I tasted the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini pod on my Bartesian® Premier on the Regular setting with Tito's Vodka. It is one of three new drinks in the 2026 Advent Calendar.
It is a sweet coffee drink, and a smooth one. The caramel and the espresso are well balanced. It leans sweet, but it is not overly sweet. I enjoyed it, but I would not buy a box.
Quick Verdict
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Where Does the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini Pod Come From?
The Salted Caramel Espresso Martini is one of three drinks that are new this year in the 2026 Bartesian® Advent Calendar. I have only found it in the calendar. It was behind door 22 of my calendar. That is the door for December 22. I opened it early to review the new pods. All 12 drinks in the calendar are in my 2026 Bartesian® Advent Calendar guide.
The capsule says Load Vodka. Bartesian's site recommends shaking it and serving it in a chilled martini glass with a sugar rim. Bartesian describes the flavors as coffee, caramel and a hint of sea salt.
Where Did the Espresso Martini Come From?
The espresso martini was created by London bartender Dick Bradsell in the 1980s, at the Soho Brasserie. Sources disagree on the year: some say 1983, others 1985. He first called it the Vodka Espresso, and it was served on the rocks. In 1998 he renamed it the Pharmaceutical Stimulant for the menu at Pharmacy, a Notting Hill bar. Bradsell's own recipe, as printed by Difford's Guide, used vodka, double strength espresso, two coffee liqueurs (Kahlúa and Tia Maria) and a little cane sugar syrup. It was shaken with ice and topped with three coffee beans. Today it is known as the espresso martini. The salted caramel version is a newer twist on the classic.
How Did I Make It?
I made it on my Bartesian® Premier at the Regular strength with Tito's Vodka. I made the drink into a shaker, shook it, and poured it into a chilled martini glass.
Bartesian's site recommends a sugar rim. I skipped it. I don't garnish my drinks, because I want to see how the pod stands on its own.
What Does the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini Taste Like?
It pours like an espresso martini should: deep brown, with a slightly lighter tinge and a little foam on top.
The smell is coffee, and sweet coffee. I picked up the sweetness of the caramel along with the coffee.
My first sip: wow. It's good. It tastes like a sweet coffee. The caramel is well balanced with the espresso, though the espresso comes through a little more. I tasted a hint of salt. It is not a lot of salt, and it does not take over.
It is very smooth. On Regular I could not taste the alcohol at all. There was no burn or bite from the vodka.
A note about me. I drink two shots of espresso every morning, black with no sugar. Even so, I have never ordered an espresso martini at a bar. I don't usually like my coffee with alcohol, and I'm sensitive to caffeine. Bartesian's page for its regular Espresso Martini capsule says the capsules contain no caffeine. I saw no caffeine listed on the Salted Caramel box.
First Note: Aromatics
Sweet coffee, with caramel.
Second Note: Mid-palate
Espresso. Sweet up front, then the espresso comes in.
Third Note: Finish
Slightly dry. Possibly from the sweetness; I'm not sure.
As It Sits
Still sweet, but not overly sweet.
Does It Change as You Drink It?
Not much. It is served up in a martini glass, with no ice to melt. Three quarters of the way down, it still leaned sweet, but not overly sweet.
How Does It Compare to the Other New Calendar Pods?
This was the third new calendar pod I tasted, after Berry & Bright and Frosted Ambrosia. Read my Berry & Bright review and my Frosted Ambrosia review.
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Which Vodka Should You Use?
I used Tito's. On Regular I could not taste the vodka at all. If you're choosing a vodka for your machine, my guide to the best liquors for Bartesian® pods has what owners actually load.
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I've only found the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini in the 2026 Advent Calendar. The calendar's general sale opened October 22, 2026, at $34.99.
See the Advent Calendar at Bartesian.com →New to Bartesian®? I made this drink on the Bartesian® Premier. Prices change, so check the current price before you buy. Curious what the Premier is like to own? Read my Bartesian® Premier review.
Check the Premier Price →Who Should Try the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini?
✅ Reach for it if:
- You like espresso and sweetness together.
- You like sweet coffee drinks, like the ones at Starbucks.
⏭ Set your expectations if:
- You don't like coffee with alcohol.
- You drink your espresso black and want a less sweet drink.
Final Verdict: 8/10
I am giving the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini an 8 out of 10. It is smooth, and the caramel and espresso are well balanced. It leans sweet, but it is not overly sweet.
I enjoyed it, and I would drink it again from the calendar. But I would not buy a box. I like my coffee, but I don't usually like it with alcohol. I've never had an espresso martini at a bar, so I can't compare it to one.
If you like espresso with some sweetness, I think you would enjoy this drink.
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