Espresso Negroni: Caffeinated and Classy

The simple addition of espresso takes the classic Italian Negroni in a different direction. Easy to craft and satisfying to drink, the Espresso Negroni will perk you up and make you smile with its bitter, bold and beautiful flavors.

Espresso NegroniPhoto by2foodtrippers

We usually start our days with coffee but sometimes we want something more. Enter the Espresso Negroni.

The Espresso Negroni is a potent potable that fuses our loves for both coffee and Italian cocktails into one lowball glass. Its flavors are bitter and bold but it also has a beautiful finish that pairs well with food.

What Is the Espresso Negroni?

A riff on the classic Negroni, the Espresso Negroni is an Italian cocktail that's crafted with equal parts of Campari, espresso, gin and sweet vermouth in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. Powered by a shot of espresso, it's ideal both for brunch and as an aperitivo.

Some people refer to the Espresso Negroni as a Coffee Negroni or a Negroni Svegliato (i.e. Awake Negroni). The name doesn't matter - the caffeinated cocktail tastes great with flavors that are simultaneously herbaceous, bitter and sweet.

History of the Negroni

Fosco Scarselli created mixology magic when he invented the original Negroni in Florence more than a century ago. Legend has it that Scarselli crafted the drink after Camilo Negroni requested an Americano made with gin instead of club soda. An orange twist completed the cocktail.

Popular throughout Italy for decades, the Negroni eventually crossed Europe, jumped the pond and made its way around the world. It also inspired a range of variations. Scarselli's original recipe has since been altered by ingredients like bourbon, mezcal and coffee.

We don't know who was first added coffee to a Negroni. Perhaps it was a bartender who worked late into the night and needed a jolt of caffeine to keep up the pace. Or maybe it was a cocktail connoisseur flexing his or her mixology muscles. Either way, we approve of the addition.

Ingredients

The Espresso Negroni ingredients mirror the classic Negroni ingredients with one addition - espresso. None of these ingredients are exotic. In fact, you may already have the following necessary items:

• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce espresso (room temperature)
• 1 ounce gin (dry)
• 1 ounce vermouth (sweet)
• orange peel (garnish)
• ice cubes (for shaking)
• jumbo ice cube (for serving)

The Espresso Negroni's four key ingredients are Campari, espresso, gin and sweet vermouth. Here's a quick description of each:

1. Campari is a complex liqueur that derives its herbaceous tones from 50+ secret ingredients that include herbs, aromatic plants and fruit. Famous for being the primary Negroni ingredient, Campari is a versatile liqueur with an ABV of 25%.
2. Espresso is compressed form of coffee with foam called crema on top. Baristas use the intense coffee variation to craft americanos, cappuccinos, flat whites and lattes. Similar to Campari, espresso's roots are in Italy.
3. Gin is a distilled alcohol that's flavored with juniper berries and botanicals. Since any quality dry gin will work in this recipe, we recommend using your favorite brand.
4. Sweet vermouth is an aromatized fortified wine that derives its complex flavor from dozens of herbs and spices. Sweet vermouth brands include Carpano, Cinzano, Cocchi and Martini & Rossi. All of these brands are Italian and they all work well in this Espresso Negroni recipe.

How to Craft an Espresso Negroni

Once you gather the necessary ingredients and basic bar tools, you're mere minutes from sipping an Espresso Negroni. The key is to make the espresso in advance so that it has time to cool before you craft the cocktail.

Pro Tip: We use a Nespresso machine to make espresso at home. You can replace espresso with drip coffee or cold brew if you don't have an espresso machine in your home.

The first step in this Espresso Negroni recipe is to measure the four liquid ingredients in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. We use a Japanese jigger to ensure accurate measurements and minimize spillage.

Immediately pour each liquid into a mixing glass.

Add a handful of ice cubes and mix with a bar spoon until the liquids are chilled and combined - approximately 20 seconds.

Place a jumbo ice cube into a lowball glass and strain the mixed cocktail into the same glass.

Express the glass by rubbing orange peel along the rim.

Drop the orange peel into the glass.

There's no rush to gulp down the crafted cocktail since the jumbo ice cube will melt slowly. Instead, sip and savor the complex flavors.

Variations

While it may be sacrilegious to adjust the classic Negroni's 1:1:1 ratio, the Espresso Negroni's 1:1:1:1 ratio is more flexible. Here are a few variations that you may want to try:

• Reduce the espresso from one ounce to a 1/2 ounce to craft a milder Espresso Negroni.
• Add a splash of coffee liqueur or simple syrup to craft a sweeter Espresso Negroni.
• Replace the espresso with cold brew or drip coffee if you don't have access to espresso.
• Omit the espresso to craft a classic Negroni.

This recipe was originally published on 2foodtrippers. Consider subscribing to 2foodtrippers if you enjoyed it.