Now that Autumn is upon us, the nights are drawing in earlier, and the temperatures have plummeted – which means that it’s the perfect time of year to start enjoying a warming cocktail. And what better way to kick things off than with every caffeine lover’s favourite: the Espresso Martini!
This delicious combination of espresso, coffee liqueur, and vodka (though, ironically, not a drop of vermouth despite the name) has been surging in popularity in recent years. The drink, sometimes cheekily dubbed as the “Adult Vodka Red Bull,” has existed since the 1980s but struggled to develop a popular following at the time.
Bartenders tend to have a love-hate relationship with it owing to the time required to make it and the fact that they’re shaking up a liquid that has a habit of badly staining clothes. In recent years, though, the Espresso Martini has enjoyed an explosion in popularity that’s made it a modern classic on any good cocktail menu.
The first record of the Espresso Martini comes from none other than late London Bartender, Dick Bradsell, widely considered the cocktail king of London’s vibrant Soho district. According to Bradsell, he invented the drink at Fred’s Club, a private member’s club owned by Fred Taylor.
In an interview, he recalled “a young model who’s now famous came in and said, ‘Can you make me a drink that will wake me up, then f**k me up?’.” This being the days before energy drinks, Bradsell decided to brew a shot of espresso and mix it with spirits – and so the Espresso Martini was born!
As mentioned, the Espresso Martini is something of a misnomer, as the drink does not contain some of the spirits used in a traditional martini. Bradsell’s original recipe is on the sweeter side, using vodka, sugar syrup, coffee liqueur, and a freshly brewed shot of espresso, shaken with ice and strained into a martini glass. Difford’s Guide calls for a slightly more balanced recipe using the following ingredients:
45ml vodka
30ml espresso (freshly brewed)
20ml coffee liqueur
Two drops of Difford’s saline solution
Three coffee beans and an optional twist of lemon zest (for garnish)
How Do You Make an Espresso Martini?
The perfect espresso martini should naturally start with the perfect shot of espresso. Capsule machines are fine, but to really make a difference, this cocktail demands freshly ground coffee beans, between 16-19 grams in a stovetop moka pot (a personal preference) or a manual espresso machine.
If you’re able to control the temperature, aim to brew at around 90 degrees celsius and use filtered water if possible. Once brewed, let the espresso cool before shaking.
Is that sweet?
Difford’s Guide’s recipe calls for a couple of drops of saline solution or a pinch of salt, which actually slightly enhances the sweetness and reduces the coffee’s bitterness. If, however, you prefer things on the sweeter side, you can always go back to Bradsell’s original recipe and substitute the saline for a little sugar syrup instead.
How Do You Make the Espresso Martini’s Signature Foam?
Let’s face it, the iconic part of an Espresso Martini is the velvety layer of foam at the top. To achieve this, first fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur, then screw the top of the shaker on securely and shake hard! This is the best way to aerate the mix, which will allow the coffee’s natural oils to combine with the air bubbles, resulting in the Espresso Martini’s signature foam.
According to Difford’s Guide, a thin slice of lemon is all it takes to add extra complexity to the Espresso Martini. To express the citrus properly, twist it across the layer of foam on top before discarding. Finally, add three lucky coffee beans to the top, traditionally in a petal formation, but feel free to add your own personal flourish.
Top Tip: Pre-chill your martini glass by placing it in the freezer for around fifteen minutes before pouring – it makes all the difference.
What Are the Best Espresso Martini Variations?
The Espresso Martini has a few excellent variations, some more obvious than others. The Flat White Martini substitutes the coffee liqueur with Irish cream for extra richness. The Flying Frenchman substitutes the vodka with absinthe (not for the faint-hearted!).
Then we start to get wild, with the Tiramisu Espresso Martini with vanilla vodka and mascarpone cream for a dessert with a kick. Or even the Carrot Cake Espresso Martini, made with homemade carrot cake syrup and horchata for a rich drink with notes of spice, topped off with a cream cheese rim.
However you shake it, the Espresso Martini is proof that a little caffeine and a lot of spirit make for one perfect autumn evening.
To see more from Liam, including the story behind Purple Rain and how to craft the perfect whisky sour, click here!
