This review of the Nespresso Essenza Mini Machine and Two Coffee Cocktails has been sponsored by Nespresso. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Coffee and cocktails are two of my favorite things. Today I am sharing two delicious and refreshing coffee cocktails- the Irish Iced Coffee and the Espresso Negroni– and how you can make them, too, thanks to the sleek, lightweight, and easy to use, Nespresso Essenza Mini Machine!
Jump to Recipe- ESPRESSO NEGRONI Jump to Recipe- IRISH ICED COFFEE
I am often told that the outside of my home smells like a coffee shop. Neighbors who know nothing about me will stop me in my driveway and ask what my favorite coffee is.
I find this quite hilarious since I am not a coffee expert. Nevertheless, it is equally flattering since, well, I drink a lot of coffee and have tried a lot of different kinds of coffee over the years.
But today I’m here to discuss so much more than just coffee! Today I get to share with you an honest review of the Nespresso Essenza Mini Machine and two super easy, super delicious coffee cocktails. Since, well, coffee and cocktails were practically made for each other.
WHAT IS THE NESPRESSO ESSENZA MINI
- Nespresso’s most compact machine- and uh, you guys, this tiny little thing, is tiny!
- Offers two different cup sizes.
- The 19 bar pressure pump ensures optimal extraction of rich flavor and aroma.
- Ultrafast heating system achieves the ideal brewing temperature in less than 30 seconds.
- The Nespresso Essenza Mini comes in two different shapes in three different colors.
WHY I LOVE THE NESPRESSO ESSENZA MINI
- The easiest espresso/coffee machine you will ever use in your whole life.
- This actually deserves two bullet points since setting up this machine required no assistance from my husband and THAT.NEVER.HAPPENS.
- Not only is it easy to set up, it doesn’t come with a million parts. Which translates to easy clean-up.
- The pods are quite tiny, as well.
- It really is small. In fact, as I carried this adorable red machine between my studio and kitchen (sadly the lighting in my kitchen is, well, sad) I realized that I could totally take this with me everywhere.
- The espresso is legit. I have owned several espresso machines, and this is a keeper.
Remember how I said I literally could take this beaut anywhere?
Well, here are some suggestions,
- CAMPING
- Road Trips
- To your in-law’s house who only serve tea
- The next book club meet-up
- Or, right on your bedroom nightstand. I know, MIND.BLOWN.
The Essenza Minis also make awesome gifts. I’m actually a little obsessed and quite disappointed that they weren’t in existence when I was in college or when my husband and I had our first teeny tiny apartment. Remembering what I spent on coffee in college, and how much I could have saved…well…let’s just say every college student who drinks coffee should have one.
I promise this is not a hard sell pitch, this is a common sense pitch.
College students could actually carry this with them to the library, to class, to wherever college kids go these days.
Anyway, it’s not just for the college kid. It’s also for the mom. Oh hay! That’s me!
WHY MOM’S WILL LOVE THE ESSENZA MINI
- It makes coffee super fast. If you’re a mom, you know why this is important.
- It’s quiet. This speaks for itself.
- It’s small. Which means it’s easy to keep out of reach of tiny little hands that like to touch and play and break everything.
- You can keep it in the car, your purse, your gym bag (you think I’m kidding…)
- It’s stylish. Not gonna lie, I’m loving the bright red.
>>CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NESPRESSO ESSENZA MINI<<
COFFEE COCKTAILS
THE ESPRESSO NEGRONI
Before I jump into the awesomeness that is the Espresso Negroni, I should probably start with the equally amazing classic Negroni.
WHAT IS THE NEGRONI
- The Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail.
- The Classic Negroni is made with equal parts gin, vermouth, and Campari and is garnished with an orange peel and served in a rocks glass.
- The origin is unknown but it is believed that it was originated sometime in 1919 when Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by adding gin rather than soda water.
- The Negroni is an apéritif meaning it is typically served before or after a meal.
The Classic Negroni is delicious so, naturally, an Espresso Negroni had to be awesome.
INGREDIENTS IN THE ESPRESSO NEGRONI
- Gin
- Sweet Vermouth
- Campari
- Ice
- Brewed espresso- decaffeinated Ristretto or caffeinated Livanto
- Orange twists
You’ll notice the note about caffeinated and decaffeinated espresso. I’m going to allow you to be the judge on this one. If you are sensitive to caffeine and prefer not to be up all night, perhaps skip the late night caffeinated Espresso Negroni. On the other hand, if the night is young and you could use a little caffeine in your life, then at least you know the option is there.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST ESPRESSO NEGRONI
- The most important tip is to always keep the beverage cold.
- The best way to ensure a cold Espresso Negroni is to brew your espresso over 1-2 small ice cubes, thus bringing it down to room temperature.
- Freeze each rocks glass approximately 15-20 minutes before preparing.
- Big ice cubes work best if you can find or make some.
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A fun twist on the classic Negroni, this cocktail contains all the flavors of the original- Gin, Vermouth, Campari, and Orange- but amplified with the addition of brewed espresso.
- Ice
- 1 oz espresso caffeinated or decaffeinated
- 1 oz Gin
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 1 oz Campari
- Orange twist
Place a rocks glass in the freezer and allow it to cool for 15 minutes. Remove from the freezer when ready to prepare your cocktail.
Prepare the Espresso. To an espresso cup add 1-2 small ice cubes. Brew your desired espresso over the ice and allow it to cool. Set aside.
To the chilled rocks glass add 3 large ice cubes or 6-9 smaller ice cubes. Fill the glass with the Gin, Vermouth, and Campari. Gently stir to combine.
Add the orange slice to the glass.
Use a large spoon to gently pour the espresso into the glass. To create a fun layer between the alcohol and the espresso, avoid going too fast and allow time for the two layers to re-separate.
Serve with a short straw, if desired.
There are approximately 30ml per 1 ounce
IRISH ICED COFFEE
An Irish Iced Coffee is about as easy as it gets when you think of coffee cocktails. No fancy tools or equipment or rarely used liqueurs.
Actually, that may or may not be accurate depending on how you make your Irish Iced Coffee.
As with most cocktails, the Irish Iced Cocktail has at least a dozen variations.
For this afternoon, however, we’re keeping it simple and easy with this “Classic” Irish Iced Coffee.
INGREDIENTS IN THIS IRISH ICED COFFEE
- Ice cold coffee or espresso. In this case, I brewed a Lungo (3.72 ounce) espresso using my Nespresso Essenza Mini.
- Which means, yes, you will definitely need ice.
- Whiskey. I used my favorite Irish Whisky, but feel free to use your own.
- Milk, cream, half and half. In this case, I used half and half.
VARIATIONS OF THIS IRISH ICED COFFEE
The sky is the limit when it comes to Irish Iced Coffee. Here are some possible additions-
- Chocolate syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Beer…what?! It’s true. and coming to a blog near you very soon (aka, this one. this blog)
- Frozen
- Sugar or other sweeteners
- All of the above
Personally, I like them all. But the key to all coffee cocktails is understanding the basics.
Besides, I don’t always have chocolate syrup or whipped cream in my house, so it’s nice to know that I can still have the flavors of this delicious drink without having to run to the market.
STEPS IN MAKING AN IRISH ICED COFFEE
- Add chilled espresso to a glass filled with ice (I love these or these glasses made by Nespresso).
2. Add your very favorite whiskey of all time!3. Top with a little half and half or cream.
2. Add your very favorite whiskey of all time!
3. Top with a little half and half or cream.
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Keeping it classic, this easy and delicious Irish Iced Coffee is the perfect summer coffee cocktail and is easily customizable.
Tip! Make this drink extra fun by freezing some espresso in ice cube trays the day before serving.
- Ice
- 3.72 oz espresso
- 1.5 oz Irish Whiskey
- 2 oz half and half or milk or cream
Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the chilled espresso and whiskey over the ice. Mix well to combine and thoroughly chill.
Add the desired amount of half and half (or cream or milk) to the glass and stir again. Best enjoyed immediately.
- If sensitive to dairy or if you have a dairy allergy, I recommend a dairy alternative such as soy creamer or cashew milk.
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