Soufflé Espresso Martini

This extra luscious take on an Espresso Martini has the familiar makings of the iconic Dick Bradsell cocktail. It consists of vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup, with the addition of a fluffy coffee foam topper of egg white, sugar, and espresso. 

The Soufflé Espresso Martini has been a social media hit. It’s not surprising as the original Espresso Martini, a creation of the 1980s, has seen a major resurgence in popularity in recent years, becoming a bar standard once again worldwide. And this version, with its meringue-like froth that seemingly grows out of the glass when constructing it (a la Ramos Gin Fizz), is perfect fodder for trending TikToktail video content. Sometimes a viral recipe is actually worth the trouble. 

If you’ve seen the many renditions on social media, featuring various ingredients, powdered mixers, and tools (some use hand mixers, others whipped cream dispensers to create the froth), you might be intimidated by what looks like an overly complicated recipe. We’ve pared this down to its simplest (and most delicious) form, using standard cocktail tools and ingredients you might already have on hand. 

Important to note: A large, straight walled coupe/cocktail glass (such as the one pictured here) is necessary for the foam to rise properly. 

What makes the Soufflé Espresso Martini work

The template for a traditional Espresso Martini follows a similar structure as many classic cocktails, consisting of a base spirit balanced by sweet and bitter ingredients. The espresso acts as a bittering agent in the same way an amaro or herbal vermouth would, and the coffee liqueur adds complexity as well as sweetness. In this recipe, the quarter ounce of simple syrup further balances out the acidic coffee flavors. 

When shaking an Espresso Martini over ice, there is a natural foam that forms on the top of the drink once it is fully poured into the glass. This soufflé riff takes that frothy topper to the next level. When dry shaken (without ice), the egg whites, chilled espresso, water, and granulated sugar take the form of an airy cream with a touch of sweetness. The Espresso Martini, normally a fairly high-octane drink, is lightened up and softened by this frothy addition and yet, made even more decadent.