Look, I was not of drinking age in the 90s but I do remember the espresso martini on menus! I even vaguely remember them in the early 2000s as I was of the going-to-coffee-shops age and always wanted one, but the whole under 21 thing kept me from them. Like the rest of us, I forgot about espresso martinis until they started coming back. Someone pointed this out, and now it's as official as the McRib — espresso martinis are in. For now. You know how quickly things fall back out of fashion in this fast-paced world.
So what did we miss out on, children of the 90s? Frankly, we missed out on something I sure could have used in my going out days. Getting a smooth caffeine buzz to keep me awake long enough to join the after 2 a.m. service industry crowd? YES. Getting buzzed enough to want to go out that late with a bunch of pent up service industry workers? ALSO YES.
We can still use the espresso martini though, no matter our age. Every once in a while, don't we all get the itch to go out and stay out painfully late and do things we know will make us ache for another day or so. STILL YES. Here we are, at the espresso martini in it's 2021 version glory. That glory means tarting it up a bit with local cream liqueurs and chi-chi small batch sprinkles.
What is an espresso martini?
An espresso martini combines espresso, vodka, cream or coffee flavored liqueur, and a little sugar for a drink that will pump you up in two ways. Get ready to party with the help of some extra caffeinated espresso and a little alcohol too! Espresso martinis can be flavored just like coffee, so if you want to add some vanilla syrup, chocolate syrup, or something else to customize it to your coffee preferences, go for it!
I added a rainbow sprinkle rim to this one for fun, but it's totally optional depending on how you're feeling.
How do I make espresso?
There are tons of ways to make espresso, some more preferred than others by people who are espresso snobs.
Espresso machine
Are you lucky enough to own and know how to operate an espresso machine? This is the best way to get fresh espresso that'll have that light espresso froth on top. If so, pull an ounce of espresso and set it aside to chill.
Nespresso machine
Nespresso is a brand-name espresso machine that makes a smoother espresso with more froth on top, a coveted feature. Nespresso machines can be pricey but they people who have them rave about them.
French press
I use this French press to make my espresso at home. It's small, it's easy to use, and I can make the perfect small amount of espresso I need within about eight minutes, including boiling the water. I use about a 2 tablespoons of ground espresso per cup. This recipe only needs 1 ounce of espresso, which is hard to make such a small amount in a French press. So I made a cup of espresso and put the rest in the fridge for the next martini!
Instant espresso
As you can guess, instant espresso is the low-brow option, but it's still worth mentioning. When you want espresso, you want espresso.
Other ways to make espresso
You can use an Aeropress, you can buy espresso shots at the grocery store or gas station, or a coffee shop. Out of all of these ways, you should find one way to get an ounce of espresso for this recipe!
Espresso Martini
Equipment
- Shaker
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon corn syrup
- 1-2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1.5 ounces espresso chilled
- 1 ounce cream liqueur such as Kaluha
- ¼ ounce water
- ¼ ounce white sugar
Instructions
- Use your fingers to spread a thin layer of corn syrup around the edge of the rim of the martini glass.
- Put the sprinkles on a plate. Immediately and lightly roll the rim of the glass in the sprinkles. Use your fingers to press sprinkles in to fill any gaps as needed. Be patient here, the first time is the hardest.
- Put in the fridge to chill while shaking the drink.
- Heat the ¼ ounce of water in a microwave proof cup for 20 seconds. Mix in the sugar, let dissolve and set aside.
- Put a 5-8 whole ice cubes in a shaker.
- Add the vodka, cream liqueur, espresso, and the sugar water mixture to the shaker.
- Shake vigorously for up to 1 minute or until the shaker is cold to the touch.
- Remove the glass from the fridge and gently strain the cocktail into the glass.
- Garnish with additional sprinkles and serve immediately.
You can easily scale this drink up to make two or more at a time, it really just depends on the size of your cocktail shaker!
What is cream liqueur?
The most well-known cream liqueur is Bailey's, an Irish cream. However, I used a cream liqueur from Gorget Distilling Co. in Lugoff, South Carolina. Six & Twenty is another South Carolina distillery in Greenville that makes a variety of cream liqueurs.
Check with your nearby speciality liquor store to see what kind of cream liqueurs they have available. If they don't have any — or if you just want an extra hit of coffee flavor — look for a coffee liqueur like Kahlúa.
Looking for more espresso beverages?
