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VinePair, using data from insights firm Ground Signal, published average on-premise Espresso Martini prices for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Hawaii is the most expensive at $16.92, Oklahoma the cheapest at $12.06, and the national average is $14.38.
A new state-by-state price map from drinks publication VinePair puts the average cost of an Espresso Martini at $14.38 across the United States, with prices ranging from $16.92 in Hawaii to $12.06 in Oklahoma. The figures, drawn from bar and restaurant menus nationwide by data firm Ground Signal, show a gap of nearly five dollars between the priciest and cheapest states for the coffee cocktail.
According to the report, Hawaii has the most expensive Espresso Martinis in the country at $16.92 on average, followed by New York at $16.03. Those are the only two states where the drink averages more than $16. VinePair attributes Hawaii’s high prices in part to shipping costs, noting that goods on the islands are generally more expensive to transport — though Hawaii is also the only state that commercially produces coffee.
The five most expensive markets are rounded out by Nevada ($15.94), California ($15.57), and Washington, D.C. ($15.38). At the other end of the list, Oklahoma ($12.06) offers the cheapest average price, followed by South Dakota ($12.40) and Iowa ($12.43). Nebraska and Mississippi tie for the next spots at $12.50 each. Only 15 states post an average above the national mean of $14.38.
Ground Signal also tracked which vodka brands appear most often in the cocktail. Tito’s was the top brand in 29 states, while Ketel One led in 17 states. Stoli was the most common choice in five states, and Absolut in one. Vodka, the report notes, is the base spirit in roughly 90 percent of the country’s Espresso Martinis.
Why a $4.86 Price Spread Matters
The nearly five-dollar spread between Hawaii and Oklahoma illustrates how much cocktail pricing varies with local costs, taxes, and market dynamics. For consumers, the map offers a rough benchmark for what to expect on a menu — useful in an era when cocktail prices have climbed alongside broader inflation in food and beverage.
For the drinks industry, the data is aimed at on-premise sales strategy. Ground Signal, which provides AI-powered data to beverage-alcohol brands, surveyed menus to show how the same cocktail is positioned in different markets. Brand-prevalence data — Tito’s dominance in more than half the states — also gives suppliers and distributors a view of which vodkas are winning the Espresso Martini occasion, one of the most ordered cocktails in the country.
How the Cocktail Became a Pricing Benchmark
The Espresso Martini — a mix of vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup — has become what VinePair calls a modern classic and a staple at bars and brunch spots. Its high demand has made it a useful yardstick for comparing on-premise cocktail pricing, since it appears on menus in virtually every state.
The map is part of VinePair’s VP Pro platform, a free newsletter and resource for drinks industry professionals. The pricing figures reflect on-premise prices — what bars and restaurants charge — rather than retail or at-home costs. VinePair did not publish full methodology details, such as the number of menus surveyed per state or the time window of collection.
“Hawaii leads the U.S. with the most expensive Espresso Martini on average at $16.92.”
— VinePair report
What the Price Map Leaves Out
VinePair and Ground Signal did not disclose how many menus were surveyed in each state, when the data was collected, or whether city-level prices within large states were averaged together. Averages can also mask wide variation: a single cocktail in a major city’s high-end bar may cost well above a state mean, while dive bars may sit far below it.
The report’s explanation for Hawaii’s high prices — shipping costs — is offered as context rather than a finding of the survey itself. It is also unclear whether prices have risen, fallen, or held steady compared with prior years, as no historical comparison was published.
Tracking Prices Through 2026
Ground Signal’s menu-scanning approach could support follow-up pricing reports on other high-volume cocktails, and VinePair’s VP Pro platform is positioned to publish updated maps as menu prices shift through 2026. Readers can compare their own state against the full 50-state table published with the report. Whether coffee costs, tariffs, or spirit prices push the national average higher later in the year remains to be seen.
Key Questions
What is the average price of an Espresso Martini in the U.S.?
According to VinePair’s map, based on Ground Signal menu data, the national average is $14.38.
Which state has the most expensive Espresso Martinis?
Hawaii, at $16.92 on average, followed by New York at $16.03. They are the only states averaging above $16.
Where is the cheapest state to buy an Espresso Martini?
Oklahoma, with an average of $12.06, followed by South Dakota ($12.40) and Iowa ($12.43).
What vodka is most commonly used in Espresso Martinis?
Per the report, vodka is the spirit in about 90 percent of Espresso Martinis, and Tito’s is the top brand in 29 states, followed by Ketel One in 17.
How was the price data collected?
Ground Signal, an AI-powered insights company serving beverage-alcohol brands, surveyed bar and restaurant menus across the country. The exact sample sizes and collection window were not published.
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