Holiday Cheer: Our Favorite Espresso Martini Recipes | Espresso Dave (2024)

FAQs

What does ordering an espresso martini say about you? ›

Espresso Martini

If this is your co*cktail of choice you are likely an intense individual who gives 100% to everything you do. Espresso Martini drinkers have a 'work hard, play hard attitude and are happy to take the lead in both professional and social situations.

Ideally the co*cktail pairs well with a good sweet and tart cheeseboard. But it definitely is great for dessert pairings with chocolate biscuits, cookies, a mocha mousse or a chocolate pudding as well. A simple scoop of vanilla ice cream would also be a fantastically easy option to pair with.

The Espresso Martini originated in the 1980s, when late bartender Dick Bradsell created the “vodka espresso” at London's Soho Brasserie for a guest—supposedly a supermodel who requested a drink to “f—k me up and wake me up.” The original was served on the rocks, using little more than the titular ingredients, garnished ...

The espresso martini's hibernation has probably been a contributor not only to its new wave of popularity but also to the wide range of experimentation happening around it. Many drinkers and bartenders, especially younger ones, didn't have strong preconceptions of the drink, allowing it to be new all over again.

Espresso martinis were supposedly created by a London bartender for a model who asked for a drink that would “wake her up, then mess her up” — only she didn't use the word “mess.” Similar to vodka Red Bulls, espresso martinis mix the “upper” of caffeine and the “downer” of alcohol.

As avid coffee lovers, the local population embraced the concept of booze in their coffee…or coffee in their booze. Bartenders say it's because the beverage appeals to everyone and can fit in at any bar – a Boujie co*cktail spot or a gritty rave club.

Swap out the vodka for rum or whiskey or change up the flavor of your coffee liqueur. You can use everything from vanilla and cinnamon spice to the viral Parmesan cheese trend used for espresso martinis. You'll have a ball playing with textures, especially when it comes to garnishing the rim of the martini glass.

But if you're a mixologist at work, it's a nightmare. In fact, bartenders notably dislike making these co*cktails because of the prep time, complications, and cleanup of the espresso step alone.

Celebrate the holiday season with the coziest and most delicious Dirty Chai Espresso Martini. Homemade chai tea simple syrup mixed with your favorite vodka, Kahlúa and a strong shot of espresso. This is the perfect co*cktail to end the night!

This is the co*cktail's trademark and are said to represent health, wealth and happiness and come from the traditional serving of Sambuca in Italy, where the beans are called con la mosca, which means “with the fly”. You can chew and eat the coffee beans in both co*cktails but it is a personal choice!

Why do you put 3 coffee beans in an espresso martini? ›

While there are many variations on the espresso martini co*cktail, you could say there's one standard garnish: three espresso beans floating on top. Tradition holds that these three beans represent health, wealth and happiness.

The Espresso Martini Name

When Dick Bradsell first made the drink, he called it the Vodka Espresso due to the drink's vodka content. He later renamed it to the Pharmaceutical Stimulant, and then the espresso martini later.

They are perfect for after-dinner drinks or as an aperitif. Espresso martinis are a combination of different ingredients that work perfectly together. They consist of vodka and espresso, sometimes with the addition of sugar syrup to help bring out the flavors.

Plus the espresso itself. So don't worry, an Espresso Martini won't keep you awake all night long – you can drink an Espresso Martini before or after dinner, or both! It works nicely either way. When to drink an Espresso Martini is up to you.

If you prefer classic co*cktails like the martini or old-fashioned, you are a refined individual with a taste for timeless elegance. You appreciate the finer things in life and enjoy a traditional approach to co*cktails.

Martini (dirty): You are sophisticated and smart and you are going places. Martini (flavored, such as Appletinis): You obviously don't like the taste of liquor. Cosmo: You don't truly like to drink, and might not even know another drink exists. Manhattan: This is an older-crowd drink for sure.

First, 'dry' indicates that very little vermouth has been added to the co*cktail, so the gin is the primary focus. The typical ratio is 6 parts gin to 1 part vermouth. However, order 'extra dry' and you'll get the slightest splash of vermouth, or even just a glass-coating wash.

So don't worry, an Espresso Martini won't keep you awake all night long – you can drink an Espresso Martini before or after dinner, or both! It works nicely either way. When to drink an Espresso Martini is up to you.