Espresso with Android M

build.gradle

task grantPermissions(type: Exec, dependsOn: 'installDevDebug') {
    def adb = android.getAdbExe().toString()

    commandLine "sh grant_permissions.sh $adb demo.up1.dev".split(" ")
}

afterEvaluate {
    tasks.each { task ->
        if (task.name.startsWith('connectedDevDebugAndroidTest')) {
            task.dependsOn grantPermissions
        }
    }
}

grant_permissions.sh

#!/bin/bash
#
# argument: apk adb package
# ex: sh grant_permissions.sh <path_to_adb> <package>

adb=$1
package=$2

if [ "$#" = 0 ]; then
    echo "No parameters found, run with sh grant_permissions.sh <path_to_adb> <package>"
    exit 0
fi

# get all the devices
devices=$($adb devices | grep -v 'List of devices' | cut -f1 | grep '.')

for device in $devices; do
    echo "Setting permissions to device" $device "for package" $package
    $adb -s $device shell pm grant $package android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE
done