Espresso Martini Recipe

Chill glass

Place a coupe or martini glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes or fill it with the optional 1/2 cup of ice while you prepare the cocktail to ensure the drink is well chilled.

Brew espresso

Brew a fresh single espresso shot (about 1 oz). Use it immediately while hot so the drink will develop a good crema when shaken. If you don't have an espresso machine, use very strong coffee (concentrated) and slightly reduce the volume to 1 oz.

Add the following to a cocktail shaker: 2 oz vodka, 1 oz hot espresso, 1 oz coffee liqueur, and 0.5 oz simple syrup.

Fill the shaker with 1 cup of ice to about 2/3 full. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds. Vigorously shaking while the espresso is still hot helps create a thick, silky foam (crema) on top of the cocktail.

After shaking, remove the glass from the freezer or discard the chilling ice. Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled martini/coupe glass using a fine mesh strainer over the shaker's strainer to remove ice shards and ensure a smooth surface and stable crema.

Garnish by floating three coffee beans on top of the crema in a line or triangle. The beans are traditional and represent health, wealth, and happiness.

Serve immediately. The best texture is when served right after shaking to enjoy the crema and chilled temperature.