Espresso martini

The espresso martini—sometimes called a vodka espresso—is a cold, caffeinated cocktail made from espresso, coffee liqueur, and vodka, served in a martini glass. Despite its name, it isn’t a true martini, since it contains neither gin nor vermouth, but it’s one of many drinks that borrow the term. Its origins are disputed, though a widely repeated story credits bartender Dick Bradsell with inventing it in London during the 1980s. According to Bradsell, he created the drink at Soho Brasserie around 1983 for a young woman—described only as a “top model” or an American model—who asked for something that would “wake me up, then fuck me up.” The woman is rumored to have been Marie Helvin, a prominent American model in London at the time; claims that it was Naomi Campbell or Kate Moss are unlikely, as they were too young. Bradsell later recounted the invention in a popular video, noting that the coffee machine sat right next to his service station, making coffee a constant presence, and that vodka was the spirit of the moment.

Recipes vary by source, but traditional versions include a coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa or Tia Maria. Difford’s Guide suggests 1.5 US fluid ounces of vodka, 1 US fluid ounce of hot espresso, and 2/3 US fluid ounce of coffee liqueur. These are poured into a shaker filled with ice, shaken, fine-strained, and poured into a chilled martini glass, then garnished with coffee beans (and sometimes a twist of lemon zest). The drink saw a resurgence in popularity in the early 2020s, though bartenders often greeted this trend with reluctance due to the time and effort involved in making it. Variations include a Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini (adding Cointreau and chocolate sauce) and a Toasted Marshmallow Espresso Martini (using marshmallow syrup). Related drinks include the freddo espresso and shakerato.