Espresso Martini


A crisp coffee-vodka cocktail with rich crema and smooth depth.


Base spirit
Vodka
Style
Dessert
Glassware
Coupe

Vodka, fresh espresso, and coffee liqueur combine into a silky, bittersweet cocktail with a thick crema. Shaken hard, it pours with froth and lifted aromatics. The drink balances coffee bitterness with gentle sweetness, making it both energizing and dessert‑leaning. Its structure depends on hot, freshly pulled espresso to create proper foam.


A chilled coupe of Espresso Martini with thick crema and three coffee beans.

Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz fresh espresso
  • 0.75 oz coffee liqueur
  • 3 coffee beans

Did you know?

The drink was created by Dick Bradsell in the 1980s when a guest reportedly asked him for something to “wake me up and **** me up,” a line often quoted in modern cocktail lore.

Source:Imbibe; PunchDrink archives

Bartender's Note

Use fresh hot espresso; stale shots collapse the foam.

How to make the Espresso Martini

  1. 1Shake all ingredients with ice.
  2. 2Strain into a chilled coupe.
  3. 3Garnish with three coffee beans.

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