Making an Espresso Martini
The espresso martini is a classic and sophisticated glass of rich satisfaction. It’s a party starter and a trouble maker … what’s not to love?
The story goes that Dick Bradsell created the legendary espresso martini in ‘80s Soho, London. A young lady walked into the bar and asked for a drink that “wakes me up then f**ks me up”. From that day forward, they have been fuelling office parties and nights out all over the country.
The Espresso Martini mixes vodka, espresso and coffee liquor. It’s rich, creamy and indulgent, with a caffeine kick that will make sure you keep up with the pack. As a drink it’s deliciously confusing – it seems impossible that vodka and coffee would taste so good together, but they do. The liqueur brings a sweetness while the coffee gives it a depth. The coffee brings a kick of energy while the vodka is guaranteed to spice things up. It’s all finished off with the delightful froth that forms at the top of the glass.
It’s vital to use a good quality espresso shot. We recommend Vitamin Coffee made with an espresso machine, but a stovetop cafetiere will also do the job. Vitamin Coffee will also give it that added health kick helping make sure you survive the next morning.
As a party cocktail, the espresso martini is certainly a popular choice but it also holds it’s own at dinner parties as naughty digestif after the meal – both the coffee and the coffee liquor aid digestion. It’ll also help avoid that after dinner lull by getting everybody ready to move.
Recipe for One
Ingredients:
- 50ml Vodka
- 35ml Coffee Liqueur
- 1 shot (25ml) of espresso
- Ice (crushed)
Method:
- Pour the espresso, coffee liqueur and vodka into a cocktail shaker. Put some ice in the martini glass to chill and then fill the cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Try to use fresh-from-the-freezer ice, as melting ice is too watery and will dilute the martini.
- Close the shaker up and give it a vigorous shake to chill the liquid and form the frothy top. If you don’t have crushed ice to start with, shaking it hard enough will crush regular ice cubes.
- Once shaken, empty the ice out of the Martini glass, then place the strainer on top of the shaker to pour the contents through a sieve into the glass. If you don’t have a strainer then don’t worry, but it does create a smoother finish.
- Pop 2-3 coffee beans on top to give it that authentic look.
Done. Simple!