Words by John deBary
The Espresso Martini is one the breakout stars of the early 2020s co*cktail scene. It looked like the Aperol Spritz would dominate the zeitgeist for a while, but something happened that brought this nearly forty-year-old co*cktail back to the forefront. Perhaps it was the Red Bull-and-vodka crowd growing up and looking for an alcohol/energy alternative, or maybe the tumult of the pandemic shifting people's drinking habits, but whatever the cause, the Espresso Martini is nearly inescapable these days. From dive bars to high-end co*cktail spots, it's reached the level of ubiquity matched by iconic drinks like the Negroni, Cosmopolitan, and the Penicillin.
I've been a bartender for over a decade and have written about co*cktails for almost as long. I got my start at the neo-speakeasyPDT before serving as Momof*cku's first Bar Director and have writtentwo co*cktail books and countless articles about drinks and drinking culture. I have been keenly following the Espresso Martini's renaissance, and what follows is a quick overview of the drink's history, some thoughts on its popularity, and some suggestions on how to make a great version at home.
A little history
While to many, the Espresso Martini might seem a relatively recent invention, with stars likeTimothée Chalamet and Larry David spotted sipping them, the broad appeal of the Espresso Martini dates back to 1990s London. Legendary barman Dick Bradsell is, by all credible accounts, the inventor of this drink. In numerous interviews, he pinpoints the moment when a supermodel asked him for a drink that would both "wake her up and f*ck her up" as the genesis for this co*cktail. With an espresso machine behind the bar, Bradsell shook up vodka, sugar, coffee liqueur, and espresso, topped it with three whole coffee beans, and the rest is, quite literally, history. Apparently, he originally titled the drink "Vodka Espresso," but at the time, anything served in a straight-sided martini glass—no matter how distantly related to the original gin-and-vermouth Martini—was dubbed a "martini."
What's so great about the Espresso Martini?
Inaccurate name aside, the drink has legions of dedicated drinkers who love it for a few reasons.
- One, it's delicious. Sweetened coffee is one of life's many simple joys—throw in some vodka, and it's easy to see why so many people love this drink. The slight bitterness from the coffee is a great feature of any after-dinner beverage. Bitterness sends signals to our bodies that stimulate digestion, making the Espresso Martini an excellent choice for an after-dinner digestif.
- Two, it makes us feel good. Espresso contains caffeine, a stimulant. Technically, caffeine works by blocking the action of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that increases relaxation and makes us feel sleepy. Together with alcohol, the combination can make the drinker feel alert and at ease. Ethanol (the type of alcohol that we drink) is biphasic, meaning it acts as a stimulant and a depressant. (As with many enjoyable activities, drinking alcohol and caffeine together does carry a small risk, so as always, it's best to drink moderately.)
Despite drinkers loving Espresso Martinis...
Many bartenders do not share the same enthusiasm for making them.An order can slow down a busy bar by forcing the bartender to either wait for a barista to pull a shot or make one themselves. Plus, the warm espresso can cause a co*cktail shaker to pop open due to the liquid's heat, causing the air inside the shaker to expand.
In the home context, this drink is even more troublesome, as most people don't own espresso machines, and it normally requires 4-5 ingredients (more than the average person wants to mix).
Make this co*cktail easier for the home
...By modifyinga recipe like the one below (sourced fromthe Educated Barfly, one of my favorite co*cktail accounts on Youtube) and omit the simple syrup and increase the coffee liqueur or vice versa to reduce the required ingredients, but even this recipe requires a coffee maker.
Barfly RecipeVodka 2oz
Fresh Espresso 1 oz
Coffee Liqueur .5 oz
Simple Syrup .25 oz
Alternatively, you can pull off a very respectable two-ingredient Espresso Martini with just vodka andCheeky Espresso Syrup.
The syrup comprises a blend of cold brew coffees, cane sugar, and gum arabic, a time-honored co*cktail ingredient prized by mixologists for lending a luxurious texture to shaken drinks. In this case, the gum arabic generates the frothy crema that characterizes Espresso Martinis without requiring fresh-brewed espresso.
Whether you're making one drink or more, this Espresso Martini is made per the recipe below (multiply the recipe to make larger batches):
Cheeky Recipe
Vodka 2 oz
Cheeky Espresso Syrup 1 oz
Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a co*cktail coupe. Garnish with a trio of whole beans for the full effect.
Adapt to your preferences
Regardless of the route you take, the Espresso Martini is extremely riff-able. What one person considers the best Espresso Martini recipe might not hold true for another.
- Not a vodka drinker? Replace the vodka with your favorite spirit and see how it tastes—my favorites are gin, Irish whiskey, and Cognac.
- Avoiding alcohol entirely? Non-alcoholic spirits such as spirit-free Bourbon or non-alcoholic spiced rum would be excellent replacements. You can even experiment with some more culinary-minded modifications, likeadding Parmesan cheese.
So next time you have a hankering for a delicious Espresso Martini, know that you have options. The one you make at home might become your new favorite version.
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About the Author:
John deBary is an award-winning bar expert, author, and co*cktail consultant with over a decade of experience in the New York City bar scene. He's the author of two co*cktail books, a freelance journalist, and a judge for the L.A. Spirits Awards. He was named one of Wine Enthusiast's 40 Under 40 Tastemakers in 2020.
