modern classic · shaken
Espresso Martini recipe
Vodka, coffee liqueur, fresh espresso. Shake for a thick crema.
A Espresso Martini is 45 ml (42.3 g) Vodka, 15 ml (16.5 g) Kahlúa, 10 ml (11.1 g) Simple Syrup and 30 ml (30 g) Fresh Espresso, shaken and served in a martini glass. It pours to about 100 ml before ice, at roughly 21% ABV. Weighing the ingredients instead of measuring them is what keeps the balance identical from one round to the next.
- Glassmartini glass
- Methodshaken
- Pour volume100 ml
- Strength (est.)21% ABV
- Time4 min
Espresso Martini ingredients — in millilitres and grams
Grams are what the PourPilot coaster actually targets. They are not the same as the millilitres: a spirit is lighter than water, a syrup is heavier, so 30 ml of one is never 30 g. The right-hand column is the density we use, in grams per millilitre.
| Ingredient | Volume | Weight | g/ml | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 45 ml | 42.3 g | 0.94 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Kahlúa | 15 ml | 16.5 g | 1.10 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Simple Syrup (1:1) | 10 ml | 11.1 g | 1.11 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Fresh Espresso (cooled) | 30 ml | 30 g | 1.00 | Use cooled espresso; density ≈ water |
How to make a Espresso Martini
- Set your martini glass on the scale (or on the PourPilot coaster) and zero it. Every measurement below is given in millilitres and in grams, so you can use either.
- Add Vodka, Kahlúa, Simple Syrup and Fresh Espresso to a shaker, weighing each ingredient rather than eyeballing a jigger.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Espresso Martini: the questions people actually ask
How strong is a Espresso Martini?
Roughly 21% ABV as poured, before the ice dilutes it — typically another 15–25% water by the time you finish stirring or shaking. Spirit-forward. Sip it, do not sink it.
What glass should a Espresso Martini be served in?
A martini glass. Chill it first — a room-temperature stemmed glass will undo half the work you just did in the mixing tin.
Can I make a Espresso Martini without a jigger?
Yes — that is what the gram column is for. Put the glass or tin on a kitchen scale, zero it, and pour to the weight. It is more accurate than a jigger because nothing is left clinging to the inside of the measure. The PourPilot coaster does the same thing without you having to watch a display: it lights up as you approach the target and tells you when to stop.
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