We can all admit, James Bond is one awesome guy. The perfect image of a true action man (yes, I’m British) from his tailored suits, casino skills that match his match gun skills, and a love for a proper Martini.
I can’t help but think if James Bond changed that standard Martini to an Espresso Martini, he would be even more of a hero. Think about it, how much more action could we see from James Bond if he was not just fired up on Vodka, but also coffee, our favourite drink.
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If you ask me, the Espresso Martini is a match made in heaven. That leads on to what we’re covering today: How to make the perfect Espresso Martini
The Syrup Espresso Martini
An absolute classic cocktail, you’d be surprised how quick and easy it is to make the Epresso Martini. This recipe focuses around sugar syrup for an extra kick in flavour. Here’s what you’ll need to begin making this version:
Ingredients:
- 100g of golden caster sugar (for the syrup)
- Cocktail shaker
- Ice
- 100ml Vodka
- 50ml Espresso coffee
- 50ml coffee liqueur
- 3 coffee beans
The method:
- Firstly, make your sugar syrup, so it is out of the way. Just put the caster sugar in a pan over medium heat and add in around 40-60ml of water. Stir in and bring to boil. When at a boil, take off the heat and allow to cool.
- When your sugar syrup is cold, add 1 tablespoon into a cocktail shaker along with the ice, vodka, espresso, and liqueur. Shake until your cocktail shaker feels chilled.
- Strain from your cocktail shaker into a glass and bottoms up, your drink is ready! You can add a few coffee beans as a garnish, as mentioned for an extra coffee hit and a personal touch.
These are straightforward ingredients that are also easy to come by in a supermarket. This is part of the reason the Espresso Martini is such a staple cocktail and, how easy is the above to make? No peeling fruits or cutting strawberries. I could grab those items in my local in ten minutes tops. I could go from thinking about having an Espresso Martini to having one in my hand in half an hour, not bad, right? *Sips my Espresso Martini* Damn, that’s good.
The non-alcoholic Espresso Martini
I couldn’t leave you sober readers out now, could I? I know you read the above with fresh saliva hanging out of your mouth at the thought of the taste and then saw it included Vodka. Fret no more, as I have your solution. There is a surge across the drinks industry of non-alcoholic spirits, so why not make use of this with our staple cocktail, here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- 50ml of Borrago or similar non-alcoholic spirit
- 50ml of chilled espresso
- 100g golden casting sugar
- Cocktail shaker
- Ice
- 3 coffee beans
The method:
- Step 1 is easy, make the syrup sugar the same as the method mentioned above for the alcoholic version. To summarise, add to the pan, add water, bring to boil, and let cool.
- Fill your cocktail shaker with your ice, Borrago, syrup sugar, and espresso.
- Shake well until your cocktail shaker feels cold
- Strain into glass and add coffee beans
Another straightforward example of what you can make all in the comfort of your own home. You may have some further questions when it comes to making your espresso martini, I’ve covered some key questions below.
Frequently asked questions
I hate vodka, is there another spirit I can use to make an espresso martini?
Simply put, it’s your drink, so why not experiment with it? The vodka martini is, of course, the staple. However, with the surge of gin, a lot of people are substituting the vodka for gin.
Now I’m thinking, gin and coffee, wow, what a mix. Ultimately, there is only one way you’re going to find out what combination you like, and that’s by trying different things. If you do land a winning cocktail formula, make sure you share it with us!
Why do both recipes recommend 3 coffee beans?
I know it seems strange at first, but there is a specific reason I’ve put 3 beans for each, and no, that’s not as high as I can count. Espresso Martinis traditionally are garnished with 3 floating beans in a petal-like formation. This comes from a traditional serving of sambuca where the 3 beans are called ‘con la Mosca’ meaning ‘with the fly.’
How do you make an espresso martini frothy?
A great question and something only the best espresso martinis have which is the froth, it makes your martini look so much more beautiful and seducing. To get a frothy espresso martini, it is all about shaking it well, so the icy breaks a little in your shaker.
This will help create a lovely velvety foam around the top. On top of this, you can strain the cocktail mix through a sieve and then to the glass. Everything helps in making the perfect espresso martini.
So, there you have it, two versions of the espresso martini that should hopefully cater for every kind of drinker unless for some reason you don’t drink coffee, but, in that case, what are you doing here anyway reading our coffee blog?