Ingredients
- 1½ ounces chilled or cold brew coffee
- 1 ounce vodka
- ½ ounce coffee liqueur
- ¼ ounce Irish cream
- Ice
- Three whole coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add coffee, vodka, coffee liqueur, and Irish cream.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with whole coffee beans.
Variations and Substitutions
There's more than one way to shake a coffee martini.
- Add a few drops of bitters such as chocolate, cinnamon, black walnut, cinnamon, or toasted almond.
- Instead of vodka, experiment with either bourbon or rye whiskeys.
- Opt for a flavored vodka, such as vanilla or coffee-infused vodka.
- Use additional Irish cream, or add heavy cream, for a creamier martini.
- Include a splash of simple syrup, either plain or flavored, to sweeten things up a bit.
- Try out light, medium, or dark roast coffee.
- Similarly, you can use flavored coffees as well.
Garnishes
Your drink is never fully dressed without a garnish, so don't skip the garnish if you don't have whole beans on hand.
- Opt for a sprinkle of a ground spice, such as cinnamon or nutmeg.
- For a sweeter touch, add a dollop of whipped cream.
- Chocolate shavings add an elegant look.
- Add a cinnamon stick.
About the Coffee Martini
If you're acquainted with the espresso martini, then the coffee martini will feel familiar, as it is the same… but different. Instead of a potent shot of espresso, the coffee martini relies on the notes of coffee for its flavor. This means a light, medium, or dark roast is all fair play, as well as any type of flavored coffee. All this without any extra ingredients or added sugar.
The original caffeine martini made its debut in the 1980s and never left the scene, with bartenders and indulgers tweaking recipes and branching out to evolve the drink further. Today, there's a world beyond the expected espresso martini, and although the coffee martini might not be as well known, it's a martini deserving of attention and, most importantly, play.
All Abuzz for a Buzz
Whether you like your caffeine in a mug, ice cream bowl, or as an espresso martini, the coffee martini will quickly join your caffeine rotation, propelling you through your to-do list and beyond. Save your morning coffee for that afternoon or evening coffee martini treat to make it through another day.
