The Art of the Nightcap, Volume 1: Espresso Martini Workshop
PART WORKSHOP. PART HAPPY HOUR. PULL UP A STOOL.
Every great cocktail has a moment — the precise shake, the measured pour, the final flourish across the top. The difference between ordinary and exceptional lives in those details.
Art of the Nightcap at Granada Hotel in downtown San Luis Obispo is our invitation to pull up a stool and see how it’s done. This intimate cocktail workshop celebrates the drinks that define the evening. Led by Nightcap’s expert mixologists, each one-hour session spotlights a single cocktail family, sharing the craft, history, and subtle techniques that turn a good drink into a great one — with just a touch of theatre along the way.
For our first installment on February 25th, we begin with an icon: the Espresso Martini. Bold. Velvety. Just indulgent enough. And at the heart of it? Our very own Nomada coffee.
Why the Espresso Martini?
“Wake me up, then [mess] me up.” That was the request that gave us the Espresso Martini. Decades later, it’s the one everyone asks for. Originally created in the 1980s as a late-night pick-me-up, it walks the line between after-dinner indulgence and last call lingerer— a drink that keeps the good vibes going just a little longer. And every Espresso Martini owes its magic to one ingredient: the coffee.
Meet the Foundation: Nomada Coffee
A great cocktail is only as strong as its foundation. The Nomada House Blend was custom-developed in close collaboration with our friends at KBRG Coffee Lab. Roasted weekly in San Luis Obispo, the coffee features a mix of ethically sourced Arabica beans from Guatemala and Ethiopia.
The result is a balanced blend with rich depth and vibrant brightness — think cocoa and caramel undertones, floral aromatics, and notes of citrus and juicy stone fruit.
In the workshop, we’ll share how our team crafts a delicious cold brew that forms the base of Nightcap’s Espresso Martini recipe, because understanding every ingredient is part of the art.
What to Expect at the Workshop
Part workshop, part happy hour, our bar team will guide you through the subtleties of mixology — from selecting your spirit to adjusting sweetness to your preference. Guests will:
Learn the origin story of the cocktail
Explore the anatomy of balance
Master the shake (yes, there’s technique)
Perfect the pour for that frothy finish
Garnish with precision
You’ll leave with:
Nightcap’s secret recipe for the Espresso Martini
A bag of whole bean Nomada coffee
The confidence to order (or make) it exactly right
Seats are limited and available for $50/person. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or curious beginner, we’d love to share the evening with you.