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The cocktail coming for Espresso Martini’s crown
In 2023, the Espresso Martini became the sixth most-popular cocktail in the US, and according to Pernod Ricard, online searches for the serve were up by 26% last year – but now Google data is suggesting that a new coffee-based serve may be about to take its crown.
While the Espresso Martini has been dominating cocktail and brunch menus for the best part of a decade, the Carajillo – a two-ingredient drink consisting of espresso and Spanish liqueur Licor 43 – is beginning to make waves in the US.
According to Google’s top trending searches of 2024, the Carajillo cocktail saw high spikes in traffic over a sustained period of the year, placing seventh in the list, while the Espresso Martini did not feature at all.
However, the Carajillo is not just a 2024 flash in the pan, as the serve has been gaining traction in the US for a few years.
Yelp’s Food Trend Report, published at the end of 2023, found searches skyrocketed by 118% that year, and according to data by Glimpse, interest in the Carajillo grew by 5% over the past year, and saw approximately 382,000 online searches per month as of December 2024.
Furthermore, it found the cocktail typically sees a surge in popularity between May and July, with an additional spike in December.
Andrew ‘Coco’ Cordero, beverage director at Michelin-starred Jeune et Jolie, and Wildland in California, US, told The Spirits Business why he believes the Carajillo is having a moment: “It’s an alternative to Espresso Martinis, offering a different vibe while still satisfying the craving for a coffee cocktail.
“A classic Carajillo is just espresso and Licor 43, a Spanish vanilla-citrus liqueur, making it a more straightforward, less heavy alternative. And because it’s so simple, bartenders, like myself, have been reimagining it with infusions, extra components, and creative twists.
“It also tends to be lower in ABV than an Espresso Martini [Licor 43 is bottled at 31% ABV], making it easier to drink over a longer period – especially as more people are drinking less but still want that coffee kick.”
Latin roots and popularity
It is believed that the Carajillo was first created in Spain several centuries ago, however, there is also a theory that traces the cocktail’s origins back to the Spanish occupation of Cuba in the 15th century, when Spanish soldiers stationed there mixed local rum with coffee as a way to energise themselves before battle.
As such, the Carajillo has found extreme popularity in Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, and other Latin American countries for hundreds of years.
Cordero noted that the Carajillo’s “strong cultural influence”, as well as its simplicity, has likely helped to drive the cocktail’s popularity. “At Wildland, our California-European-influenced, community-driven, all-day restaurant, we appreciate how it’s deeply rooted in Spanish tradition, where it’s often enjoyed after a meal as friends and family linger over drinks and conversation and that’s what we are all about.”
While typically made with Licor 43, the drink’s alcoholic component can be subject to change depending on the country you are in. For example in Spain, Licor 43 may be substituted for a brandy, and joined by a sprinkling of cinnamon and fresh lemon peel, while in Cuba, the serve more commonly uses rum.
Meanwhile, in Mexico, mezcal, or even coffee liqueurs such as Kahlúa or Tía María, may be included, however, it is the spice vanilla notes of Licor 43 that typically make this drink so popular.
To make your own, equal parts of espresso and Licor 43 (or your substitute of choice) should be shaken with ice before serving in a small cocktail glass, such as a Nick and Nora. It can also be served warm, or with decaf coffee for a late-night digestif.
Licor 43 is also used in another serve that’s gaining popularity across the world – the Baby Lager.
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