That’s that me, espresso! No literally — almost every bar that you go to, it’s likely that an espresso martini will have a place on the menu or the bartender at least has all the ingredients to make it. An espresso martini is a cocktail made of vodka, coffee liqueur, and brewed espresso. The drink reached peak popularity around 2021, but has now reached staple drink status.
But not all espresso martinis are made equal. The version from your college town’s bar will likely differ from the big city’s jazz lounge. As someone who’s had an espresso martini or two, it’s a drink that you are going to want to pay close attention to.
Jessica Randhawa is the founder of The Forked Spoon, a food blog dedicated to sharing her favorite recipes and meal plans, and an avid espresso martini lover. Randhawa is also an experienced chef and food photographer, and has been food blogging for over a decade. In the world of the caffeinated cocktail, she considers herself an expert. We asked her how to look for and find the best espresso martini, from the looks to the taste to the overall vibes of the bar.
Looks matter.
Listen — looks matter! You don’t want your espresso martini to come out looking like a dirty swamp of water. “An espresso martini should be beautiful when ordered at a bar,” she said. “I want it cold, clean, and with a nice layer of crema.”
So, what should your espresso martini look like? The form of the drink should consist of a dark color with a frothy, creamy layer on top and perfectly garnished with three coffee beans on top of the foam (though the garnish isn’t totally necessary). And, an espresso martini is best enjoyed in the standard martini glass or coupe glass that has been chilled.
Flavors should be balanced — sweet and bitter.
Randhawa isn’t a big fan of sweetness but instead favors a balance.“I avoid sweeteners – I would rather taste the vodka and espresso over sweeteners or simple syrup,” she said.
Randhawa also uses low-acid espresso beans when making the cocktail at home, which helps balance out any sourness and provide the martini with a more robust taste. “At home, I use my Jura superautomatic espresso machine for the espresso with the Trader Joe’s Fair Trade Bolivian Blend beans, which are medium-bodied and have a very low acidity,” she said.
Going out for an espresso martini? Look for chill vibes.
Depending on what type of a bar you visit, you may want to opt for one that has a calm atmosphere. Maybe a little bit of jazz music and slow dancing to match the mood of an espresso martini. For Randhawa, the vibes of a bar doesn’t matter as she can create her own vibe by simply enjoying the martini.
“Since I am getting an espresso martini for both the alcohol and caffeine, so it’s more about fulfilling those needs than vibes or ambiance,” Randhawa said.
When all else fails, make it at home.
For a standard espresso martini, it’s usually two ounces of vodka, one ounce of coffee liqueur, and one ounce of espresso. If desired, simple syrup can be used to give the martini extra sweetness.
“My personal homemade recipe for an espresso martini is 1.5 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of coffee liqueur, and a .5 ounce Ristretto shot from my espresso machine,” she said.
Don’t be afraid to splurge a bit.
If you don’t mind breaking the bank a little bit, Randhawa states that the most expensive espresso martinis tend to be the best, stating,”I have paid anywhere from $20 to $40 for a single espresso martini.”