Espresso Martini: the signature coffee cocktail of Carrera Café at Petit-Champlain

April 29, 2026Carrera Café

Cocktails & Buvette

Espresso Martini: Carrera Café's signature coffee cocktail at Petit-Champlain

The Espresso Martini is the cocktail that merges two worlds: specialty coffee and quality bar. At Carrera Café, we renamed it Espresso Martini Circuit, and elevated it to signature status.

The story of the Espresso Martini

A cocktail born from a bold request

The Espresso Martini was born in London in the 1980s. Legend has it that a celebrity walked into a bar and asked the bartender to "make something that wakes me up, then knocks me out." Dick Bradsell, the bartender in question, invented on the spot a mix of vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, and syrup. A cocktail was born.

40 years later, it is one of the most ordered cocktails in the world. At Carrera Café, we added our touch: Carrera espresso and a hint of Quebec pride.

The Espresso Martini Circuit

Our signature version

★ Signature

Espresso Martini Circuit

Craft vodka, double freshly pulled Carrera espresso, coffee liqueur, simple syrup. Served in a martini glass with a dense coffee foam and three coffee beans on top.

Alcohol

Moderate

Temperature

Very cold

Price

16 $

Key ingredients

Why ours is different

Espresso

Double specialty espresso, pulled at the time of order. The quality of the coffee makes up 60% of the cocktail. That's why ours stands out.

The vodka

Quality craft vodka. Neutral but present. It should fade into the background to let the coffee speak.

The foam

A dense and creamy foam on top. It forms during shaking and lasts several minutes. It's a sign of a well-made preparation.

What to pair it with

The perfect pairing

The Espresso Martini Circuit is a cocktail that stands on its own. But if you want to pair it, choose something sweet: a square of dark chocolate, a bite of aged cheese, or simply enjoy it while finishing a board from Podium.

Ideal with

Aged cheese

Alternative

70% dark chocolate

In pairs

Negroni + EM Circuit

The ideal moment

When to order an Espresso Martini

The Espresso Martini is a transition cocktail: too intense for the start of the evening, too structured to be a simple digestif. It's the last-hour cocktail, the one you order when the night is going well and you want it to last a little longer.

At Carrera Café, we don't recommend it as a first order. Save it for the end. You deserve it more then.

Bartender's tip

"Never order a decaf Espresso Martini. Espresso is the soul of the cocktail. Without it, it's just vodka and syrup. Embrace the insomnia. It's worth it."

The cocktail that merges everything

Espresso Martini Circuit at Carrera Café

Rue du Petit-Champlain, Québec. Available at the bar from 3 PM. $16

See the cocktail menu

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