A classic martini is a blend of gin or vodka with dry vermouth. An espresso martini keeps the vodka but then takes a dark turn, with bitter espresso and a shot of coffee liqueur like Kahlua. The ingredients are shaken with ice and when poured into a glass, develop a light brown layer of foam at the top. Three coffee beans garnish the attractive drink. The beauty of the Espresso Martini is that it doesn't require many ingredients. It can take as little as a quality espresso, coffee liqueur, vodka, a little attention to detail, and a dash of simple syrup, if you like: ounces Prairie Organic Vodka, or vodka of choice ("We like Prairie because it's American-made and great quality for a reasonable price," Duncan says.) According to the Petros Papatheofanis, managing partner at Chicago's Press Room, the establishment's espresso martini is made with a cognac base, instead of the classic vodka or bourbon base. "The team notes it tastes much smoother and is very unique," says a Press Room spokesperson.

It’s got a fairly high alcohol content – 60 ml / 2 oz combined total of vodka and Kahlua which equals 2 standard drinks. Kahlúa is the standard option for an Espresso Martini - if it's the best depends on personal taste, though. It is relatively sweet and might make additional sweeteners such as syrup redundant.A stovetop espresso maker is a great, inexpensive device for making espresso. Instant espresso also exists—and if you’ve ever tried to make trendy Whipped Coffee, you may have used it. But we don’t recommend using it for this martini. The flavor may not be as clean, and it won’t produce the same kind of froth as brewed espresso. Vodka:This is the third main ingredient for an Espresso Martini. With its neutral taste, the clear spirit mixes well with the coffee without taking away from it. We like to use quality mid-shelf products like Absolut for this recipe. Once shaken, tap the side of the shaker to break the vacuum seal. Empty the ice out of the Martini glass, then place the strainer on top of the shaker and pour the contents through a sieve directly into the glass. Using the strainer and the sieve helps create a rich, smooth, froth.

People quite often get confused of the difference between Kahlua and Baileys. The difference is that Baileys Irish Cream is made with Irish Whiskey and cream, and is a pale brown cream colour. On the other hand, Kahlua is a dark brown colour, the colour of coffee. One of the best Espresso Martinis I ever had was in one of my favorite bars in Prague, the Shrinks Office. The bartender asked if he could serve me something different from the classic Espresso Martini recipe - and what I got was outstanding. Even though it’s got a decent slog of alcohol in it, it’s highly drinkable because the coffee flavour disguises the alcohol – so be warned!! How to make it The measurements of the recipe can widely differ. Kahlúa, for instance, suggests an equal-amounts approach for an Espresso Martini. This certainly works, yet, we lean more toward the official IBA recipe: Put simply, it’s the best way to perk up your evening (no matter what type of party your throwing) and keep it going into those wee, wee hours. I love making them at home but remember, they will lead you astray. Happy festive season! How to make an espresso martini

Simple Syrup:Adding just a bit of simple syrup makes this drink perfect for me. If you use another, less sweet coffee liqueur like Tia Maria, you can increase the amount of syrup.

ounce Kringle Cream (You can substitute with Bailey's, but Duncan says Kringle cream liqueur, inspired by the famed Wisconsin pastry, delivers unique nutty, buttery flavors) Duncan reveals that Wood uses La Colombe cold brew concentrate, after noticing that the addition of fresh, hot espresso made the beverage water down. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e It’s said that three coffee beans on an espresso martini represent health, wealth and happiness, and is similar to the traditional way of serving the Italian, anise-flavored liqueur Sambuca. Besides this, the beans are also an attractive garnish, floating on the surface and contrasting with the light foam underneath. Do you have to use fresh espresso? With a caffeine-heavy coffee liqueur like Co'Ps (1.5oz has 80mg of caffeine), it's a different story. The impact is immense, and you will also feel that. If the standard recipe already gets you going, a version with Co'Ps will totally wake you up. How Much Alcohol is in an Espresso Martini?The original recipe of an Espresso Martini has only slightly more caffeine than a regular espresso. As mentioned, the caffeine content in Kahlúa is very, very low - negligible basically. Prepare a chilled martini glass by keeping it in the freezer for at least 20 minutes, or filling it with ice and cold water for five minutes. Espresso coffee, like regular coffee, is made from coffee beans. The difference is the way that it's brewed. Espresso makers use higher pressure to extract a stronger, more intensely flavored coffee from finely ground beans. Because espresso is more concentrated in flavor (and caffeine!) it's served in small (usually 1 ounce) portions.