How do you prefer to finish a meal? I love a decadent chocolate dessert with a french press coffee, cappucino or espresso. If not that, then a sweet liqueur to sip alongside the coffee is a close second.

Liquid desserts are en vogue and chocolate martinis or espresso martinis  lead the lists. These are vodka based cocktails that individually fail to satisfy my cravings for chocolate aaaand coffee. That’s why an Italian chocolate martini is right up my alley.

The Chocolate Flavor – Without the Chocolate

Neither the amaro averna siciliano nor the kahlua contain chocolate, but the combination with espresso fool the taste buds. It’s a frothy, deeply and richly flavored testament to coffee and chocolate, garnished with three roasted beans nestled in the foam.

Three Beans

The garnish must be no fewer and no more than exactly three roasted beans. Why? The story begins with ancient Etruscans, sambuca and Italians. Mid-century Italians enjoyed throwing beans into their friends sambuca, claiming it was a fly. Ordering sambuca “con la mosca” meant garnished with coffee beans and from there the question was how many?

The answer lies in the roots of Christianity and Catholicism where the number three carries significant meaning. The Holy Trinity is but one example and along with it the three blessings. Each bean represents Health, Wealth and Happiness. I’ll take all three please!