Even though we’re only two years in, the 2020s have shown to be a decade characterized by a unique inclination towards nostalgia. In only a few short years, we’ve witnessed the rapid rise and fall of trends like Y2K fashion, Polaroid and film cameras, maximalism, mullets, and more. It goes beyond just fashion styles and seeps into the music we listen to and the movies we watch. While nostalgia-driven trends that dominate modern pop culture are rooted in the personalities of past decades, they have been re-imagined with a unique 2020s twist.
Social media continues to play a vital role in spreading new information, ideas, and aesthetics. This fact is especially true, now that many of us have shifted our lives onto the virtual plane due to major world events. With more time spent and more people sharing the online space, it has become easier than ever for trends to cycle in and out of our lives. One of those trends is an increased interest in coffee-based recipes.
In the early spring of 2020, a time known to many as “lockdown,” a sweet and fluffy coffee drink found its way to our screens and into our kitchens thanks to the viral #whippedcoffee sensation. But, that wasn’t the only coffee recipe to get people’s creative interest brewing. In fact, there is an entire community dedicated to sharing delicious coffee recipes, coined #CoffeeTikTok. As creatives often do, many coffee creators look for inspiration in the world around them. And with the current state of things being influenced by previous decades, we’ve found our way back to the beloved coffee cocktails of the ‘90s.
As with every modern take on a vintage trend, this mixed drink for caffeine lovers is a bit different than the ones popularized in the past. Instead of a traditional espresso martini, which attempts to integrate fresh, hot espresso into a cold mixed drink, the new variation uses something significantly more practical. By switching the espresso in the espresso martini with cold brew coffee, you are left with a much smoother coffee cocktail for sipping. Take a look at our easy-to-follow recipe and you, too, can enjoy a simple, energizing cocktail with a rich and velvety flavor that’s just as cool as it looks!
No need for any fancy equipment or mixology knowledge, this cold brew martini is an easy and stylish espresso martini alternative that only requires 3 ingredients!
To make your chilled coffee cocktail, you’ll need some cold brew, a few ounces of vodka, and coffee liqueur.
When it comes to creating high-quality cocktails and mixed drinks that you will actually want to drink, it’s important to note the choice of ingredients. You can use whatever brand or variety of vodka and coffee liqueur you’d like, you can even mix and match the kind of cold brew you use, but not every combination will result in a smooth, luxurious caffeinated cocktail. If you are new to the mixing game and aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got you covered!
For the cold brew, there are a few options to choose from. Making cold brew at home is not only incredibly easy to do but also gives you complete control over your coffee’s level of boldness!
For this recipe, we used the Toddy Cold Brew System to brew our lightly-roasted Mesa House Blend Coffee beans, making the process much smoother. But, if you aren’t ready to invest in an at-home cold brew system yet, we cover a step-by-step guide on making cold brew at home using the French Press method, as well as a few other tips and tricks for DIY coffee-lovers, in our blog, Energize Your Mornings with Gourmet Coffee at Home. On the other hand, if you are looking for a more convenient cold brew option, store-bought cold brew is a good choice, too! Starbucks even offers cold brew concentrate in a variety of flavors!
Once you’ve found the coffee of your choice, it’s time to decide on the alcohol that will turn your cold cup o’ Joe into a cool coffee cocktail! To help maintain the strong flavors of the rich cold brew and sweet coffee liqueur, Table & Thyme suggests reaching for a mild, clean, and crisp vodka like Cathead’s Charcoal-Filtered Vodka. This, paired with Cayman Reef’s Dark Roasted Kona Coffee Liqueur, leaves you with a flavorful, sophisticated drink that’s effortless to make.
Aside from gathering the ingredients, there are very few more steps to making this cold brew martini. That’s part of what makes it such a practical homemade cocktail choice (the other part being its first-class flavor, of course). If you happen to have a shaker, fill it with ice. Otherwise, a jar with a lid works just as well!
Add the cold brew, vodka, and coffee liqueur to the ice, seal, and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
Using a strainer, sieve, or even just the lid of the shaker or jar, strain the cocktail into a new (preferably chilled) glass.
Enjoy your suave cocktail drink as is or top with whipped, fluffy cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon!
Energize your evening with a simple-to-make, yet tantalizing coffee cocktail!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s recipe for a simple cold brew martini. Looking for more trendy and delicious recipes to try? Take a look at our Instagram, Pinterest, and Tik Tok for more exciting recipe ideas, food hacks, and some all-around fun content! We also discuss tons of interesting and inspiring topics like event hosting tips, spotlights on local vendors and catering events, and Table & Thyme exclusive recipe recaps on our blog every week! If you’re a fan of good food with some presentational flair, connect with Table & Thyme using the links below and join our community!
For more information on Table and Thyme, contact them today! Follow us on our social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest to see the other amazing events, lavishing grazing tables and beautiful graze boxes we have created.