Espresso Negroni recipe
A vibrant coffee twist on the classic bitter Negroni with rich espresso.
Method: Stir and strain ·
Glass: Chilled rocks glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: Modern Classics
Ingredients
- 1 oz London dry gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz Sweet vermouth (preferably Italian)
- 1 oz Fresh espresso (freshly brewed and cooled)
- 0.25 oz Rich simple syrup
How to make a Espresso Negroni
- Combine the gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, fresh espresso, and simple syrup in a mixing glass.
- Fill the mixing glass generously with quality ice cubes.
- Stir briskly for approximately 30 seconds to chill and dilute properly.
- Strain the mixture into a heavy rocks glass over a single large clear ice cube.
- Express the essential oils from an orange peel over the surface and discard or garnish.
Garnish
Garnish with an expressed orange peel and coffee beans.
Pro tip
Use freshly pulled hot espresso and let it cool slightly before adding to the mixing glass to prevent immediate ice melt. Shaking the espresso briefly with a dry tin can also create a velvety crema layer on top.
History of the Espresso Negroni
The Espresso Negroni, sometimes called the Negroni Svegliato (Awakened Negroni), emerged as bartenders experimented with coffee-infused and espresso-forward cocktail riffs during the craft cocktail renaissance of the 2010s. While traditional Italian espresso bars occasionally served variations combining coffee and bitters, modern commercial documentation points to contemporary cocktail culture across American and European craft bars as the origin of this specific coffee-infused aperitivo bridge. Because exact attribution remains debated among several bartenders in London and New York, the drink is best understood as a natural evolution of the classic 1919 Negroni framework adapting to modern coffee appreciation.
Flavour profile
Bitter, Sweet, Roasty, Botanical
Variations
- Mezcal Espresso Negroni — Substitute smoky mezcal for the gin to introduce earthy, rustic agave undertones that complement the bitter amaro and rich espresso.
- Vanilla Bean Negroni Svegliato — Infuse the sweet vermouth with Madagascar vanilla pods to soften the bitter edge and enhance the dessert-like coffee aromatics.
Practise making the Espresso Negroni in the free Virtual Bar game.