coffee beans for garnish
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake for 20 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
Garnish with whole coffee beans or sprinkle with nutmeg
Chai Spice
Ingredients:
2 oz Espresso
1.5 oz Spiced Rum
1.5 oz Coffee Liquor
1/2 oz Chai Syrup
Optional 1/2 oz Rumchata
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a shake with ice.
Shake for 20 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Sip & Enjoy!
Santa’s Little Hyper Helper
Ingredients:
2 oz Espresso or Iced Coffee Concentrate
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Coffee Liqueur
1/2 oz Peppermint Vodka
1 oz Chocolate Liqueur
Cocoa powder or candy cane for garnish
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake for 20 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
Garnish with cocoa powder and a mini candy cane hanging on the edge of the glass.
The Honey Badger (inspired by our favorite latte of the same name from The Kookaburra Coffee Shop in St. Augustine, FL)
Ingredients:
2 oz Espresso
1 oz Rumchata
1 oz Coffee Liquor
1 oz Vodka
1 oz honey syrup
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake for 20 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Sip & Enjoy!
Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
2 oz Espresso
1.5 oz Coffee Liquor
1.5 oz Whiskey
.75 oz Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
Optional 1 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
Directions:
Make the brown sugar simple syrup by combining equal parts brown sugar and boiling water in a heat safe measuring cup. Stir to combine and allow to cool.
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake for 20 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
Garnish with whole coffee beans.
Sip & Enjoy!