Could an espresso martini machine shake up the cocktail scene?

A new gadget that makes consistently high quality espresso martinis in under 20 seconds is being rolled out across US bars.

The machine, made by Ketel One vodka’s UK parent company Diageo, first reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, is reportedly set to have become a “no brainer” for busy cocktail bars that value quality alongside speed of service.

Erin Tate, an owner of the three MaGerk’s Pubs in Philadelphia explained how the Ketel One machine is only about the size of a small coffee maker and can make an espresso martini in about a quarter of the time it takes a bartender, with the addition of consistency. She told the Philadelphia Inquirer: “They’re also fun to watch.”

According to Tate, batching the cocktail is simple and all the bartenders need to do is add cold-brew concentrate, Ketel One vodka and Kahlua to the machine.

The machine chills the ingredients and uses nitrogen to mix. According to Tate, her bartenders only need to set a martini glass beneath the dispenser and pull the handle and the finished drink fills the glass in under 20 seconds. All that is needed is for her staff to garnish the cocktail with three coffee beans before serving.

The machines, which have been reported to cost approximately US$1,800 each, have been found so far at MaGerk’s venues across Fort Washington, Horsham, and Exton; Figo, Cook & Shaker, Attico, and Live! Casino in Philadelphia, as well as some Chickie’s & Pete’s US venues.