The espresso martini is a creamy mix of coffee liqueur, vodka and espresso that will level up your night. The key to this drink is shaking vigorously for a long time, creating that fun, frothy head. Add vanilla vodka, coffee liqueur and creme de cacao to a cocktail shaker with ice to make an espresso martini. Shake and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with three coffee beans, and enjoy.
Choose Your Ingredients
The right ingredients will help you create the perfect espresso martini cocktail recipe. It starts with good quality espresso – make sure it’s fresh brewed and not instant (it’ll just not taste the same). Next, you need some coffee liqueur or vanilla vodka. Finally, add a pinch of salt, which helps balance the flavors and round out the drink. You’ll also need a cocktail shaker and martini glasses to serve it in. Be sure to chill the drinks before using them so the cocktail won’t melt the ice. Shake the ingredients with ice in your cocktail shaker until softened, then strain into the prepared glasses. The frothy top of this drink should be thick enough to hold three coffee beans on the top for garnish. If you’re not an espresso machine owner, don’t worry – you can still get that frothy topping by shaking your cocktail well and adding an egg white or a cocktail foamer just before straining. Alternatively, you could use strong brewed coffee instead of espresso if desired.
Make Your Espresso
The espresso martini is a sophisticated cocktail that pairs coffee with alcohol. It is strong and balanced with a foamy top and is the perfect drink to end a night or as a starter to your morning. The recipe is very simple and features vodka, espresso and coffee liqueur. Its recent rise to fame may be attributed to the elevated status of coffee in modern culture, as well as the fact that it is a boozy, refreshing, and unexpectedly delectable beverage. This drink is best made with espresso, but if you don’t have any on hand, you may also use home-brewed coffee (very strong coffee) or instant espresso powder in a pinch. The secret is not to ruin the drink’s flavor by adding milk, cream liqueur, or any other ingredients. For optimal results, combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously over ice. Use a jar with a cover in place of a cocktail shaker, and drain the drink into glasses just before serving. If you’d like, you may sprinkle some coffee beans on top and then dig in.
Shake It Up
If you want that luscious foamy head that Espresso Martinis are known for, you must shake your cocktail vigorously in a cocktail shaker with lots of ice. The ice not only helps to smash up the ingredients while shaking but also keeps the drink cold. Cold drinks hold their foam better and longer than warm ones. Once you’ve shaken it, strain the drink into your chilled martini glass and garnish with three coffee beans. The floating beans add a lovely presentation and are said to represent happiness, wealth and health. To make a creamy variation of this easy recipe, just swap out the vodka for half-and-half or Baileys. You could also try other syrups, such as vanilla and hazelnut. And if you are vegan and want to make sure your drink foams, try using aquafaba instead of egg whites. Aquafaba is the liquid from a jar of garbanzo beans. Remember that if you change the mix in any way, the taste and nutritional value of your drink will change.
Pour It In
There are some great ways to enhance the flavors of this drink and make it even more delicious. Try a splash of Baileys Original Irish Cream for a creamy drink, or experiment with other flavored syrups like vanilla and hazelnut to add different flavor profiles. Replace the vodka with espresso vodka to give it a stronger coffee flavor. And if you have a handheld frothing tool or even a wand on your espresso machine, use it to create that wonderful foam on top! To get your martini’s best flavor and appearance, serve it in a chilled glass. And remember to garnish with those delicious coffee beans! Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and ice to make this drink into a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously over a handful of ice to chill the ingredients and produce a frothy top. Strain into a chilled martini glass and serve with three coffee beans for garnish. Enjoy! Be sure to shake well and strain carefully to preserve the lovely frothy top.
Garnish
The espresso martini is a classic cocktail for coffee lovers, perfect after dinner or as a pick-me-up before heading out to ring in the New Year. This balanced drink is boozy yet sweet, with a gorgeous foam on top that holds a few coffee beans as a garnish. To make an Espresso Martini at home, combine vanilla vodka (regular vodka works, too), a shot of espresso, and a dash of coffee liquor in a cocktail shaker. Shake until well mixed and chilled, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with three coffee beans and serve. The key to the frothy top of an Espresso Martini is using machine-brewed espresso or strong drip coffee that has been cooled. If you cannot use these, consider adding a pinch of salt to the cocktail mixture or a drop or two of a cocktail foamer to create a similar texture. The other important tip is to shake the cocktail hard. You want the ice almost to melt, so the liquid turns into a fluffy head of foam.
