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Espresso Martini Recipe: The Backyard Bar Classic

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH · SEPTEMBER

The espresso martini, made at a Taverns-To-Go bar.

3 min
PREP TIME
Coupe
GLASSWARE
Shaken
METHOD
Easy
DIFFICULTY

September's pick is the drink that turned every backyard bar into an after-dinner destination. The espresso martini is equal parts dessert and rocket fuel — cold, silky, properly caffeinated — and it's the single most-requested cocktail at the Taverns we deliver. Here's how to make it exactly the way we do at ours, plus the two mistakes that flatten the famous foam.

What you'll need (and why it matters)

Fresh-brewed espresso (2 oz) — brewed, not cold brew, not instant. The crema is where the foam comes from. Pull it last so it's still hot when it hits the shaker.
Tito's Vodka (2 oz) — clean and neutral, so the coffee stays the headline.
Mr Black coffee liqueur (1 oz) — less sweet than the old-school liqueurs; real cold-brew bitterness.
Simple syrup (½ oz) — balances the bitter edge. Skip it if your liqueur runs sweet.

How to build it

01

Chill the coupe

Fill it with ice water and set it aside. A warm glass kills the foam before you've had a sip.

02

Load the shaker

Espresso, vodka, Mr Black, simple syrup — then fill with ice. Hot espresso over ice is fine; that's what the shake is for.

03

Shake like you mean it

15–20 seconds, hard. This is the whole trick — the foam is nothing but espresso crema whipped through ice.

04

Double-strain & garnish

Fine-strain into the chilled coupe so the ice shards stay out and the foam sits clean. Three espresso beans on top.

↑ In production, each step card gets a still from the client's build video on the right side.

FROM BEHIND 5,000+ BARS

"Making these for a crowd? Batch the vodka, liqueur and syrup ahead in a bottle — then shake per-drink with fresh espresso. The foam only survives if the espresso goes in last."

THE RECIPE CARD

Espresso Martini

SERVES
UNIT

Prep: 3 min · Glass: Coupe · Method: Shaken, double-strained

Ingredients

  • 2 oz fresh-brewed espresso
  • 2 oz Tito's vodka
  • 1 oz Mr Black coffee liqueur
  • ½ oz simple syrup
  • 3 espresso beans, to garnish

Method

  1. Chill a coupe glass with ice water.
  2. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
  3. Shake hard for 15–20 seconds.
  4. Double-strain into the chilled coupe; garnish with three beans.
Recipe + VideoObject JSON-LD ships with this card → photo & video eligible in Google results.

Espresso martini FAQ

Can I use cold brew instead of espresso?

You can, but you'll lose most of the foam — crema is what whips into that top layer. If cold brew is all you have, add the extra half-ounce of liqueur and shake longer.

Why three espresso beans?

Tradition — they stand for health, wealth and happiness. One or two is considered bad luck by superstitious bartenders, and who are we to argue.

Make it seasonal

Swap the simple syrup for maple and dust the foam with cinnamon — an October-ready version for the fire-pit crowd.

Make it at your own bar

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

Next month: a new pour.

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