Known as ‘the drink of the summer,’ espresso martinis are shaking up people's tastes and experiences.
The espresso martini is a cold caffeinated alcoholic drink made with espresso, coffee liqueur, and vodka. Thanks to the caffeine naturally derived from the coffee bean, espresso martinis vary in caffeine content, from 40mg of caffeine to the same amount of caffeine found in a regular cup of coffee (74mg).
All of our canned cocktails have 74mg of natural caffeine.
So what else should you know about this great libation?
The Espresso Martini was originally named "Vodka Espresso" and it was invented in 1983 by Dick Bradsell during his tenure at the Soho Brasserie for a customer that allegedly asked for a drink that would both "wake her up and fuck her up".
Since Espresso Martinis are made with coffee liqueur, some may include dairy, and some don't. Enjoy it any way you like best, just like any other drink, it can be tweaked for your enjoyment. (For example, ZUZI Latte contains dairy, and ZUZI Original does not).
Vodka is the main part of the recipe, make sure you use a good quality vodka if you are making it at home. We suggest using Ketel One, Smirnoff No. 21 Stolichnaya, Smirnoff No. 21, or Tweaked Artisan Vodka. (We use a premium ten times distilled vodka for our ZUZIs).
Espresso Martinis are garnished with three coffee beans, placed on top of the foam created by generously shaking the ingredients. They will help increase the wonderful aroma in your cocktail.
The three coffee beans that garnish your espresso martini represent health, wealth and happiness.
So many people mistakenly say "expresso" rather than "espresso" that it now shows in the dictionary as a variant.
Use freshly made espresso to get the best flavor out of your recipe. No need to cool it down before.
An espresso martini will give you a delicious energy boost. Depending on your tolerance to caffeine you can decide when and where to drink it.
At one point the Espresso Martini was called Pharmaceutical Stimulant, when the creator Dick Brasdell was working in the Pharmacy restaurant in Notting Hill.
The beauty of coffee is its versatility, feel free to play with recipes and have fun, until you make one that is just right for you. Everyone has a different palate!
If you feel like drinking an espresso martini while you are out and about, grab your favorite ZUZI, you can take it anywhere, anytime.
