Espresso Martini – a simple yet delectable distration

We introduced a new segment that we hope will provide an ongoing and enjoyable distraction: the featured cocktail. It is a segment where we introduce some of our favorite cocktail recipes and include step-by-step instructions on how to make them on your own. We are exciting to continue our “distracted” series with this latest recipe: the espresso martini.

A traditional martini is made with gin and vermouth and garnished with either an olive or a “twist” of a citrus peel (either lemon or lime to add a citrus zest to the drink). Traditionalists will grasp their pearls and gaze in horror if anything other than gin is offered in a martini. In their minds anything other than a gin martini is simply not a martini. Well, traditionalists be damned! As the drink of James Bond, vodka martinis (formerly known as the “kangaroo cocktail”) afford a wonderful bevy of fun and enjoyable cocktails, including the espresso varietal.

While technically not a “martini,” this drink began as the Vodka Espresso in a London Bar in the 1980’s. Re-branded and refined as the Espresso Martini in the 1990’s, it is a surprisingly easy to make drink. A delightful pre-, during and after dinner cocktail, the espresso martini is a perfect compliment to any meal.

So let’s get into it! First, as mentioned in a previous post, a good starting point is a basic bartenders kit. For this recipe we’ll be using the following bar tending tools: the jigger, shaker and drink strainer. For glassware, v-shaped martini glasses really add the perfect touch and make drinking our cocktail that much more enjoyable. It also makes sense to invest in a bar spill mat to keep counter tops from getting sticky and glassware from breaking.

Now, let’s get into the ingredients. An espresso martini is a vodka-based drink. Vodka is distilled from grain or potatoes, Good vodka is a clear, odorless and tasteless spirit. Poor quality vodka’s have a color and distinct taste (by taste, we are only talking about non-flavored vodka’s, we’ll get into the flavored vodka’s in future posts). To highlight the coffee flavors of our drink, choosing a good quality vodka is a must. Thus, we recommend brands such Ketel One, Grey Goose, Stolichnaya, Hanger 1, Tito’s, Absolute or Smirnoff.

Next we need a coffee liquor, and Kahlua is the by far the most popular. On a recent trip to Costa Rica, we also came across Cafe Rica. While similar to Kahlua but slightly more potent, you’ll need to adjust the proportions if using Cafe Rica. Espresso coffee is the third ingredient. If you have the means to brew fresh espresso, that’s the best way to go. However without an espresso machine on hand, a good substitute is canned espresso – and you can get packs of 6 of these to keep on hand for future indulgences. The last ingredient is the garnish. In this case three espresso coffee beans to float on top of our martini. Finally we need a large glass of ice in our shaker and we are ready to go.

For the perfect Espresso Martini, start with a full jigger (2 fl oz) of vodka. Add that to your shaker of ice. Next, add an equal part of Kahlua – a full jigger (2 fl oz) – to the vodka and ice. Now we need to add our coffee. Since I am without an espresso machine, a double shot of the canned stuff works perfectly here. NOTE: I know – the purists are gonna say “fresh espresso is the only way to go cuz the canned stuff doesn’t oxidize properly and is too bitter” and on and on. BUT the taste comparison is so slight that it’s not worth going out and buying an espresso machine just for this. And quite honestly if espresso is really what I am after, I’ll just go make an espresso. Thus, for this recipe we’re gonna add about 3 to 4 fl oz of canned espresso to our shaker of ice, vodka and Kahlua.

Now, cover the shaker and shake, shake, shake! You want to mix it up vigorously to get a nice froth. After shaking we’re ready to add the mix to our glass. In this case, we’re going to strain out the ice so it’s served “neat” in our martini glass. To do that, use the strainer tool when pouring the drink into a martini glass. And, to add a little flair to your experience – chill your martini glass before pouring in the drink. After straining the mix, you should see it has a nice frothy top to it – perfect for our garnish. Add your three espresso beans in a leaf shape and there you have it – the perfect espresso martini!