The Nitro Difference
The Nitro Espresso Martini
The nitrogen in Spark Plug creates a real, authentic crema — the same creamy foam you'd get shaking an espresso martini to order behind the bar. Pour it into a cocktail shaker, shake, and strain: the foam builds on its own, thick and unmistakably real. Take the nitro out, and that foam simply doesn't exist.
What is a nitro espresso martini?
An espresso martini is coffee, vodka, and a touch of sweetness — and its signature is the crema, that velvety layer of foam on top. Traditionally, the only way to get it is to shake the drink hard with ice, fresh, right before you serve it. A nitro espresso martini gets there a different way: it's infused with nitrogen, the same gas that gives nitro cold brew and nitro stouts their creamy cascade.
Seal that nitrogen into a can with a real espresso martini and you get a ready-to-drink cocktail — no bartender, no fresh espresso, no compromise on the part that makes an espresso martini feel special. Shake it over ice and the crema builds fresh, every pour.
How the crema forms
Crema from nitrogen — not dairy.
The crema on a nitro espresso martini is pure physics, not cream. Nitrogen stays dissolved in the liquid under pressure inside the can. The moment you shake and pour, it releases into a cascade of tiny bubbles that rise and settle into a smooth, tight foam on top of the glass.
Because the crema comes from gas and not milk, Spark Plug is dairy-free and gluten-free — all the texture of a shaken espresso martini with none of the cream.
Spark Plug nitro espresso martini — at a glance
Style
Canned nitro espresso martini
ABV
20% (40 proof)
Crema
Nitrogen-infused, dairy-free
Coffee
Real Arabica
Caffeine
80–100mg — about one coffee
Can Size
200ml — two 3.5oz martinis
Dietary
Gluten-free & dairy-free
Born
Las Vegas
Nitro vs. the shaken classic
- ✦Traditional: fresh espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, hand-shaken hard with ice — crema lasts only if you drink it right away.
- ✦Nitro (Spark Plug): the same real Arabica and vodka, nitrogen-infused and canned, so the crema builds fresh every pour — chilled, shaken over ice, and strained.
- ✦Same 20% ABV strength as a bar pour — no watered-down, pre-mixed compromise.
How to serve
Chill. Shake. Pour.
Serve chilled. Pour over ice into a shaker or tumbler, shake to activate the nitrogen, then strain into a glass and watch the crema build. Each can pours two 3.5 oz martinis, or four decent-sized shots.
Nitro espresso martini — questions
What is a nitro espresso martini?
A nitro espresso martini is a ready-to-drink espresso martini infused with nitrogen. The nitrogen is what creates the signature crema — the smooth, foamy cap you normally only get from vigorously shaking a fresh espresso martini at a bar. With a nitro version like Spark Plug, a quick shake over ice releases the nitrogen and the crema builds as you pour.
How does the nitro crema work — is there dairy in it?
No dairy. The crema on a nitro espresso martini is created entirely by nitrogen infusion, not cream or milk. When you pour, dissolved nitrogen releases into tiny bubbles that form the velvety head. That's why Spark Plug is both dairy-free and gluten-free.
Do I need to shake a nitro espresso martini?
Yes, ideally. Pour it over ice into a shaker or tumbler, shake to activate the nitrogen, then strain into a glass and watch the crema build. That shake is what wakes up the nitrogen for the full, smooth body — it's the best way to serve it. There's no widget in the can, so shaking the sealed can doesn't do the same thing.
What is the ABV and caffeine of Spark Plug's nitro espresso martini?
Spark Plug is 20% ABV (40 proof) — the strength of a bar-poured espresso martini — with about 80–100 mg of caffeine per can, roughly one 8 oz cup of coffee.
What's in it?
Filtered water, six-times distilled vodka, real Arabica coffee, cane sugar, Madagascar vanilla, and natural flavors. Each 200ml can pours two 3.5 oz martinis.
Pour your first crema.
Spark Plug ships the canned nitro espresso martini to 44 states. Real Arabica, 20% ABV, and a crema that builds every time you pour.
Comparing your options? See the best canned espresso martinis or explore more coffee cocktails.