The espresso martini is a classic post-dinner cocktail to give you a little pick-me-up to continue the evening. It is easy to make and quite tasty. This variation of the espresso martini comes from Edison at @the_shadow_bartender, who has an awesome Instagram page featuring different cocktail recipes—including a few that feature coffee.
For the coffee liqueur, Edison recommends using Mr. Black Spirits. That can be harder to find in the states, so a more common alternative is Kahula. The coffee liqueur helps give a richer and slightly sweet coffee profile to the drink when paired with the espresso.
For the espresso, it is best to chill it before using for the drink to avoid melting the ice more during shaking and diluting the drink. You can quickly chill an espresso shot by placing it in the freezer for a few minutes. If you don’t have a way to make espresso at home, you can swap the espresso shot with cold brew concentrate, which works well too.
Espresso Martini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 0.5 oz coffee liqueur Mr. Black Spirits, Kaluha, etc.
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz espresso freshly pulled & chilled
Instructions
- Add vodka, coffee liqueur, simple syrup and chilled espresso to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled
- Strain into a martini glass
- Garnish with coffee beans
Notes
- For the simple syrup, you can use a store-bought sugar syrup or make your own with a 1:1 sugar to water solution.
- To chill the espresso, pull a fresh shot and then place in the freezer for a few minutes.
- If you don’t have a way to make espresso at home, you can swap the espresso shot with cold brew concentrate, which works well too.
This recipe was used with permission by @the_shadow_bartender. You can view the original recipe on his Instagram page.