An Espresso Martini is an ice cold coffee cocktail made from vodka, espresso and a touch of sweetness, crowned with a creamy crema. This article explains its origin, ingredients and taste, and shows how real bar quality ends up in a can.
What is an Espresso Martini?
An Espresso Martini is an ice cold coffee cocktail made from vodka, freshly brewed espresso and a touch of sweetness, crowned with a creamy crema. It was invented in London in 1983 and is now the best known coffee cocktail in the world.
Despite the name it has nothing to do with the classic Martini of gin and vermouth. The only thing they share is the glass. What defines the Espresso Martini is the balance of coffee bitterness, alcohol and sweetness.
Who invented the Espresso Martini?
The Espresso Martini was invented in 1983 by London bartender Dick Bradsell, reportedly for a guest who wanted a drink that would wake her up and lift her mood at the same time.
Bradsell was working next to an espresso machine at the time. That idea turned into a classic that no good cocktail menu leaves out, and it has been having a second wave for a few years now.
Which ingredients belong in an Espresso Martini?
A classic Espresso Martini needs four ingredients: vodka, freshly brewed espresso, coffee liqueur and a dash of sugar syrup. Nothing more.
What matters is the quality of the coffee, because it carries the drink. Cut corners here and you taste it immediately. Cheers Presso therefore uses 100 % single-origin premium Arabica coffee from Colombia and no artificial flavourings at all.
How does the crema form in an Espresso Martini?
The crema comes from shaking hard with ice. Tiny air bubbles are whipped into the drink and settle on top as a velvety layer of foam.
In the can, the nitro infusion does that job. Nitrogen creates the same dense, creamy layer as you pour, without a shaker and without ice. How the two compare in practice is covered in Espresso Martini from a can vs. from the bar.
What does a good Espresso Martini taste like?
A good Espresso Martini tastes of coffee, not of sugar. It is strong without being heavy, with a clear bitter note, some sweetness and a long, round finish.
Too much sugar quickly makes the drink sticky, too little makes it feel harsh. Cheers Presso sits at 7.2 g of sugar per 100 ml and is deliberately bright, light and floral rather than heavy and dessert like.
How strong is an Espresso Martini?
Cheers Presso is 10.3% ABV in the 200 ml can. That is roughly a glass of wine and clearly below a classic bar mixed Espresso Martini, which often reaches 15 to 20% ABV.
On caffeine, Regular contains 22 to 47 mg per 100 ml, so 44 to 94 mg per can. Every figure in detail is in Calories and caffeine in an Espresso Martini.
How do you serve an Espresso Martini properly?
An Espresso Martini belongs in the glass ice cold. Open it well chilled at 4 to 6 degrees, pour it into a martini glass and let the crema settle for a moment, then temperature, foam and aroma line up.
A pre chilled glass keeps the drink cold for longer. If you like, place three coffee beans on the crema. That is the classic garnish and stands for health, wealth and happiness.
When do you drink an Espresso Martini?
The Espresso Martini used to be an after dinner drink. Today it works all evening, from the aperitivo through the party and into the night.
If you want coffee flavour late but no caffeine, reach for Cheers Presso Decaf with 0 mg of caffeine. That way the decision stays with you, not with the clock.
What makes Cheers Presso different?
Cheers Presso is coffee first: 100 % single-origin premium Arabica coffee from Colombia, premium vodka, a real nitro crema, 10.3% ABV, no artificial flavourings and made in Germany.
The drink is also vegan, transparent about its nutrition and 1% is donated to social projects. It comes as Regular, as Decaf and as the sparkling Cold Brew Fizz. More answers are in the frequently asked questions.
Which coffee suits an Espresso Martini?
A strong, aromatic Arabica works best. It brings fruit acidity and sweetness that carry the drink without needing extra sugar on top.
Cheers Presso uses 100 % single-origin premium Arabica coffee from Colombia. Single origin means the coffee comes from one origin rather than an arbitrary blend, which makes the flavour profile predictable.
Why is it called a Martini when there is no Martini in it?
Because it is served in a martini glass. The name describes the glass and the silhouette of the drink, not the ingredients.
Historically that is not unusual: relatives like the Pornstar Martini carry the name without any vermouth or gin either.
How many calories are in an Espresso Martini?
Cheers Presso sits at 84 kcal per 100 ml, so a 200 ml can comes to around 168 kcal. The sugar content is 7.2 g per 100 ml.
Every figure including caffeine and alcohol is in Calories and caffeine in an Espresso Martini.
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