Espresso Martini Recipe

Cocktail

1. 1

   Prepare espresso

   Brew a fresh shot of espresso (about 1 oz) and allow it to cool briefly for 1–2 minutes. For best crema and flavor, use freshly pulled espresso. Alternatively, use 1 oz strong cold-brew concentrate chilled.

2. 2

   Chill glass

   Place a martini or coupe glass in the freezer for 3–5 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail to ensure the drink stays cold longer.

3. 3

   Combine ingredients

   Add the vodka (2 oz), coffee liqueur (1 oz), the cooled espresso (1 oz), and simple syrup (0.25 oz) into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker about two-thirds full with ice (approximately 1 cup).

4. 4

   Shake

   Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for 12–20 seconds. A strong, brisk shake chills the mixture quickly and creates a foamy, velvety crema on top from the espresso.

5. 5

   Strain and serve

   Discard ice or water from the chilled glass. Double-strain the cocktail into the glass using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer (or one strainer if you don't have both) to remove ice shards and ensure a smooth texture.

6. 6

   Garnish

   Float three whole coffee beans on the crema as a classic garnish. Serve immediately.

7. 7

   Optional adjustments

   If you prefer sweeter, add up to 0.5 oz simple syrup. For a richer, creamier texture, replace 0.25–0.5 oz of vodka with 0.25–0.5 oz coffee liqueur or add 0.25 oz heavy cream and give it another brief shake.