how to make the perfect Espresso Martini

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Espresso Martini is as iconic as it is sophisticated. Rich and sweet, it appeals to cocktail connoisseurs the world over with its unmistakable coffee flavor.

A sumptuous blend of espresso, vodka, and velvety coffee liqueur, an Espresso Martini is ideal for all types of occasion. Creamy and elegant, not only is an Espresso Martini cocktail a staple in bars, restaurants and lounges, it’s also oh-so-easy to make at home.

So, without further ado, let’s look at how to make the beloved Vodka Espresso Martini.

What You’ll Need

• Boston Shaker
• Coffee Machine (any sort that can produce Espresso)
• Cocktail Glass or Martini Glass
• Jigger or Measuring Instrument
• Fine Mesh Strainer
• Hawthorne Strainer

How to Mix an Espresso Martini

1. Use your preferred coffee machine to produce freshly brewed Espresso.
2. Grab a Boston Shaker, then immediately measure and pour in the Espresso.
3. Measure and pour in Kahlúa followed by Absolut Vodka.
4. Add Ice Cubes all the way to the top of your Shaker.
5. Shake vigorously until the Shaker is frosty on the outside.
6. Strain the mixture by placing a Hawthorne Strainer on the top of the large tin of your Boston Shaker, then pour the mixture through a Fine Mesh Strainer directly into a Cocktail Glass or Martini Glass.
7. Garnish by placing three Coffee Beans on top of the foam.
8. Sip and enjoy!

What is an Espresso Martini?

The Espresso Martini is a shaken cocktail that mixes espresso with the smooth texture of coffee liqueur – all combined with Absolut Vodka. Blended to perfection and served ice-cold, an Espresso Martini cocktail delivers a powerful caffeine kick and a burst of indulgent flavors, all crowned with a creamy foam.

Hedda Bruce, award-winning renowned Bar Manager at Tjoget, describes it as the “perfect after-dinner cocktail”.

What Does an Espresso Martini Taste Like?

An Espresso Martini offers bold, rich notes of coffee with indulgent sweetness from coffee liqueur and the smooth taste of Absolut Vodka.

“The Absolut Vodka comes straight through, elevating all the flavors there [and] making everything just taste more. And the Kahlúa right there – the coffee liqueur – gives it an almost chocolate-y note,” describes Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador Rico.

Hedda shares, “there’s the sweet flavor of coffee together with Absolut Vodka, which balances very well together”.

The History of the Espresso Martini

The Espresso Martini cocktail was born as a result of an off-the-cuff lightbulb moment by the pioneering and now late but legendary bartender Dick Bradsell, who also invented the Bramble, the Treacle and the Russian Spring Punch.

Michael Bergström, Drinks Expert from Bartenders’ Choice Awards, shares the following: “The story goes that in the mid-80s a supermodel walked up to Dick Bradsell and asked him for a drink in a manner we can’t repeat here. The bartender swiftly pulled a fresh espresso from the newly installed coffee machine in the bar and mixed it with vodka, Kahlúa and a touch of sugar. He then gave it a good shake and strained it into a martini glass, and, just like that, a modern classic was born.”

Fast forward to today, the vodka Espresso Martini has surpassed drinks such as the Mojito and Margarita in terms of fame and recognition. 

Tips for Making the Perfect Espresso Martini

If you’re making your own Espresso Martini at home for the first time, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

Shake It Until You Make It

First and foremost, to make the perfect Espresso Martini drink you’ll need a cocktail shaker – and you’ll need to fill it all the way to the top with ice. Once you’ve finished shaking, you should have lots of froth and see big bubbles in your Shaker. “You always known that you’ve shaken it well when you get this type of gradiation – like a good Stout, really,” says Rico.

Use Large Ice Cubes for a Silky Finish

The key to a silky-smooth Espresso Martini is big ice cubes. These help to chill your ingredients as much as possible without causing too much dilution. Some dilution is a good thing – when the ice goes from solid form to liquid it chills your cocktail in the process. “But if you use small nuggets of ice, or crushed ice, it will dilute your drink too fast and you’ll most likely end up with a flat, watery Espresso Martini,” warns Michael.

Double-Down on Straining

When pouring the liquid from your cocktail shaker into your glass, we recommend doube straining, using a Hawthorne strainer in the cocktail shaker and a fine strainer over the glass. This is to make sure you end up with a silky-smooth drink free of any ice shards.

Learn how to double strain a cocktail.

Find the Right Ratios for You

Don’t be afraid to play around with measures to find the right Espresso Martini recipe for your tastes. An easy way to start is to use equal parts of each ingredient and then navigate from there, adjusting the ratios to your liking to find out if you prefer a more potent character, more or less sweetness or maybe a boosted Espresso profile.

Choose High-Quality Espresso

The quality of the coffee will determine the quality of your Espresso Martini cocktail. Make sure you use fresh espresso – from any type of machine, be it a manual espresso maker or stovetop Moka pot. The right grind and extraction are key for a rich, flavorful cocktail. Coffee pods also work exceptionally well.

“There are a number of different pods on the market, all with different character and intensity. We prefer quite a high intensity pod for ours. But by all means, feel free to experiment with cold brew or regular filter coffee for a less intense profile” shares Michael.

Variations of an Espresso Martini

Love the unique flavours of a traditional Espresso Martini but want to try out something a little different? Check out our variations for a spin on the classic.

• Virgin Espresso
  An Espresso Martini without alcohol works just as well. A bold blend of cold espresso coffee, vanilla syrup, and water delivers a powerful caffeine kick and a jolt of sophistication. Discover how to make a Virgin Espresso Martini.
• Vanilla Espresso Martini
  This is one of Rico’s personal Espresso Martini recipe favorites and, trust us, one of the best you’ll find. Think warm vanilla with a creamy and pillowy coffee foam. Try the Vanilla Espresso Martini for yourself.
• Absolut Peppar Espresso Martini
  Coffee and spice and all things nice. The lovely peppery kick comes from Absolut Peppar – enjoy the smoothness of the classic Espresso Martini but with a unique sting. Take a look at the Absolut Peppar Espresso Martini.
• Absolut Grapefruit Espresso Martini
  Grapefruit and coffee?! What might seem like an unlikely combination is a beautifully unique pairing. Just take our word for it. Learn how to make an Absolut Grapefruit Espresso Martini.
  

Serving and Garnish Ideas for Espresso Martini

Now that you’ve put time and effort into getting your vodka Espresso Martini recipe just right, it all comes down to the final presentation. Try these and see how yours comes out!

Chill Your Martini Glass

Michael Bergström suggests you “pre-chill your stemmed glasses in a freezer before you pour it, keeping it crisp and cool all the way through to the final sip”. And this is especially true for the indulgent Espresso Martini.

One or Three Coffee Beans

An Espresso Martini is traditionally garnished with three coffee beans, gently placed on top of the drink’s creamy head. According to Michael, these symbolize health, wealth, and happiness. As Hedda demonstrates in the video, you can also crush a single coffee bean with your thumb and then sprinkle it on top of your drink.

A Martini Glass or Coffee Mug

“As the name suggests, the Espresso Martini is served in a martini glass or stemmed cocktail glass, but you can definitely use whatever glass you have at hand. Why not a short glass over ice?”, suggests Michael.

Similarly, Rico says, “If you don’t have a martini glass, just make it in a rocks glass or make it in a coffee mug if you want. It doesn’t matter ‘cause it’s your drink and it’s how you want to drink it at home.”