When the Coffee House Meets the Bar: The Story of the Espresso Martini

At Kaldi & Kapra, the same rooftop serves espresso in the morning and cocktails at night. So there's one drink that feels like it was made for us: the one where coffee and cocktail finally meet in the same glass.

The espresso martini has become one of the most popular cocktails in the world. But where does it come from, and what makes a great one?

Where does the espresso martini come from?

The most famous version of the story takes us to London in the 1980s. Bartender Dick Bradsell is said to have created the drink when a guest asked him for something that would wake her up and keep the night going at the same time. His answer combined fresh espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur and a little sugar, shaken hard and served ice-cold.

The drink had a few different names over the years before the "espresso martini" stuck. Technically, it isn't a martini at all, but the elegant glass and the name made it an icon.

Why did coffee and cocktails take so long to meet?

Coffee and alcohol have shared tables for centuries, from Irish coffee to coffee liqueurs. What made the espresso martini different was its focus on fresh espresso. Instead of a hot drink with a splash of spirit, it treated coffee as a true cocktail ingredient, bringing bitterness, aroma and that famous silky foam.

That foam is the signature of a well-made espresso martini. It comes from the oils in freshly pulled espresso, whipped up by a hard shake with plenty of ice.

What makes a great espresso martini?

A good espresso martini is all about balance, and the coffee matters more than most people think:

• Fresh espresso: freshly brewed coffee gives the best aroma and the creamiest foam
• Quality beans: a coffee with chocolate and caramel notes creates a rich, rounded drink, while a brighter coffee adds a fruity edge
• The right sweetness: enough to soften the bitterness, never enough to hide the coffee
• A hard shake: this is where the foam and the chill come from

The classic finish? Three coffee beans on top, traditionally said to stand for health, wealth and happiness.

Why does it make sense with Guatemalan coffee?

Guatemala grows some of the most expressive coffees in the world, many with natural notes of chocolate, caramel and fruit. Those flavors are exactly what you want in a coffee cocktail. Using local coffee turns a global classic into something that tastes of the place you're drinking it.

From one rhythm to the other

The espresso martini sums up what Kaldi & Kapra is about: the craft of the coffee house and the creativity of the bar, side by side. In the morning, our baristas pull espresso for your first cup of the day. In the evening, Steve and the Mixology House team take over, with a menu built on Guatemalan and South American fusion flavors.

Curious about the craft on both sides? Our coffee workshops teach the art of espresso, cupping and latte art, while the Mixology House brings that same hands-on spirit behind the bar.

Ready to see where coffee meets cocktail? Visit Kaldi & Kapra at 2a Calle Poniente No. 2, Antigua Guatemala, and ask Steve for his take on a coffee cocktail.