Espresso Martini - Buzzy and Boozy (2024)

The Espresso Martini is a dream drink for multi-taskers. Not only does the popular co*cktail look and taste divine, but its combination of alcohol and caffeine provides an effective punch that alleviates the necessity to chug a Red Bull at the end of the night.

Make no mistake – this caffeinated co*cktail isn’t for lightweights or teetotalers. Instead, it’s a serious drink for people who like staying alert while getting a buzz. And the best part? The Espresso Martini is super easy to craft at home.

Despite having ingredients associated with Italy, Mexico and Russia, the Espresso Martini doesn’t have roots in any of these countries. A fixture at Australian bars and pubs, it’s also not from down under. Instead, the United Kingdom gets credit for this caffeinated co*cktail.

This drink’s origin story involves a London bartender and an early 80s supermodel who wanted a co*cktail that would “wake her up and then f**k her up .” The bartender was Dick Bradsell and the bar was the Soho Brasserie. As for the thirsty model’s name, that remains a mystery.

Fun Fact
Dick Bradsell invented a handful of co*cktails including the Bramble, the Carol Channing, the Russian Spring Punch, the Treacle and the Wibble. However, the prolific bartender’s Espresso Martini is the one that has achieved icon status.

Originally called a Vodka Espresso, the Espresso Martini is a modern co*cktail that combines espresso with vodka and coffee liqueur to create double potency in a glass.

It goes without saying that the Espresso Martini is a caffeinated beverage since each shot of espresso has 64 grams of caffeine. And that’s not counting the caffeine in the coffee liqueur!

We use a Nespresso machine to make espresso at home which technically makes our co*cktail a Nespresso Martini. Since it takes us just a couple minutes to pop a pod into the machine, we can be spontaneous when the Espresso Martini (or should we say Nespresso Martini?) craving hits us.

Beyond containing a solid amount of caffeine, the Espresso Martini also has a fairly high alcohol content. The good and bad news is that this co*cktail doesn’t taste particularly strong. In other words, be extra careful not to over imbibe when you drink Espresso Martinis.

We love crafting co*cktails with ingredients we can count on one hand. The Espresso Martini fits into this category with the its concise ingredient list:

Ingredient quantities are detailed in the printable recipe card below.

While some mixologists add simple syrup when they craft Espresso Martinis, our Espresso Martini recipe omits the liquid sweetener.

We don’t add sugar to our non-alcoholic coffees and flat whites and we follow the same approach here. We find that the coffee liqueur provides plenty of sweetness; however, you can add simple sugar to the ingredient list if you prefer more sugary co*cktails.

We typically use Kahlúa and whatever vodka we have on hand when we craft Espresso Martinis at home. Most recently, we’ve been crafting this and other vodka co*cktails with Absolut.

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Not only does Kahlúa taste delicious over ice, the dark Mexican coffee liqueur is also a key ingredient in Black Russian, White Russian and Mudslide co*cktails. Other popular coffee liqueurs include Australia’s Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur and Jamaica’s Tia Maria.

While you could technically craft an Espresso Martini with regular coffee, don’t do it!

Not only does espresso have a specific flavor and consistency, but it also has a creamy element called crema. Without crema, your Espresso Martini won’t have a frothy top layer and your coffee beans will tragically sink to the bottom of the glass.

Pro Tip
Chill freshly brewed espresso about 15 minutes before you craft an Espresso co*cktail. Otherwise, your hot espresso will melt the ice which will dilute the co*cktail.

The first step in crafting an Espresso Martini is to measure the vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso. We use a Japanese jigger to both avoid spillage and ensure accurate measurements.

Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.

The next step is to vigorously shake the ingredients with ice for about 30 seconds until they are thoroughly mixed and chilled.

Pro Tip
Don’t be wimpy when shaking this co*cktail. If you do, you’ll end up with an equally wimpy layer of froth.

The Espresso Martini may be the world’s most popular espresso-based co*cktail but it’s not the only co*cktail to drink when you want an alcoholic pick-me-up. Consider the following caffeinated options If you feel like experimenting:

Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.

What is an Espresso Martini?

The Espresso Martini is a modern co*cktail that combines espresso with vodka and coffee liqueur to create double potency in a glass.

Is the Espresso Martini strong?

The Espresso packs a whammy since it includes both caffeine and alcohol.

What are the ingredients in an Espresso Martini?

Vodka, Coffee Liqueur, Espresso, Coffee Beans (garnish) and Ice Cubes (for shaking)

Is the Espresso Martini shaken or stirred?

The Espresso Martini is shaken, not stirred.

What type of glass is best for the Espresso Martini?

We like to serve this co*cktail in a small martini glass but you could use a coupe glass instead.

Did you craft this co*cktail? If so, please rate the recipe below.

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