Sweet & Frothy Espresso Martini

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Brian and I celebrated his birthday at the Ritz last January and we enjoyed the most delicious (and foamy!) espresso martinis at the Casa Don Alfonso restaurant while there. I’ve been craving one ever since and I thought why not teach myself how to make one at home?! When I started to read up on how to make an espresso martini, I found out that it is one of the more difficult cocktails for a bartender to make due to how much shaking is involved to create the sweet foam on top. I also found out that you’ll need some specific bar tools to create that foam. The typical strainer just won’t work, no matter how much you shake the cocktail shaker. SOO, I am going to share TWO ways to create that magical foam on top of your espresso martini, a simple method and an expert method.

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This is what you’ll need to create an espresso martini:

• 2 ounces vodka
• ½ ounce coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa)
• 1 ounce espresso, freshly brewed from an Espresso machine (or cold brew concentrate)
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Coffee beans to garnish
• Cocktail shaker
• Ice

*If you go the ‘expert’ method for creating the foam on top, you’ll need a Hawthorne AND Fine Mesh to use with your Cocktail shaker.**

**If you go the ‘simple’ method for creating the foam on top, you’ll need 1/4 cup of 2% milk (or oat milk will work) and a hand held foamer (or you can use the foamer on your espresso machine, THIS is the one I have).**

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1. Brew your espresso and let it sit out at room temperature (if you purchased a cold brew concentrate, you’ll have better luck with the simple method below).
2. Fill the glass you plan to pour your espresso martini into with ice, so that it can chill. {Dump out the ice right before you pour the mixed espresso/alcohol into the glass after mixing it in the cocktail shaker.}
3. Add your espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur and Bailey’s in a small container. Add ice to fill cocktail shaker 1/2 to 3/4 full. Pour coffee/alcohol mixture over ice into the cocktail shaker.
4. Shake until your shaker is visibly frosted. Shake back and forth, but also swish it back and forth. Shake as hard as you can for at least a minute. This will get the fresh oils from the coffee beans in your espresso to bubble up and make that delicious froth you want at the top of your espresso martini.
5. Strain the drink into a martini or coupe glass with a a Hawthorne AND Fine Mesh placed together. This will help it flow out smoother, so the froth isn’t broken up by the ice.
6. Garnish with a few coffee beans on top.
7. Cheers and enjoy your cocktail!

1. Brew your espresso if you’re going that route or set out your cold brew concentrate.
2. Add your espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur and Bailey’s to a cocktail shaker filled 1/2 to 3/4 full with ice.
3. Shake until your shaker is visibly frosted.
4. Strain the drink into a martini or coupe glass.
5. Now we will make the foam with the simple method! Fill a small glass with 1/4 cup of 2% or oat milk. Froth it with a handheld frother or with the frother on your espresso machine.
6. Pour frothed milk over espresso martini coffee/alcohol mixture.
7. Garnish with a few coffee beans on top.
8. Cheers and enjoy your cocktail!

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