Looking to impress your friends with your bartending skills, or for a pick-up drink before the night begins? The Espresso Martini is a cult classic cocktail that is not only easy to make, but uses minimal ingredients.
The three pillars of this drink are simple; High-quality coffee, vodka, and coffee liquor.Â
If you are feeling adventurous, you can easily mix it up by adding chocolate, using flavoured vodka (such as vanilla or caramel infused vodkas), or with different coffee liquors. We have even listed some of our ideas below!Â
For the smoothest espresso martini you have ever had, try using our Cold Brew Coffee, made in house with our own beans, freshly roasted to perfection. The taste difference is sure to wow you (and it’s our favourite way to make this drink now!).
Our Espresso Martini Recipe
A Spin on the Classic Espresso Martini Recipe
Alternative Ingredients
What is Cold Brew Coffee?Â
Ready for a new take on your caffeine hit? Compared to conventional coffee or espresso, cold brew has a more refined taste due to the brewing method used.Â
To make cold brewed coffee, you only need water, ground coffee, and some patience. Unlike traditional coffee, cold brew is made by using freshly ground coffee beans, and pouring cold or room-temperature water over the ground beans. You can then place the coffee and water into a refrigerator, and allow the mixture to sit overnight. The next day, you can strain the liquid and sip (or guzzle) away at the refined caffeinated beverage.Â
The end result is a concentrated coffee, with lower acidity and a beautiful, rounded taste profile, because of the slow brewing time and water temperature.
Cold brew can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks, but the taste may degrade the longer it’s stored or if it’s diluted with water after it’s been brewed.
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Save Time Making Cold Brew With an AeroPress
The conventional cold brew method takes 12-24 hours to brew, but you can speed up the clock by utilising an AeroPress to make your coffee. The AeroPress can brew the same smooth and delicious cold brewed coffee in minutes, rather than hours.Â
The steps are easy, you just need your AeroPress, finely ground coffee and water. Take a rounded scoop of finely ground coffee (ground for a drip machine), place it into the chamber and fill the chamber with room temperature water, stir for a minute (the most important step!), gently press down and enjoy.Â
Jazz up your morning routine by getting yourself one from our online store, and find your new AeroPress here. Still too much work for you, or in a rush? We can help you with our bottled cold brew, sold in store.Â
Cold Brew Espresso Martini Recipe
IngredientsÂ
+ 45ml Coffee For The People Cold Brew
+ 30ml Vodka
+ 30ml Coffee LiqueurÂ
+ Ice cubesÂ
Utensils
+ Cocktail ShakerÂ
+ Cocktail Jigger or measuring cup
Steps to Create the Espresso Cocktail
- Collect your ingredients, the cocktail jigger and the shaker.Â
- Fill the shaker with ice cubes.Â
- Measure out the cold brew, vodka and liquor and pour all three ingredients into the cocktail shaker.Â
- Cover with the lid and shake until the mixture is frothy and cold.Â
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Garnish with three coffee beans, or whatever toppings you prefer.
Alternative Ingredients
The Vodka
Try using a flavoured vodka, such as Absolut Vanilla Vodka, or the Underground Secrets Caramel Vodka, for a sweeter and defined taste that goes perfectly with the coffee elements of the drink.Â
Looking for a fruity and chocolatey taste? Try using raspberry vodka, and chocolate coffee liqueur.Â
If Vodka is not your drink of choice, you can replace the vodka with rum or whiskey to suit your taste.Â
The Garnish
The three coffee beans you tend to see as a garnish on this cocktail symbolise wealth, health and happiness, but you can always spice it up with something unique. Â
Depending on what liquor and vodka you use, you can add any (or a few) of the below garnishes:
+ Shaved chocolate flakes
+ Freeze-dried raspberries or strawberriesÂ
+ Powdered chocolateÂ
+ White chocolate flakesÂ
+ Cinnamon powder or sugar
The Coffee Liquor
KahlĂşa is the most used coffee liquor in an espresso martini however, if you don’t have that on hand, or are looking to shake things up, you can switch the KahlĂşa for another coffee based liquor:
+ Mr Blacks Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
+ Tia Maria Coffee Liqueur
+ Jagermeister Coffee Liqueur
+ Jumping Goat Whiskey Infused Coffee Liqueur
A Spin on the Classic Espresso Martini – Inspiration Sensations
Get in the holiday spirit!
Use a peppermint syrup or Smirnoff Peppermint Vodka to give this drink a Christmas twist. You can add a chocolate syrup before shaking the ingredients, or just add some chocolate flakes on top as a garnish to create a delectable Christmas cocktail, perfect to sip by the fire with friends and family over the holidays.Â
Add in some flavour!
Use flavoured syrup to add in some sweetness and different tasting notes. You can try a homemade simple syrup, or a premade caramel, hazelnut or vanilla syrup.Â
Like chocolate?
Try making a white chocolate espresso martini by adding in some Irish cream and white chocolate shavings on top.Â
Got milk?
Add in some Baileys to give the drink a creamy and flavoursome spin.Â
History of the Espresso MartiniÂ
Rewind to 1983, and find yourself at the Soho Brasserie in London, home to the infamous bartender and cocktail connoisseur, Dick Bradsell. Bradsell was dubbed “The King of Cocktails”, but most notably for the creation of the Espresso Martini.Â
This notorious cocktail had several names before it was finally branded as the Espresso Martini. Originally it was the Vodka Espresso, then renamed the “Pharmaceutical Stimulant” for a time. Rumour has it, the inspiration formed when a drunken Kate Moss requested Bradsell make her a drink that would wake her up, and the Espresso Martini was born, destined to be a cocktail classic, forever ingrained in history.
Technically, this is not a genuine martini, because there is no gin or vermouth, but that doesn’t stop this drink from being the delicious crowd favourite it is. Shake, sip and enjoy the flavour sensation!Â
