Trending · 2025–2026 #1 most trending
Espresso Martini
shaken · The Speakeasy Selection
Espresso Martini
"The drink that wakes you up and turns you on." — Dick Bradsell, creator, circa 1983
At a Glance
| Trend Rank | #1 Most Viral Cocktail 2025–2026 |
| Vibe | Energizing · Indulgent · Sophisticated |
| Strength | Medium–Strong (approx. 20% ABV) |
| Best For | After dinner · Date night · Late-night parties |
| Skill Level | Easy |
Flavor Profile
The palate opens with sharp espresso bitterness, blooms through the sweetness of the liqueur, and closes with a warm, clean vodka finish. The foam delivers a soft, velvety texture that elevates every sip.
Ingredients
Classic Recipe (1 serving)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 45 ml / 1.5 oz | Use a clean, neutral vodka — Grey Goose, Ketel One, or Belvedere work beautifully |
| Fresh espresso | 30 ml / 1 oz | Pull a single shot just before shaking — still hot |
| Coffee liqueur | 20 ml / 0.67 oz | Kahlúa is traditional; Mr. Black for a richer, less-sweet result |
| Simple syrup (optional) | 5–10 ml / 0.25 oz | Omit if your liqueur is sweet enough |
Total volume: ~95 ml / ~3.2 oz before dilution from shaking
Instructions
- Pull your espresso and let it sit for 30–60 seconds — hot enough to melt the ice slightly during shaking, creating that signature foam.
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice generously — at least half-full with large cubes.
- Shake hard for 15–20 seconds. This is the key step: vigorous shaking emulsifies the crema proteins into dense, persistent foam.
- Double strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe or martini glass. The fine strain removes ice chips that would break the foam.
- Garnish with three whole coffee beans arranged in a tight triangle at the foam's center.
- Serve immediately.
Pro tip: Chill your glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes beforehand. A warm glass kills the foam instantly.
Glassware & Presentation
Glass: Coupe (preferred for foam integrity) or classic V-shaped martini glass Serve: Neat — no ice in the glass Temperature: Ice cold — foam should dome slightly above the rim Garnish: 3 whole coffee beans (triangle formation)
The Story
The Espresso Martini was born in a London bar — likely Soho Brasserie — in 1983, when celebrity bartender Dick Bradsell reached for a challenge. A young model reportedly walked up and asked for something to "wake me up and f** me up."* Bradsell pulled espresso and vodka into a shaker and the cocktail world was never quite the same.
After decades in the background, the drink exploded back into culture around 2020–2022, driven by a perfect storm: the rise of coffee culture, TikTok cocktail content, and a post-pandemic desire for drinks that feel like a treat. By 2025 it sits firmly as the most photographed cocktail on Instagram, the #1 most ordered craft cocktail in bars across the US and UK, and a constant fixture on TikTok's cocktail feed.
Its three coffee-bean garnish is borrowed from Italian Sambuca tradition, where the beans (called con la mosca, "with the fly") represent health, wealth, and happiness.
By the Numbers
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Google search growth (2020–2025) | +340% |
| TikTok hashtag views (#espressomartini) | 2.3B+ |
| Most-ordered craft cocktail rank (US bars, 2025) | #1 |
| Instagram posts | 8.5M+ |
| Typical bar price (US, 2025) | $16–$24 |
Quick-Reference Card
ESPRESSO MARTINI
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Vodka 45 ml
Espresso 30 ml (fresh, hot)
Coffee liqueur 20 ml (Kahlúa / Mr. Black)
Simple syrup 5 ml (optional)
→ Shake hard with ice 15–20 sec
→ Double strain into chilled coupe
→ Garnish: 3 coffee beans
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Variations
| Variation | Twist |
|---|---|
| Oat Milk Espresso Martini | Add 15 ml oat milk; shake without ice first to foam the milk, then add ice |
| Salted Caramel Espresso Martini | Swap simple syrup for salted caramel syrup; rim glass with flaked salt |
| Frozen Espresso Martini | Blend with ice instead of shaking — thick, slushy, summer-ready |
| Espresso Negroni | Replace vermouth with espresso and coffee liqueur in a classic Negroni build |
| Mezcal Espresso Martini | Substitute half the vodka with a lightly smoky mezcal for depth |
| Baileys Espresso Martini | Add 15 ml Baileys Irish Cream for extra richness |
Pairing Suggestions
- Food: Dark chocolate, tiramisu, salted caramel tart, flourless chocolate cake, aged parmesan
- Occasion: After a dinner party, pre-club, corporate events, dessert course pairing
- Music vibe: Late-night jazz, lo-fi beats, deep house
Explore More
Prefer to skip the alcohol? The Zero-Proof Espresso Martini delivers the same dense foam and coffee intensity — minus the vodka. For a broader look at intentional drinking and the culture around it, visit Mindful Drinking.
See the zero-proof version Zero-Proof Espresso Martini- #espressomartini
- #coffeecocktail
- #nightcap
- #espresso
- #martini
- #cocktailsofinstagram
- #drinkstagram
- #barculture
- #caffeinated
- #therapeuticcocktails
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The foam comes from the proteins and oils in fresh espresso being vigorously emulsified by hard shaking with ice. The key is pulling your shot hot and shaking for at least 15–20 seconds with plenty of ice. Dry or cold brew espresso produces far less foam.
-
You can use a tightly sealed jar or large thermos in a pinch, but a proper shaker produces noticeably better foam. The tight seal and controlled pour of a shaker are part of why the foam sets so densely.
-
Mr. Black Coffee Amaro gives the richest, least-sweet result and is the bartender favourite. Kahlúa is the traditional choice and widely available. Avoid very cheap coffee liqueurs — they make the drink cloyingly sweet and can mask the espresso.
From the Lab
Master the craft behind this drink
The fundamentals that make this drink work — explained in The Lab.