Bitterness is an essential element of coffee; it’s the baseline riff that allows all the lighter notes of a good coffee to stand out. In the world of co*cktails, the same holds true: Bitters have long been the tools to balance out and add complexity to drinks. The Salted Amaro Espresso Martini is all about that kinship. It builds on the traditional template of the espresso martini with additions of Amaro Nonino, a rich and citrusy Italian bitter digestif, and Grand Marnier, an orange liqueur from France that is a bit more dense and candied in finish compared to Cointreau. The final touch is a pinch of salt. It won’t make for a salty co*cktail; rather it serves to make the other flavors sing better.
You can make this after-dinner drink with unsweetened cold-brew concentrate, such as Grady’s, but the flavor will be less robust than the version made with espresso. If you don’t have access to an espresso machine or stovetop moka pot, Cometeer’s frozen coffee capsules, thawed, make a great substitute.
Recipe information
Total Time
5 minutes
Ingredients
1½ oz. coffee liqueur (preferably Mr Black)
1 oz. espresso, cooled
1 oz. vodka
½ oz. Amaro Nonino
¼ oz. Grand Marnier
1 pinch (scant ⅛ tsp.) Diamond Crystal kosher salt
Orange twist (for serving)
Preparation
Combine 1½ oz. coffee liqueur, 1 oz. espresso, cooled, 1 oz. vodka, ½ oz. Amaro Nonino, ¼ oz. Grand Marnier, and 1 pinch (scant ⅛ tsp.) Diamond Crystal kosher salt in a co*cktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until well chilled, about 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled co*cktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
