A sleek, caffeinated cocktail born in 1980s London. The David Bowie film Absolute Beginners was being shot in the area so everyone who was anyone was flocking to Soho to try and catch a glimpse. The story goes that supermodel Linda Evangelista walked into the Soho Brasserie and asked bartender Dick Bradsell for something, politely put, to wake her up. Bradsell — who had a coffee machine right next to his bar — combined vodka with a shot of espresso and coffee liqueur on the spot. Originally called the Vodka Espresso, it was later renamed the Espresso Martini and became one of the defining cocktails of the era. It has enjoyed a massive global revival over the last ten years.
Serves: 1 - although we recommend marking more as it works brilliantly as an alternative dessert at your next dinner party
Glass: A V-shaped martini glass or coupe glass
An espresso martini is a rich, creamy cocktail made by shaking 50ml GFG vodka, 30ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa or a Welsh equivalent like Derw Coffee), 10ml simple syrup (optional), and 1 shot (25-30ml) of fresh hot espresso with ice.
Ingredients
- 50 ml GFG vodka
- 30ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa or a Welsh equivalent like Derw Coffee)
- 1 shot (25-30ml) of fresh hot espresso with ice
- 10ml simple syrup (optional)
- 3 coffee beans, for garnish
Method
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Make your espresso, around 25 to 30ml and allow it to cool for 1–1m 30s or add ice— hot espresso will melt the ice too quickly and over-dilute the drink.
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Load the shaker: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and all the liquid ingredients
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Shake vigorously: Shake hard for 15–18 seconds — this is longer than most cocktails, and essential for building the foam head.
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Double-strain: Double-strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe or martini glass to catch any ice chips.
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Garnish and serve: Place 3 coffee beans, for garnish in a small triangle on top of the velvety foam to garnish. Serve immediately.
Variations on the theme
Timed Espresso Martini — Use cold brew concentrate instead of espresso for a smoother, less acidic flavour with deeper coffee notes.
Salted Caramel — Add a bar spoon of salted caramel syrup in place of simple syrup for a sweeter, trendy twist.
Pornstar Martini Hybrid — Add a splash of passion fruit purée and serve with a Prosecco shot on the side.
Mezcal Espresso Martini — Swap half the vodka for mezcal to add a smoky depth that pairs beautifully with coffee.
Rum Espresso Martini — Dark rum instead of vodka gives a richer, molasses-tinged character.
For more cocktail inspiration, check out our Negroni recipe.