Coffee drinkers, raise your cups. Top Chef judge and cookbook author Gail Simmons says espresso martinis are “very popular. The caffeinated trend makes sense to Simmons because the drinks “have everything you want in a cocktail” while being “festive and fun,” she says. “smooth and balanced” with “strong, subtle flavors.” …… None of these are incredibly strong.
They’re also easy to make, with Simmons using a recipe that has just three ingredients, shaken over ice: ganache, vodka and espresso.
Tips for preparing espresso martinis
The key to making any great cocktail is to have all the ingredients, equipment and glassware ready in advance. And, Simmons advises, “You can never have too much ice.”
When preparing espresso martinis, Simmons says it’s important to make the espresso ahead of time so it has time to cool completely. However, it doesn’t matter whether the espresso is instant or brewed: it’s the quality of the espresso that counts. Simmons says she often uses “very good quality instant espresso” for roasting. The quality of the vodka is also important – Simmons prefers absolute vodka.
What type of equipment do I need to make an espresso martini?
You don’t need a full cocktail set to make an espresso martini. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you only need two kitchen items that you probably already have: a glass pitcher and a mesh filter.
To make a delicious espresso martini, you need a way to shake the ingredients vigorously with ice to create the signature velvety foam of an espresso martini. Almost any jar will do, as long as it has an opening large enough for the ice to pass through and a very tight seal that won’t leak no matter how much you shake it.
Before you drink an espresso martini, you need to strain the cocktail and leave the ice so it doesn’t fall into the glass. A mesh filter is a good choice. If you don’t have one, get creative. Simmons says that in a pinch, she uses a tea ball (for making tea from loose leaves) as a cocktail filter.
Make 1 or 100, but not in advance
One or a hundred espresso martinis are easy to make. The key, Simmons says, is to “know the proportions. The ratio of espresso martinis is 1:1:1, which means that no matter how many cocktails you make at once, they should be equal parts Kahlúa, vodka and espresso. Keeping this ratio in mind, home bartenders can make as many drinks as they want at one time and are only limited by the size of the shaker.
When entertaining guests, it may be tempting to make a large batch of espresso martinis ahead of time, but Simmons says cocktails are best made to order. That’s because the “charm” of the espresso martini is the frothy top, which Simmons describes as a “frothy holiday wave. The foam is the result of shaking the ingredients vigorously with ice, and will dissipate if the cocktail sits for too long.
The best way to garnish an espresso martini
According to Simmons, it is traditional to garnish an espresso martini with espresso beans. However, one thing Simmons loves about this cocktail is how easy it is to customize once the basics are mastered. Chocolate shavings, orange peel rolls and mini mint candy sticks all work well as garnishes because they complement the coffee flavor of the drink. To make espresso martinis more interesting, Simmons suggests dipping the rim of the glass into melted chocolate and then placing the glass in crushed crutch candy, chopped hazelnuts, sugar sprinkles or nosegay (a coarse brown sugar). If you want your espresso martini to really stand out, Simmons has developed a recipe for edible stemless coca cups that not only serve as great containers for cocktails, but also leave dessert behind.
When is the best time to drink an espresso martini?
As part of her promotional efforts, Simmons spoke with Yahoo Life about Cocktail Express, an espresso martini kit she created. The kit includes everything you need to make Simmons’ espresso martinis, as well as tools to make edible cups and a few “holiday feasts.
But what’s the best time of day to enjoy an espresso martini, Simmons says, because the cocktails are so versatile, there’s no bad time to have one. They’re perfect for cocktail parties, parties, nights out and beyond.
Simmons thinks espresso martinis are a natural pairing with brunch because the fruit and coffee go so well together. She especially likes espresso martinis with brunch dishes that contain bananas, such as banana pancakes. And, she adds, espresso martinis are also an obvious choice for desserts, especially when paired with chocolate or creamy candies.
Simmons speculates that part of the reason the cocktail is so popular may be that coffee feels “naughty” in the evening, but she adds that if you don’t want to add caffeine, decaf coffee is fine.
Want to make your own espresso martinis this holiday season? Simmons shares her recipe
Espresso Martini
Courtesy of Gail Simmons and Kahlúa
Ingredients:
- 1 part Kahlúa
- 1 part Absolut Vodka
- 1 part espresso
- 3 whole coffee beans
Tools:
- Jigger
- Shaker
- Strainer
- Martini Glass
Instructions:
- Add Kahlúa, Absolut Vodka, espresso and ice to a shaker.
- Shake for 15 – 20 seconds, for that velvety foam.
- Strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with 3 coffee beans for good luck.