Mark National Espresso Day With An Espresso Martini Cocktail — Here’s How To Make It At Home
Every year, National Espresso Day is marked as a tribute to the aromatic, robust and earthily flavoured beverage prepared using some really fragrant coffee beans. One of the ways to explore the smooth sophistication of a good quality espresso is by adding it to an alcoholic beverage such as the classic espresso martini cocktail. This sleek, silky and richly flavoured drink has become tremendously popular across bartending cultures in contemporary times for its sheer elegance and enduring style. First conceptualised sometime during the 1980’s, it has continued to grow in popularity to eventually become the well-known velvety, classy cocktail made recognisable because of its unmissable foam on top.
What Makes An Espresso Martini Cocktail?
This cocktail variation is a drink made using some simple but rather well-flavoured ingredients.
– Vodka is the spirit of choice which becomes the neutral canvas for building this cocktail. Its neutral flavours make vodka a transparent foundation on which the earthy, complex notes of the freshly brewed espresso can shine effectively.
– Next is the espresso itself, a freshly made black coffee which is aromatic and dark coloured, adding the primarily bitter and robust notes into the martini cocktail variation.
– Another component which goes into the espresso martini cocktail is a high-quality coffee liqueur, which introduces a creaminess and velvety texture into the blend.
– Lastly, some mixologists prefer to add just about a tablespoon of simple syrup to the martini cocktail variation for balancing the pronounced bitter notes.
– What goes as the classic garnish on top of the espresso martini cocktail are three coffee beans, symbolising the sleek style and rich effect that the blend has come to epitomise.
Here’s a simple recipe serving one, to prepare at home
Ingredients:
- 20 ml vodka
- 30 ml freshly brewed espresso
- 10 ml coffee liqueur
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup (optional)
- Ice as required
- Three coffee beans, for garnish
Method:
– In a cocktail shaker containing ice, add the vodka, freshly brewed espresso, coffee liqueur and simple syrup (optional).
– Dry shake the mixture (without ice) for 10-15 seconds before adding ice cubes and shaking further for 10-15 seconds.
– Strain into a sleek martini cocktail or coupe glass, garnish with three coffee beans for the classic look and serve immediately.
Tips For Making The Espresso Martini Cocktail At Home
Crafting this espresso-based drink can be quite an interesting prospect. Here are some ways to make a bar-quality espresso martini cocktail at home.
– Brew Fresh Espresso: One of the ways to make the flavours of the espresso cocktail more pronounced is to brew the coffee fresh and hot right at home. Use good quality, medium roast beans to make the espresso and let it cool down slightly before adding to the cocktail shaker.
– Use Plenty Of Ice: The espresso martini cocktail is best served chilled so while shaking the drink, add to the cocktail shaker a sumptuous amount of medium-sized ice cubes which would effectively cool the drink without watering it down too much.
– Shake Well: This is a step that home mixologists often tend to bypass but the importance of shaking a cocktail diligently for at least 15-20 seconds cannot be overstated. Shake the espresso martini cocktail really well so it acquires a rich froth which forms a top layer when poured into the serving glass.
Pro Tip: The signature foamy layer of the cocktail depends on the shaking alone. So, use fresh espresso and plenty of ice for the thickest crema.
– Follow Simple Bartending Hacks: To make the drink appear sophisticated and bar-quality, chill the martini cocktail glass for 10 minutes before serving.
Use a fine strainer to transfer the cocktail into the glass for a smoother surface and serve the cocktail immediately as the foam and aroma can fade if it is left out for too long.
Never forget to pair the drink with elements like dark chocolate, biscotti or tiramisu, especially while serving it as a post-dinner dessert cocktail.
Also Read: The Espresso Martini Cocktail Has Evolved — Here’s A Modern Take On The Blend
Understand Flavour Balance
What makes the espresso martini cocktail work is that it tastes like a well-rounded dessert cocktail complete with rich, bittersweet and smooth flavours.
– Vodka brings neutral tasting notes and a sheer clarity which elevates the possibility for maximum flavours to make themselves known in each sip.
– Coffee liqueur brings a sweetness and depth into the drink, along with a silky texture, undercutting some of the more robust and pronounced notes of the espresso.
– The espresso itself, with its roasted flavours and aromatic touches becomes the primary ingredient of the cocktail that lends it a lot of nuance and flavour complexity.
– And of course, adding just a little bit of simple syrup introduces a certain mellow sweetness into the cocktail which tones down its robustness without making the drink cloyingly sweet.
Key Takeaways:
– One of the ways to explore the smooth sophistication of a good quality espresso is by adding it to a cocktail such as the classic espresso martini cocktail.
– The espresso martini cocktail was conceptualised during the 1980s and has continued to become popular as a velvety, classy blend finished off with a soft foam on top.
– What makes the espresso martini cocktail work is that it tastes like a well-rounded dessert cocktail complete with rich, bittersweet and smooth flavours.
FAQs:
– What are the ingredients used to make the espresso martini cocktail?
The espresso martini cocktail is crafted using vodka, freshly brewed espresso, coffee liqueur, a dash of simple syrup and some ice cubes.
– Which are a couple of hacks to perfect this cocktail recipe at home?
Brewing fresh espresso at home, using plenty of ice and shaking the drink diligently for 15-20 seconds are some of the hacks to perfect the espresso martini cocktail recipe at home.
– What are a couple of tips to make this espresso cocktail appear bar quality?
Chilling the martini cocktail glass before serving, using a fine mesh strainer, serving the cocktail immediately after it is blended and pairing it with desserts like chocolate or tiramisu can make the drink equivalent to one served at a bar.
*All cocktails listed use 30 ml liquor measurements for single serves. Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
