World Espresso Martini Day: 3 Recipes To Shake Up Your Coffee Hour
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There's a day on the calendar dedicated entirely to the Espresso Martini, habibi, and I refuse to let it pass without making noise about it. Part cocktail, part pick-me-up, and part conversation starter (yeah, it has a lot of parts), the Espresso Martini is the drink that looks you in the eye and says: you can have it all.
But before we get into the good stuff, a little backstory on the drink that started it all.
The Drink That Refused To Retire
Dick Bradsell, London, late 1980s. A young model walks into Fred's Soho Brasserie and asks for something to "wake me up and then mess me up." Bradsell had an espresso machine right next to his bar station. He had vodka. He had Kahlúa. He shook it all together and accidentally created one of the most ordered cocktails of the 21st century. Not bad for a Wednesday night shift.
The Espresso Martini spent some time being considered a bit passé, a relic of the early 2000s that serious drinkers had quietly retired. And then it staged a comeback that nobody predicted and everyone welcomed. Global orders went through the roof. Bartenders who hadn't touched a bottle of Kahlúa in years suddenly couldn't keep it stocked. The drink simply refused to go quietly, habibi, and honestly, good for it (and us).
One fun detail I love: the foam on top isn't magic, it's science. Shake the espresso hard enough, and the coffee oils emulsify. The better your shake, the better your foam. Effort is literally visible in this cocktail. And those three coffee beans on top traditionally stand for health, wealth, and happiness. That's a garnish with ambitions. I respect it.
The Women Who Are Doing It Best
For this World Espresso Martini Day, I went straight to some of the most talented women behind the bar in Dubai and asked them to share their recipes. What they gave me was better than anything I could have hoped for. One even has truffle in it, habibi. Truffle.
Espresso Martini by Atena Davoodi, Sexy Fish Dubai
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- 45ml Grey Goose Vodka
- 25ml Kahlúa
- 30ml fresh espresso
Out of Africa Espresso Martini by Osmari Corredor, Lion in the Sun
This one has a name and earns every letter of it. Osmari builds hers with cacao liqueur and coffee for the base, then crowns the whole thing with an Amarula foam. For the uninitiated, Amarula is a South African cream liqueur made from the fruit of the marula tree (yes, the one elephants go wild for). The foam floats on top like a small act of genius. It is a little tricky to make at home, though, so head to Lion in the Sun to enjoy this one, habibi.
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- 40 ml Grey Goose Vodka
- 10 ml Bols Creme de Cacao liqueur
- 30 ml coffee liqueur
- 5 ml sugar syrup
- Amarula foam
Espresso Martini al Tartufo by Miriam Guida, Gloria Osteria Dubai
Right. This is the one. Miriam, Head Bartender at Gloria Osteria, went and put truffle in an Espresso Martini, and it works in ways you wouldn't expect. The truffle doesn't shout; it quietly makes everything feel a little more luxurious. Visit Gloria Osteria to experience it, or make it at home if you dare.
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- 50ml truffle-infused vodka
- 30ml Kahlúa
- 30ml espresso
- 10ml sugar syrup
- Garnish: glucose disk
World Espresso Martini Day only comes once a year, and it would honestly be a shame to let it pass without a shaker in hand. Head to the MMI Cheers Club App, get your bottles delivered, and raise a glass to the drink. And to the women who deserve all the credit!
Cheers, habibi. Sip responsibly, and stay safe out there. Keep following all government safety guidelines. Take care of yourself and each other.
Celia Rime
The Storyteller. Part word witch, part curious sipper, Celia brews stories to keep your glass (and your mind) topped up.