Virgin Espresso
Average
Coffee
3 Minutes (plus prep time)
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Virgin Espresso is a non-alcoholic version of an Espresso Martini (aka Virgin Espresso Martini)
Served in a chilled martini glass, the Virgin Espresso is bold, sophisticated and the perfect after-dinner mocktail. Want to impress your guests at your next gathering? You can never go wrong with a Virgin Espresso.
How To Make a virgin espresso Martini
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Boston Shaker
Hawthorne Strainer
How to Mix
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Prepare your Espresso using your preferred type of Coffee Maker.
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Refrigerate your Freshly Brewed Espresso for at least one hour.
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Fill a Boston Shaker with Ice Cubes once your Espresso is cold.
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Use a Jigger to measure and pour Espresso into the Shaker.
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Measure and pour Vanilla Syrup into the Shaker.
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Measure and pour Chilled Water into the Shaker.
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Assemble your Shaker and shake vigorously until chilled.
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Place a Hawthorne Strainer over the larger tin of your Shaker and pour the cocktail into a Chilled Martini Glass.
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Garnish with a single Coffee Bean.
Watch how to make a Virgin Espresso Martini:
What is a Virgin Espresso?
Also known as a Virgin Espresso Martini, a Virgin Espresso is an alcohol-free version of an Espresso Martini. It’s made with cold espresso coffee, vanilla syrup, and water.
What Does a Virgin Espresso Taste Like?
A Virgin Espresso blends the dark, rich flavor of espresso coffee with the sweetness of vanilla syrup. In other words, it tastes like vanilla coffee.
The History of the Virgin Espresso
Although the original Espresso Martini has been a staple since the 1980s, the non-alcoholic version is a recent twist, emerging from the trend of mixing up drinks with alcohol-free alternatives. As people seek to offer exciting mocktails to guests, this innovation has gained traction over the past 10-15 years.
Tips for Making the Perfect Virgin Espresso
- Chill your Martini Glass
Serving your mocktails or cocktails in a chilled glass is always a good idea and enhances the overall experience. This is true for the Virgin Espresso, where Cold Espresso and Chilled Water, served in a Chilled Martini Glass, take this drink to a whole other level. - Chill your Espresso
To make the perfect Virgin Espresso, you really need to use Cold Espresso. So, at least one hour before making this drink, brew your Espresso and place it in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Virgin Espresso
- For glassware, we recommend serving your Virgin Espresso in a chilled Martini Glass, just like a classic Espresso Martini.
- To garnish, traditionally, the Espresso Martini is garnished with three Coffee Beans on its creamy head, symbolizing health, wealth, and happiness. For the Virgin Espresso, we suggest garnishing with just a single Coffee Bean to create a distinction.
- Hey, it’s your drink – so go crazy! In addition to a single coffee bean, make your Virgin Espresso even more decadent and add Chocolate Shavings and/or Whipped Cream!
Virgin Espresso Martini FAQ
It’s easy – simply follow our instructions on how to make Simple Syrup and add half a Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract. Vanilla Extract is natural, primarily made from Vanilla Beans soaked in ethyl alcohol and water and has a wonderful, natural Vanilla flavor.
Alternatively, you can use Vanilla Essence but it’s worth noting it is a processed product made with artificial flavors and colors. We recommend using Vanilla Extract.
Use your favorite! Any coffee machine that produces Espresso will work, whether it’s a stovetop brewer or a barista-style espresso machine.
Keep in mind, the quality of the Espresso will determine the quality of your drink. Since the Virgin Espresso is very much a coffee mocktail, you should use your favorite type of Espresso. Pods also work exceptionally well.
Sure, you can use Decaf Coffee Beans to make your Espresso to make a Decaf Virgin Espresso. You should be able to find Decaf Coffee Beans in your supermarket without any problem.
