Bittersweet, bubbly, and perfectly caffeinated, this easy Espresso Tonic is the revivifying pick-me-up you’ve been looking for. Made with just 4 ingredients in as many minutes, this delightfully refreshing booze-free sipper is simply sublime.
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About This Recipe
If you’re in the market for a beautiful, robustly flavored, layered iced coffee or mocktail for breakfast or brunch, stop your scrolling. This delicious espresso tonic recipe is just what you’re after. It’s bitter & sweet, effervescent & energizing, and tastes equally delicious on its own or next to a tasty plate of food. These drinks are not usually found at your local coffee shop - they're found at specialty coffee shops with additions like a lime wedge, cherry bitters, flavored syrup or a citrus peel. There truly are endless variations!
Made with bracingly strong espresso, complexly flavored bitter tonic water, zesty lime, and fresh mint, this coffee tonic is a seriously grown-up drink — but there’s no alcohol anywhere to be found. (Not that it wouldn’t also be delicious spiked with some vodka…) Looking for other coffee drinks? Check out my guide for making homemade cold brew or sweet cream cold foam!
And, before you go poo-pooing the idea of blending fresh espresso and tonic water, take a second to reconsider coffee lovers! If you sip espresso on its own (or with a twist or slice of lemon or orange zest, like they do in Europe), you’ll taste hints of floral and citrus flavors - like in my Yuzu Coffee Soda. It’s a perfect match for tonic water’s botanical flavor profile!
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you only need a few easy-to-find ingredients to make this thirst-quneching tonic espresso. Here’s what to grab:
- Tonic Water - If possible, reach for “the good stuff” here. Fever Tree Tonic is my favorite, but Fentiman’s, Q Mixers, Boylan Heritage, and Top Note are all lovely. If you’re unable to find any of these craft brands, Schweppes or Canada Dry are both solid (if a little sweet) choices.
- Lime Juice - Fresh lemon and lime juice is far superior to the bottled kind, plus you get the added benefit of having an extra ingredient (the zest) for turning into beautiful garnishes. To get the most juice and acidic notes from your fruit, give it a firm roll on the countertop for 10-15 seconds before slicing open.
- Mint Simple Syrup - Made by steeping fresh mint sprigs in a 1:1 solution of water and sugar, homemade mint simple syrup is a fuss-free and delicious way to brighten up your cocktails and mocktails. Feel free to substitute the syrup of your choice here based on your taste preference - ginger syrup would be a great addition here!
- Double Shot of Espresso - Any coffee beans that are ground finely enough for an espresso maker can be used here, so opt for whatever suits you best for this coffee drink. Stumptown coffee, Linea Coffee, and Sightglass Coffee are some of my favorites!
- Lime Twist & Fresh Mint - These are technically optional, but make for a pretty garnish and help to bring forth the flavors in your first sip. Plus, you should already have them on hand for the mint syrup and fresh lime juice!
- Plenty of Ice Cubes - If possible, use filtered water to make your ice.
Equipment
Being your own barista-bartender isn’t as dependent on specialty equipment as you may think! Here’s everything you’ll need to make this coffee and tonic libation:
- Espresso Machine - Feel free to get as fancy as you want here. While you can spend thousands on a professional-grade machine, a basic countertop model will run around $100 and ultra-simple stovetop espresso makers can be bought for around $40.
- Bottle Opener - If you’re using craft tonic water, you might not get a twist-off or poppable top. Anything that gives you leverage can be used as a bottle opener, but your wine key and/or can opener probably has one built in.
- Tall Glass - I love serving this espresso tonic water in a collins glass for a stunning presentation, but feel free to use any glass large enough to fit all the caffeinated, bubbly goodness.
- Reusable Straws - Not only are reusable glass straws beautiful enough for Instagram, they’re also a serious win for the oceans and planet.
How To Make Espresso Tonic
Making this simply exquisite cola alternative is a snap. Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: Make Clear Base Layer. Add tonic water, lime juice and simple syrup over ice and gently stir.
Step 2: Add Espresso & Garnish. Gently pour espresso shots into the glass over a spoon to help with the layering effect and garnish with lime & fresh mint before enjoying!
Optional Variations
While I love a straightforward espresso tonic just the way the recipe is written, there’s always plenty of room for customization depending on your preferences and dietary needs. Here are a few variations to consider:
- Decaf - Use your favorite decaf coffee beans, or for a completely caffeine-free sipper, opt for finely ground roasted carob and barley or another coffee alternative like Dandy Blend.
- Lower Sugar - Opt for a “lite” tonic water to cut back on added sugar. You can also make your mint simple syrup with a sugar alternative like stevia or monkfruit.
- Quinine-Free - If you’re sensitive to the effects of quinine, are pregnant, or are on certain medications that shouldn’t be mixed with it (e.g. statins, antidepressants, antibiotics, or blood thinners), make your own quinine-free tonic syrup to mix with club soda. You’re also welcome to use plain club soda to make life a little easier.
- Spiked - Adding a shot of vodka will turn this mocktail into a tastefully caffeinated coffee cocktail party drink.
Expert Tips
- Use freshly pulled espresso shots. If you talk to coffee pros, they’ll tell you a shot of espresso “expires” just 10 seconds after it’s pulled. While I’m not quite so particular, I do recommend using espresso you made today.
- Zest before juicing. Before you juice your lime, grab a few long, twisting curls of the bright green rind for your garnish. Trust me, it’s WAY easier to zest citrus before you juice it!
- Create distinct layers. Want to make a layered drink? Flip over your bar spoon so the concave part is facing down. Insert it into the serving glass, touching the edge of the glass and the top of the liquid. Pour the espresso (or whatever you’re floating) very slowly over the dome. It should create a visible layer on top before adding your garnish!
Frequently Asked Questions
Quinine used to be prescribed for treating malaria and leg cramps, and it’s believed that tonic water was invented as a way of making the bitter taste of the drug more palatable by adding bubbles and sugar.
However, today’s tonic waters typically have pretty low concentrations of quinine, so there isn’t really a health benefit to drinking it. In fact, since it is quite high in added sugar, you should try to limit your consumption of tonic water to no more than 1 a day.
Taste is subjective, so that’s going to depend on your opinion! I personally love Fever Tree Indian Tonic water, followed closely by Fentiman’s and Top Note. What’s your favorite tonic water? Let me know in the comments below so I can give it a try!
More Espresso-Based Recipes
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Espresso Tonic
Equipment
- Bottle Opener
- Tall Glass
Ingredients
- 6 oz Tonic Water
- 1 oz Lime Juice
- ½ oz Mint Simple Syrup
- 2 Shots Espresso
- Lime Twist & Fresh Mint, for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Add tonic water, lime juice and simple syrup over ice and gently stir.6 oz Tonic Water, 1 oz Lime Juice, Ice, ½ oz Mint Simple Syrup
- Gently pour espresso shots over a bar spoon into a glass (as pictured above) and garnish with lime & fresh mint before enjoying!2 Shots Espresso, Lime Twist & Fresh Mint
Notes
- Use freshly pulled espresso shots. If you talk to coffee pros, they’ll tell you a shot of espresso “expires” just 10 seconds after it’s pulled. While I’m not quite so particular, I do recommend using espresso you made today.
- Zest before juicing. Before you juice your lime, grab a few long, twisting curls of the bright green rind for your garnish. Trust me, it’s WAY easier to zest citrus before you juice it!
- Create distinct layers. Want to make a layered drink? Flip over your bar spoon so the concave part is facing down. Insert it into the serving glass, touching the edge of the glass and the top of the liquid. Pour the espresso (or whatever you’re floating) very slowly over the dome. It should create a visible layer on top before adding your garnish!
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