5 Espresso Martinis ready to drink, tasted and ranked in 2024

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The espresso martini is not a new cocktail. It was actually created in the 1980s in London, as the story goes, but its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Like many other cocktail styles, there are now a variety of ready-to-drink options you can pick up on the shelves of your local grocery store.

A traditional version is made with espresso, vodka and coffee liqueur, but like any cocktail, bartenders have taken liberties over the years. When it comes to the ready-to-drink market, varieties range from super sweet to super boozy to… “Wait, are you sure this is even an espresso martini?”

Surprisingly, I had a hard time finding a ton of varieties. Specifically, I was unable to locate the popular Cutwater, Rancho La Gloria, or Into the Night brands in my area. I don’t know if it’s the Chicago market or what.

To test them all the same way, I refrigerated each one then shook them in a cocktail shaker with ice before pouring them into a glass. Any espresso martini is best when it’s very cold. Here are five popular brands, ranked from my least favorite to best.

Espresso martini on ice

NUTRITION: (Per 2.5 oz serving)
CALORIES: 101
FAT: 0g
CRABS: 5.2g
PROTEIN: 0g

I’ve had a lot of bad ready-to-drink cocktails during my writing journey and this one ranks among the worst. On The Rocks brand cocktails are everywhere, certainly the easiest to find of all the ones I’ve tried. This one is made with Effen vodka and espresso coffee liqueur, at 20% ABV with just three milligrams of caffeine. Unfortunately, it pales in comparison to the rest of the competition, even at just $12.99 for a 375 milliliter bottle.

The look: The martini was a rich brown color, apparently what a good espresso martini should look like.

Taste: There was nothing good in this cocktail. The mouthfeel was very thin and left a strange and lingering aftertaste. You could tell no real espresso was used in making this cocktail, it tasted incredibly artificial. It was just a definite no for me.

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Vitani Expresso Martini

Nutritional information unavailable

Vitani was difficult to rank because its flavor was good, but my tasters and I all agreed that it didn’t look much like your traditional espresso martini and didn’t taste the same. The brand is a little elusive as to what exactly it contains, stating only “premium vodka and liqueur infused with natural flavors and caramel color.” It weighs in at 17% ABV. You can buy a four-pack of 200-milliliter bottles for $14.99.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

The look: It was a light caramel color, basically like coffee with cream. Again, not like your typical espresso martini appearance.

Taste: I didn’t hate the taste. It was almost like an alcoholic version of a Frappuccino or Dunkaccino or whatever sweet coffee drink you prefer. If I had to compare it to a cocktail, it gave more of a white Russian vibe. It didn’t taste bad, it was more like a dessert than an espresso martini.

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Espresso Martini Bowls

Nutritional information unavailable.

Bols wants you to know that it was the world’s first cocktail brand. It’s written there, on the packaging. Does first mean best? Not necessarily in this case, but it was definitely better than some of the other options I’ve tried. This version is made with Bols’ vodka and coffee liqueur, plus sugar syrup (which I assume is some kind of simple syrup). It has an alcohol content of 14.9% and comes in a 375-milliliter opaque screw-cap bottle that will make three to four cocktails, costing about $11 in stores.

The look: A rich brown, as you would expect.

Taste: It was a little too sweet for my personal preferences but didn’t taste artificial like some others. It’s the sweetness that would keep me from drinking too much of it, but it’s a good option for a quick espresso martini.

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Ketel One Espresso Martini

NUTRITION: (Per 2.5 fluid ounce serving):
CALORIES: 109
FAT: 0g
PROTEIN: 0g
CRABS: 7.2g

It is likely that this Ketel One cocktail attracts many consumers simply because people like the brand’s vodka. The opaque 375-milliliter bottle is nicely designed, making you think you’ve purchased a sophisticated choice for $13.99. It’s made with Ketel One vodka, of course, and coffee liqueur, with an alcohol content of 20.1%. It also contains caramel coloring. For me, it’s a distant second to our winner, but some of the other testers liked this one the most, so it sits firmly in second place.

The look: This was the darkest and thickest espresso martinis we tried.

Taste: The first sip was very mild and slightly offensive, but once you got past it, it left a pleasant lingering aftertaste. It’s a little syrupy so I didn’t like the texture but it doesn’t contain bitter coffee notes and is better balanced than some other choices.

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Tip Top Espresso Martini

Nutrition: (Per 100 ml can)
Calories: 164
Sugars: 8g

Tip Top cocktails are mini in size – this little can is only 100 milliliters – but boy, do they know how to pack a punch. Each can is supposed to be equivalent to one cocktail. This version is made with vanilla, vodka, and espresso from Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, North Carolina. At 22% ABV, it’s definitely the booziest of the bunch, and also the most coffee-flavored. This is probably the only version to use real espresso instead of coffee liqueur. A four-pack will cost you $21.49.

The look: A lovely chocolate brown, slightly lighter than some other choices.

Taste: Granted, I’m a coffee snob, I want to be able to taste coffee in my espresso martini and this delivers what it promises. If you don’t like the strong taste of coffee, this might put you off a bit. This is a well balanced cocktail with a slight hint of vanilla and the obvious winner in my opinion.