The humble espresso martini is a surprisingly controversial drink, with some reviling its overly sweet nature, and others criticising its self-proclaimed martini status despite containing a significant lack of gin or vermouth.
Bartenders dread whipping up the concoction, for it requires a fresh shot of espresso straight from the machine. By the time you’ve made it across the red rope and into the club to beg for your sweet shot of coffee and liquor, chances are you’ll be slapped with a “we just turned the coffee machine off for the day.” Before long, you find yourself slamming a consolatory bottom-shelf tequila shot which inevitably results in a passed-out cab ride home.
According to legend, Kate Moss walks into a bar and asks bartending legend of the 1980s Dick Bradsell for something that will “Wake me up and f*** me up.” He returns with a shaken tipple consisting of vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and simple syrup.
Now, it’s never been confirmed that it was actually Kate Moss who asked for such a concoction, but the fact that we’ve come to accept this as the lore behind espresso martinis speaks to her iconic Party Girl past. In reality, it could’ve been any Noughties socialite looking for an alcoholic pick-me-up.
The rather glamorous London nightlife anecdote surrounds the espresso martini with a delectable, luxurious It-girl aura which has naturally resulted in it becoming the cocktail of choice on a girl’s night out. An espresso martini indeed has the capacity to elevate your evening, so long as you order one from the right place – one which leaves the espresso machine on past midnight.
Better yet, enjoy the tipple straight from a perfectly premixed concoction – no espresso machine needed – and avoid the frustrated, judgemental middleman. In celebration of International Espresso Martini Day, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best premixed espresso martinis that’ll wake you up and then some.
Keep scrolling for premixed espresso martinis that taste just like freshly shaken tipples from your favourite bar.
Moth Espresso Martini 125ml 14.9% ABV
The best of the best, Moth’s delicious, canned espresso martinis contain a whopping 14.9 per cent ABV. Keeping this premixed tipple as close to the request that originated the cocktail as possible, one or two of these are absolutely sure to wake you up, and more. To get the signature crema that sits atop a classic espresso martini, simply shake the chilled can and pour it into your vessel of choice at an angle.
Neither overly sweet nor overwhelmingly bitter, the Moth espresso martini sits beautifully in the middle of the flavour spectrum to create a velvety smooth cocktail which goes down easily.
Price for six.
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
Kocktail Espresso Martini, 50cl
Housed in a chic glass vessel, Kocktail’s premixed expresso martini has been crafted with premium ingredients. From Italy’s favourite coffee liqueur, Borghetti, to Wheatley vodka and a cold brew by trendy oat milk connoisseurs Minor Figures, we’ll safely class this option as the Gen Z espresso martini. We mean that as a compliment. The 500ml bottle has a 20 per cent ABV.
Buy now £25.00, John Lewis
Espresso Martini Velvetised Cream 500ml
If you like your espresso martinis sweet, look no further than Hotel Chocolat’s velvetised, premixed delight. Described by the brand as “smooth, sinful and elegant,” this decadent option can be shaken up with ice or added to your favourite hot drink for a cheeky boost. The recipe consists of vodka, espresso, white chocolate and cream which have been mixed together using Hotel Chocolat’s signature velvetising method to produce an unbelievably silky tipple.
Buy now £23.00, Hotel Chocolat
Moore House Espresso Martini
Moore House recommends pouring this premixed wonder into a cocktail shaker and “shaking vigorously” – just like they would at the bar. The luxurious espresso martini has been created with premium vodka, Kahlúa, cold brew, spiced chocolate bitters, demerara syrup and a sprinkling of sea salt to create a robust cocktail which certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.
Buy now £38.09, Amazon
The Infusionist Salted Caramel Espresso Martini Style Cocktail 50cl
Finally back on the shelves, Aldi’s cult-favourite salted caramel espresso martini mixture may not fully replicate the classic 1980s cocktail – but it tastes delicious. A sickly sweet collaboration with The Infusionist, we’d stick to one serving of this 17.5 per cent ABV drink.
Buy now £9.99, Aldi
Waitrose No1 Espresso Martini
Made with Fairtrade coffee hailing from Colombia, Waitrose’s No1 premixed martini is named as such for a reason. Hitting the perfect notes of sweet syrup and bitter coffee, this option is sure to go down a treat at your next dinner party.
Buy now £20.00, Waitrose
Asda Extra Special Espresso Martini Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur
New on the shelves of the supermarket this year is ASDA Extra Special Espresso Martini Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur. Really, what’s not to love?
It combines South American Arabica coffee with triple-distilled vodka, cream, cocoa bean extract and sugar syrup. Enough said.
Buy now £8.00, Asda
Grind Espresso Martini Gift Set
Treat coffee lovers to a special caffeine fix with a Grind gift set that comes beautifully packaged in a pink recyclable box. Alongside iconic tins filled with either ground, whole bean or mixed compostable coffee pods (Nespresso compatible), other gifts include a limited-edition tote bag with an illustration of Shoreditch Grind, Grind mugs, and espresso martini candles or (our favourite) an espresso martini kit, pictured.
All the coffee is organic and ethically sourced, and each kit comes with a unique code to provide you with your first subscription pack for free – the gift that keeps on giving.
Options from just £8.
Buy now £45.00, Grind
Harvey Nichols Espresso Martini Cocktail 4 Pack
Espresso martinis are always a fan favourite cocktail whether you are enjoying it at the start of your night out or during a booze-filled dinner party. Harvey Nichols’ pre-mixed version gets it spot on. It is the perfect level of richness and has an expert mixologist-worthy froth level. It is made up of premium vodka, cold brew coffee and Fair’s Café Liqueur which uses Fairtrade Mexican beans. It is best served very chilled in a martini glass of course once shaken with ice.
Buy now £20.00, Harvey Nichols
Café Solo Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
For those who take the coffee part of the espresso martini very seriously, Café Solo has got you covered with their signature made-in-the-UK cold premixed cocktail. Providing the ultimate caffeinated boost, the cold brew derives from premium coffee makers SOLO which delivers a full-bodied flavour thanks to the blend of speciality Brazilian and Colombian bean blend.
Buy now £30.00, Amazon
