The espresso martini is a relatively new cocktail that has recently been taking the world by storm. You now see espresso martinis served and enjoyed at more and more craft cocktail bars in the United States. Even though we can’t serve liquor in our cafes, we have a drink called the Shakerato, which is a play on the espresso martini, without the liquor. We will cover everything you need to know about the espresso martini along with multiple ways to make the drink from the comfort of your own home!
The man responsible for the espresso martini is a famous British bartender by the name of Dick Bradsell, who is known as a legend in revitalizing the London cocktail scene in the 1980s. He had a patron sitting at the bar (he claims this person is now world famous) one night asking him to make them something that would wake them up and get them inebriated. So Dick whipped up what he originally called a Vodka Espresso, which consisted of vodka, simple syrup, coffee liqueur, and espresso. He originally served it in a V-shaped glass, which, historically, designated that drink as a martini. Thus, the name was quickly changed to espresso martini. Dick was working at a different bar years later and renamed the drink again, this time calling it “Pharmaceutical Stimulant.” It is known by these three names worldwide to this day.
An espresso martini performs best with more robust, more developed, darker roasted coffee. We recommend our Espresso Blend and Torrefazione Blend, as they take a slightly darker roast than the majority of our offerings. They share notes of chocolate, caramel, nuts, and slight tobacco.
You can, in fact, make an espresso martini right at home, even if you don’t have an espresso machine. If you have an espresso machine, you can move down to the recipe for you! If you don’t, you’ll need to make a coffee concentrate. To do this, try using one of the following recipes with 2 common brewing methods:
Now, if you have an espresso machine, there is less prep work, as you can brew your espresso on demand. Use your favorite espresso brewing recipe or follow the guide for a double shot below:
Now that you have your coffee selected and your method of brewing the coffee (as described above), you are now ready to make an espresso martini from the comfort of your own home. Follow the recipe below and enjoy!
Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigourously. Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with coffee beans, orange peel, cherry, or just about anything!
We hope you enjoy and experiment with this to elevate your nightcaps with friends, family, and strangers alike!
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