Dear coffee lovers,
Reportedly crafted by the brilliant minds at Koppi Roasters in Sweden, the espresso tonic recipe was widely introduced to coffee lovers in 2007. It’s a sophisticated sparkling drink that combines the deep, richness of espresso with the bright effervescence of tonic water for a refreshing sip. We’re excited to show you how to make this drink at home with espresso (the tastiest option) or coffee concentrate.
Let’s get brewing!
You’ll need
A medium roast coffee preferably with a citrus-y profile
An espresso machine for brewing at home
Don’t have an espresso machine? Brew 3-4oz of instant coffee for a faux-espresso or use an Aeropress with a flow control extension
A coffee grinder for espresso
Coffee Alive’s stainless steel blanching tool for flash-chilling espresso (optional)
Bartender’s jigger or angled jigger for measuring ingredients
Craft tonic water (Q Mixer Tonic, Fevertree Tonic, Topo Chico Tonic)
Simple syrup or a flavored syrup of your choice
For flavored syrups, we’d recommend: grapefruit, blood orange, or lavender
Ice cubes
Lemon wheel or lemon peel garnish (optional)
Ingredients
A shot of espresso (2oz)
4-6oz of tonic water (we used 6oz)
0.5-1oz of simple syrup
Recipe steps
Fill a 12oz glass with ice cubes (large, clear ice cubes work best if available).
Pour chilled tonic water (6oz) into a glass over ice.
Add your desired amount of simple syrup (start with 0.5oz and adjust to taste) and gently stir with the tonic water.
Flash-chill your espresso shot (2oz) by extracting it over the Coffee Alive blanching tool or let it rest 1-2 minutes to cool before incorporating.
Slowly pour the 2oz of chilled espresso (or 3-4oz coffee concentrate) into your glass to prevent the tonic's carbonation from agitating the espresso.
Layering technique: Pour the espresso slowly over the back of a spoon above the tonic water's surface to prevent the espresso from mixing with the tonic.
Add a lemon wheel to the rim of your glass or a lemon peel garnish, gently mix in the espresso, and enjoy! 💙
We hope you enjoy this iconic, sparkling espresso drink! The espresso tonic is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a bright and floral coffee drink to remind you of summertime. Let us know in the comments if you enjoyed this recipe and tell us if you made a unique syrup for this recipe.
Have a beautiful day,
Jon Hargreaves
Coffee Club Founder/Designer
Editor: Lexi Deverich
Direction: Huey Melendez & Cortez Artis
Photography: Huey Melendez