Espresso-lico Recipe

Cocktail

1. 1

   Chill glass

   Place a coupe or martini glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail to ensure the drink is served well chilled.

2. 2

   Prepare espresso

   Brew a fresh shot of espresso (about 1 oz). If brewing hot, let it rest 20–30 seconds so it’s very hot but not scalding; alternatively use a chilled/iced espresso for a colder end temperature without as much dilution.

3. 3

   Combine ingredients

   In a mixing glass or cocktail shaker, add 4 ice cubes, 1.5 oz mile high spirits vodka, 0.5 oz Kahlúa, 0.5 oz Frangelico, and 1 oz freshly brewed espresso. Add 0.25 oz simple syrup only if you prefer slight sweetness — taste preference varies.

4. 4

   Shake

   Cap the shaker and shake vigorously for 12–18 seconds. The goal is to chill thoroughly and create a light crema from the espresso. If using hot espresso, shake a bit longer to cool the mixture; if using chilled espresso, 10–12 seconds is sufficient.

5. 5

   Strain and serve

   Discard the ice from the chilled glass if you used ice water. Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe or martini glass using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer to remove small ice shards and preserve a smooth texture and crema on top.

6. 6

   Garnish

   Float 3 espresso beans on the crema as a classic garnish. Serve immediately.