Espresso Martini
IBA official cocktail
Bistrot Bruno Loubet, Clerkenwell, London (4574785649).jpg
TypeMixed drink
Primary alcohol by volume
  • Vodka
ServedStraight up; without ice
Standard garnish3 Coffee Beans
Standard drinkware
Cocktail Glass (Martini).svg
Cocktail glass
IBA specified
ingredientsdagger
  • 5 cl Vodka
  • 1 cl Kahlua
  • Sugar syrup (according to individual preference of sweetness)
  • 1 short strong Espresso
PreparationPour ingredients into shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously, and strain into chilled martini glass.
dagger Espresso Martini recipe at International Bartenders Association

Espresso Martini is a cold, coffee-flavored cocktail made with vodka, espresso coffee, coffee liqueur, and sugar syrup. It is not a true martini, but is one of many drinks that incorporate the term into their names.

Origin

There are several claims for the origin of the Espresso Martini. One of the more common claims is that it was created by Dick Bradsell in the late 1980s while at Freds Club in London for a young lady who asked for something that would, "Wake me up, and then fuck me up." Bradsell has confirmed this in a widely-circulated video. Bradsell has also been quoted about the circumstances of his invention of the drink, "The coffee machine at the Soho Brasseries was right next to the station where I served drinks. It was a nightmare, as there were coffee grounds everywhere, so coffee was very much on my mind. And it was all about vodka back then – it was all people were drinking."

The recipes for an Espresso Martini vary depending on the source. Traditionally, they include Kahlua or Tia Maria.

IBA

The International Bartenders Association specifies a "short" and not a "shot" of espresso, also known as a ristretto. A short espresso refers to a relative amount of extraction time which affects the balance of flavors expressed from the coffee beans. A longer extraction has more bitter and less acid flavors, and the volume is increased. A shorter extraction has less bitter and more acid flavors, and the volume is decreased.

Difford's Guide

The highly-respected Difford's Guide recommends 1.5 imperial fluid ounces (43 mL) of vodka, 34 imperial fluid ounce (21 mL) of hot espresso coffee, 34 imperial fluid ounce (21 mL) fluid ounce of Kahlua and 13 imperial fluid ounce (9.5 mL) sugar syrup. The ingredients are poured into a shaker filled with ice. The mixture is then shaken, fine strained and poured into a chilled martini glass. The drink is garnished with coffee beans (and perhaps a twist of lemon zest) and served.

In popular culture

  • In the "Chocolate Heaven" episode of Giada at Home, Giada De Laurentiis shares a variant of Espresso Martini, with a chocolate-rimmed glass.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Espresso Martini, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.