Get into the festive spirit with pumpkin-spiced espresso martinis

Welcome your family with a pre-feast cocktail that will also perk them up. You don't have to be a master mixologist to make this creamy, delicious recipe.

Making the espresso well ahead of time will ensure that it is cool and ready to use when your guests arrive. We made extra coffee at breakfast and stored it in the fridge until we were ready to use it. If you don’t have a shaker, combine the ingredients a glass jar. 
 

Ingredients:
1/4 cup (60 mL) finely ground Melitta® Italian Espresso BellaCrema Whole Bean Coffee
1 cup (250 mL) ice cubes
1/4 cup (60 mL) vanilla vodka
1/4 cup (60 mL) Irish cream liqueur
1 tsp (5 mL) pumpkin spice, divided
3 tbsp (45 mL) raw sugar (or any coarse sugar)
12 Melitta® Italian Espresso BellaCrema Whole Beans (optional)

Preparation:
Brew ground espresso with 1 cup (250 mL) boiling water using pour over method. Let cool completely.
Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add cold espresso, vanilla vodka, Irish cream liqueur and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) pumpkin spice. Shake until frosty.
In shallow dish, mix remaining pumpkin spice with raw sugar.
Place another shallow dish next to it with a tiny bit of water in it. Turn your glass upside down and  gently dip rim of 4 martini glasses into water, then carefully into pumpkin spice mixture to coat.
Strain your cocktail into the prepared martini glasses and garnish each serving with 3 coffee beans or sprinkle a pinch of pumpkin spice over each serving.

Tip:
For a slushy martini, add all ingredients to blender and purée until smooth.