When to drink Espresso Martinis

[CompleteBarstool]

I've only ever had 2 but bloody loved them so would like to make some at home (and what better time than lockdown )

Trouble is caffeine after lunchtime tends to affect my sleep but, on the other hand, I very rarely have alcohol at lunchtime (especially spirits or cocktails!!) or I'd be useless all afternoon.

Do they (caffeine and alcohol) just cancel each other out?

When do you drink them?

Well I don’t know about at home but I love having one on a night out when I’m starting to get tired but still want to keep going
I guess that doesn’t help during lockdown!
What about making them with decaf so you get the coffee flavour but could have one in the evening?

Brunch?!

Could you do caffeine free?

They are wonderful but there is an art to them. You have to drink enough of them that the alcohol just overpowers the caffeine - allowing you to sleep. After a few hours the alcohol wears off and the caffeine takes over - meaning you wake up full of energy and ready to go.

It's a very fine balance and easy to get wrong, I suggest practicing

The only cocktail worth drinking imo. I’ve made at home in the evening using fresh ground decaf coffee & it tastes just as good.

Allthefuckingtime is the right answer.

@pyongyangkipperbang will back me up if she’s around

However you need to write the next day off entirely as you will only be capable of watching reruns of midsummer murders and eating takeaway.

I am always so intrigued by people when they say caffeine affects them like this!

I think their bodies must be so, so sensitive.

I could drink coffee all day long and it doesn’t affect me at all.

@biglittlemedium that's me with tea I can drink tea or coffee right before I sleep

It’s not the caffeine here 🥴

But yes, I can happily drink a huge coffee and sleep an hour later. DH in the other hand - no coffee after about 3pm or he’s tossing n turning all night.

They’re for brunch / boozy breakfasts

I am always so intrigued by people when they say caffeine affects them like this!

Me too. I could take a black coffee to bed now and be fine.

I drank three once on a night out and couldn’t sleep at all till 10am the next day. I think the best time would be to have brunch and then drink one at the end.

I'd say they were a brunch drink

I find them tricky in the evening, can be too wired to sleep. I am caffeine sensitive, wish I wasn’t!

Kahlúa do premixed cans, I’ve seen them in Sainsbury’s and waitrose. They’re not as good as the real deal, but not bad for a premix if you can’t be bothered to make your own

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/vodka/kahlúa-espresso-martini-mixed-vodka-cocktail-200ml

There's a gene that makes you metabolise caffeine quickly, so you're less affected. I've got it - which is handy for expresso martinis

Espresso ( haven't had my first coffee!!)

I am always so intrigued by people when they say caffeine affects them like this!

I’m just a really, really shit sleeper. If I drink caffeine past lunchtime I’m awake until the sadly hours of the morning. Anything that could have the potential to affect my sleep, does.
I’m not sensitive in any other way, I don’t bloat/retain water or anything like that. It’s just sleep related sensitivity!

M&S do a premix which is passable. There’s also one called ‘Tails’ which is good.

I say just go for it. Any time is a good time.

Have one or two as an apero before Sunday Lunch.
Oh! It’s Sunday today! Chin-chin! 🍸 🍸 🍸

There’s never a wrong time for them. I’ll drink them whenever- first drink of night, with afternoon tea, brunch, after dinner, and often as the last drink of the evening (regardless of time) because it feels a bit more of a “meal” drink if that makes sense and fills me up!

It’s not just about length of sleep it’s quality too. People who drink coffee / eat loads of chocolate or caffienated drinks at night think they’re sleeping well but they actually aren’t. And the effects are subtle and so aren’t often noticed until they get worse with time.

There’s a company called Funkin that do fab pre mixed cocktails esp espresso martini ... Sainsbury’s and Asda sell them

I'm a really poor sleeper and don't tend to sleep if I drink a lot anyway. What I find with espresso martinis is they do seem to cancel out the impact of other alcohol and make hangovers less severe. They are amazing but only if made properly with really strong coffee, not coffee Syrup!

Damn, I've missed the brunch slot

Thanks for your replies. I honestly never thought about making a decaf version...d'oh!

We have a Gaggia machine and a grinder so it will be with real coffee rather then syrups, I'll just have to buy some decaf for it.

Re: caffeine - if I drink it too late I'll either not be able to get to sleep or I'll ping awake around 3am and not be able to get back to sleep. I'm a shit sleeper on and off anyway (blaming it on perimenopause)