Espresso Martini: the recipe for a cocktail based on coffee and vodka served in a Martini glass

I’Espresso Martini is a cold cocktail made from vodka, coffee liquor, Sugar Syrup e Espresso, ideal at the end of a meal, often to accompany chocolate desserts or intense flavors. It is served in the classic chilled Martini glass, from which it takes its name.

It’s typical drink after dinner, recognized by the IBA (International Bartender Association): it is characterized by the bitter taste of coffee – in its express and liqueur version – which is sweetened with sugar syrup. The vodka, on the other hand, does not add flavor, but gives body to the cocktail.

Its preparation is very simple and you will need a few tools: a BlenderAnd jigger is a straineror, instead of the latter, a strainer welded.

Regarding the origin of this well-known drink, the most common hypothesis is that it was created by Dick Brandsellbartender at Freds Club in London in the late 1980s and originally called Vodka Espresso. The original recipe indeed included vodka, two types of coffee liqueur, including Kahlua, espresso and sugar syrup.

Discover how to prepare it by following the recipe, dosages and tips step by step, and also try the Old Fashioned, the Black Russian and the classic Negroni.

How to Make an Espresso Martini

To make the espresso martini, start by placing ice cubes in the martini glass 1.

Next, prepare the espresso and let it cool 2.

Put 4 ice cubes in the shaker, pour the vodka, the coffee liqueur, the sugar syrup and the cup of coffee with the measuring cup 3. Close the shaker and shake it vigorously for 10 seconds.

At this point, remove the ice from the now frozen cup and pour the drink, straining it with the strainer or with a fine-mesh strainer 4.

Using tongs, garnish the creamy surface of the cocktail with three coffee beans, arranging them in the shape of a petal: the espresso Martini is ready to be served 5.

Advice

To prepare sugar syrup at home, put 50 ml of water and 100 g of sugar in a saucepan, transfer to the fire, bring to a boil and cool completely.

The Espresso Martini is the ideal cocktail not only in winter, to “warm up”, but also in summer, served with flakes of ice.

With the Espresso Martini you can also make a great one smothered in coffee: put ice in a bowl and add an ice cube of Espresso Martini, pour over the hot coffee and enjoy.

How to pair the Espresso Martini

The Espresso Martini is ideal as after dinner and goes perfectly with desserts with an intense taste such as the trifle, typical of the Italian tradition, but also with the mud cake, an American chocolate dessert covered with a dark chocolate glaze. In general, it is excellent with chocolate desserts.