Espresso Martini (low-calorie)
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 12.9% ABV ∙
The Espresso Martini (low-calorie) is vodka and hot espresso shaken hard with sugar-free sweetener syrup and a little sea salt, served up with coffee beans.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Vodka 45 mlEspresso coffee 45 mlSugar-free sweetener syrup 10 mlSalt 1/2 pinch
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with three coffee beans floated in a petal formation in the center of the cocktail’s foamy head
Tips
- Brew the espresso just before you shake and use it hot; hot coffee hitting the ice foams up better than cooled coffee.
- Shake hard with fresh ice for 15-18 seconds and strain straight away. Hot espresso melts the ice fast, and too much meltwater thins the pale foam.
History
The Espresso Martini (low-calorie) is a take on the Espresso Martini made with vodka and espresso but no coffee liqueur, and it swaps in a sugar-free sweetener syrup for the traditional sugar syrup, cutting the drink's calorie content.
The Espresso Martini is generally credited to London bartender Dick Bradsell in the early 1980s. It was first called the Vodka Espresso and served on the rocks with vodka, fresh espresso, and sugar syrup, without coffee liqueur. Through the late 1990s it evolved into the vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur "martini" served up that became the modern standard. The low-calorie version stays closer to the original Vodka Espresso.
FAQ
How do you make a lower-calorie Espresso Martini?
Shake vodka, freshly brewed hot espresso, sugar-free sweetener syrup, and half a pinch of sea salt hard with ice. Fine-strain into a chilled martini glass and float three coffee beans on the foam.
How many calories are in this Espresso Martini?
This recipe comes to about 109 kcal per serving. A standard Espresso Martini is heavier because it typically adds coffee liqueur and sugar syrup to the vodka and espresso.
Is this Espresso Martini keto-friendly or vegan?
Yes. With a sugar-free sweetener in place of sugar syrup, this recipe is keto-friendly, and it is also vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free.
What is in this low-calorie Espresso Martini?
45 ml vodka, 45 ml hot espresso, 10 ml sugar-free sweetener syrup, and half a pinch of sea salt, which tempers the sweetener and sharpens the coffee.
Is an Espresso Martini shaken or stirred?
Shaken, and hard. The hot espresso needs vigorous agitation with ice to chill quickly and whip up the foam cap that sits on top of the drink.
What glass is an Espresso Martini served in?
A martini glass, garnished with coffee beans on top of the foam.
