Still Spirits nailed it—homemade espresso martinis that actually impress your toughest mate.

August 26, 2025

The Game-Changer for Espresso Martini Lovers: Bold Taste, Home Distilled

If you've ever ordered an espresso martini at a swanky bar and thought, “Could I make this better—and from scratch?” You’re not alone. Turns out, with the right flavouring and a steady hand, you absolutely can. The secret? Still Spirits Coffee Maria—a bottle that quietly punches way above its weight.

What Changed: From Store-Bought Meh to Shed-Made Wow

We’ve seen folks go from toughing it out with supermarket liqueurs to producing crowd-pleasing espresso martinis that have mates asking for seconds—and the recipe. The biggest shift? Depth. This rich coffee liqueur has serious backbone. No watery aftertaste. No fake syrupy finish. Just bold, aromatic coffee over smooth rum undertones.

One of our regulars described it best:

"Made it Friday night for the lads—tasted better than anything I’ve had out in town. Not bad for a shed job."

What Makes Coffee Maria Different?

Still Spirits Coffee Maria is a rum-based coffee liqueur flavouring that’s made especially for homebrewers. Think: hearty espresso hit, chocolatey middle, and those subtle dark rum notes whispering, “Yeah, I’m the real deal.”

Rich coffee aroma made to stand up in cocktails
Easy to prepare—just blend with a neutral base spirit
Legendary for mixing into cocktails and desserts

It's not “like” the store stuff—it replaces it entirely. Used to take three different bottles to get this balance—now it’s one.

How to Craft a Proper Espresso Martini at Home

Let’s Break It Down. No fluff. Just what matters:

40ml vodka (or your own clean neutral spirit from the shed)
20ml fresh brewed espresso (let it cool for five mins to cut bitterness)
20ml Still Spirits Coffee Maria
Ice – plenty of it

Drop it all in a cocktail shaker. Shake it like you mean it—20 seconds of proper frothy arm action. Strain into a chilled martini glass and top with a few roasted coffee beans if you’re feeling flash. That’s it.

What you get is smooth, rich, slightly sweet with a crisp finish—and that crema on top? Pure joy.

The Shed Advantage: Why Home Versions Taste Better

Here’s where things get tasty. When you’re mixing using your own well-filtered neutral spirit—maybe run through one of the Still Spirits Filter Pro kits (yep, we carry those)—your liqueur ends up cleaner, rounder, and more dialled in to your preferences than any premade base.

Plus, brewing it yourself lets you tweak each element for your crowd. Want a sweeter twist? Add a splash of sugar syrup at the shake. Need more caffeine punch for a late one? Go double espresso.

The point is—it’s your bar, your rules. And Coffee Maria plays nice all ways round.

Tips to Level It Up Even Further

Chill your glasses: Pop them in the freezer for 10–15 minutes before pouring.
Use freshly brewed espresso: Don’t cheat with instant powder. It won’t hold the crema or flavour.
Don’t skimp on ice: A proper hard shake needs the chill to build that iconic foam top.
Optional twist: Swap vodka for a homemade spiced white rum to go full Caribbean fusion.

What Else Can You Do With Coffee Maria?

It’s not just a one-hit cocktail wonder. Folks have been using it to drizzle over vanilla ice cream, stir into brownie mixes, even spike their tiramisu. Want to pretend it’s just for “cooking”? That’s between you and your spoon.

Pair it with Still Spirits Cream Liqueur Base for a smooth coffee cream—another crowd favourite around cooler nights or as a holiday gift bottle. Mix it in the shed, label it nice, and boom—you’ve just made bottle number one in your house liqueur series.

Last Drop: Why Not All Espresso Martinis Are Created Equal

Here’s the clincher… Espresso Martinis don’t need to be fancy. They just need to be real. Real ingredients, real care, and something you can proudly say you made from scratch. When you’ve got the right gear and flavouring—like Still Spirits Coffee Maria—it’s not only doable, it’s downright addictive (we mean making them, not drinking… okay, maybe both).

If you’ve never tried making your own from the ground up, now’s the time. Because that moment when your mate takes a sip, eyes go a little wide, and says: "Holy hell, you made this?" — that’s the good stuff. That’s where the magic lives.

Catch you round the bottle shelf,
Candeece