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A good Espresso Martini is fierce, delicious and a perfect pep on a night out drinking. Also, they’re classy AF.
In this article, I’m going to show exactly how to to make an Espresso Martini at home and a whole lot more.
History of the Espresso Martini Drink
Before we get into how to make the Espresso Martini drink, let’s take a look at the history of the cocktail.
The Espresso Martini was invented in 1983 by Dick Bradsell whilst working at the Soho Brassiere in London.
One evening, he was asked by a young model (who he says is now famous, but doesn’t name her) to make a drink that would, "Wake me up, and then fuck me up."
So how did he come up with a concoction that would do just that?
Well, since Red Bull hadn’t been invented yet, the most likely ingredient guaranteed to wake a person up was…
…you guessed it…
…coffee.
And the Soho Brassiere had an Espresso Machine right there at the bar.
With a little cocktail chemistry, he came up with an idea for the perfect drink.
Or in Bradsell’s own words: “The coffee machine at the Soho Brasseries was right next to the station where I served drinks. It was a nightmare, as there were coffee grounds everywhere, so coffee was very much on my mind. And it was all about vodka back then – it was all people were drinking.”
However, the drink wasn’t originally called the Espresso Martini…
…it was actually called Vodka Espresso.
So Why Did the Name of the Drink Change?
The name change for the drink was a sign of the times…
…at least a sign of the times in the cocktail world.
In the late eighties and early nineties, Martini cocktails had made a resurgence and became a common request in bars.
With that information at hand, Bradsell capitalised on the trend and re-christened the drink: Espresso Martini.
Now that I’ve given you a guide to the history of the drink, let’s take a look at how to make an Espresso Martini at home.
How to Make an Espresso Martini
Before I get into how to make an Espresso Martini at home, I need to give you a bit of a guide on the things you’ll need to make the drink.
What Ingredients do you need to make an Espresso Martini?
To make an Espresso Martini, you need the following ingredients…
Vodka
We compared 12 different brands of Vodka and determined that Smirnoff was the overall best option. Given the current climate with Russia, that may seem like a questionable choice, but Smirnoff isn’t made in Russia, it’s made all over the world.
It actually has a history of Russian persecution and the creators were forced to flee Russia.
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Coffee Liqueur
There are a number of Coffee Liqueur brands on the market at the moment, but the one the creator of the cocktail originally used was Kahlúa.
And that’s a great choice as far as we’re concerned.
Kahlúa is our recommended Coffee Liqueur too (see: How to Make a White Russian: A Quick & Easy Cocktail Recipe).
Simple Syrup
Simple Syrup is a common ingredient in cocktails and is used simply to sweeten a drink.
You can buy the syrup off the shelf, but it’s also pretty easy to make yourself. It’s made by combining sugar and water in equal parts – simple, right?
If you do want to buy it off the shelf, we recommend:
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What Cocktail Equipment do you need to make an Espresso Martini?
To make a great Espresso Martini at home, you need the following equipment:
Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.
There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bonds says "shaken, not stirred". And that reason is: because it tastes better.
If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed Cocktail Shaker comparison article.
But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:
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Jigger
It’s important to get the mix of any cocktail right. The measurements are set for a reason – to specify a tried, tested, and tasty drink.
A jigger is going to help you get those perfect measurements – after all, it is what the pro’s use.
For a jigger, we recommend:
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Martini Glass
This cocktail recipe tastes great, but let’s make it look great too.
Having the right glass for the right cocktail always makes the experience more enjoyable in my experience.
And the right glass is a cocktail glass.
We recommend:
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Espresso Martini
Tweet this Recipe
Share on FacebookIngredients
- Vodka 50ml / 1.7oz.
- Kahlua 20ml / 0.7oz.
- Sugar Syrup 10ml / 0.3oz.
- A shot of Espresso.
- 3 coffee beans
Recipe
With a Cocktail Shaker:
- Add Ice to your Cocktail Shaker.
- Use a Jigger to measure out the Vodka, Kahlua, and Sugar Syrup and add to the shaker.
- Add a shot of strong Espresso.
- Shake well until the Cocktail Shaker is cold to the touch.
- Strain into a Martini Glass.
- Garnish with 3 coffee beans.
