Bright, bubbly, and perfectly caffeinated, this simple recipe for Iced Yuzu Coffee Soda is about to kick your afternoon slump to the curb. Made with just 4 ingredients in a few minutes, it has all the hallmarks of a fancy coffee shop drink without the hefty price tag. Cheers to that!
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Friends, I’m seriously so excited to share this tasty yuzu-flavored carbonated coffee drink with you today. Have you jumped on the yuzu bandwagon yet? If not, now’s a great time to start.
This lovely citrus hybrid is native to China and Tibet, but was introduced to Japan and Korea in the 7th century and is still cultivated there today. With a flavor that is like a cross between grapefruits, mandarins, and limes, its puckery tartness has grabbed the culinary world’s attention and shows no sign of letting go.
When combined with espresso and sparkling water in this refreshing coffee soda recipe, the result is sublime and makes for a delightful homemade cafe drink. A perfect balance of acidity and bitterness play against the effervescent backdrop of sparkling water. As an added bonus, there’s no added sugar and no dairy, making it a lovely beverage regardless of your diet.
While I’m all for regular ol’ coffee (or cold brew with sweet cream when it’s crazy hot out) in the morning, there’s something programmed in my DNA to crave caffeinated bubbles when the inevitable afternoon slump arrives. Rather than reaching for a chemically ambiguous Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke, I feel much better knowing exactly what I’m putting in my body.
This tasty sparkling coffee has just 3 simple ingredients: fruit juice, espresso, and sparkling water. There are no artificial ingredients or strange coloring to speak of. Isn’t that a nice change? Plus, once you taste the crisp, bubbly, complex, bitter flavor, you’ll totally get why I’m so hyped. This yuzu espresso soda has changed my life for the better, and I think it will for you, too!
🍴Ingredients
As promised, you don’t need much to make this gorgeously invigorating sparkling iced coffee drink. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Sparkling Water - Call me a snob, but I prefer the big, boisterous bubbles of naturally carbonated mineral water like Topo Chico to club soda. That said, feel free to use whichever you have on hand or prefer!
- Yuzu Juice - You should be able to find this bright, citrusy splendor at international markets, specialty markets like Whole Foods, or online. Feel free to swap in juice from either Meyer lemons or Buddha’s hands to maintain a zippy citrus flavor.
- Espresso - I like to purchase locally roasted beans from my favorite coffee shop, but any Fair Trade espresso will work. You can also use instant espresso in a pinch! Just know that the quality of the espresso will make a difference as it is a key ingredient.
- Lemon Wheels - While not totally necessary, fresh citrus helps to bolster the light, cheery flavor of the yuzu. Plus, who doesn’t love the smell of a fresh-cut lemon or lemon peel? Feel free to use any citrus here, like an orange slice!
⚒️ Equipment
You don’t need much to make this yuzu espresso tonic. Here are your equipment requirements:
- Espresso Maker - You don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars to play barista at home. You can find many suitable countertop models in the $50-100 range, or go for an inexpensive stovetop model for $30-50. Or, say screw it and use instant espresso powder and hot water instead of espresso shots. I’m not here to judge!
- Insulated Glass - Pouring hot espresso over ice can cause quite a shock to glass that hasn’t been tempered properly. Use something with thick walls or that is rated for use with hot drinks for safety such as a collins glass or this glass.
📖 Step by Step Instructions
This simple, refreshing carbonated coffee couldn’t be simpler to make. Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: Pull Espresso. Use your countertop or stovetop machine, or mix instant espresso powder with hot water.
Step 2: Combine. Pour espresso, yuzu, and sparkling over ice cubes, and stir to combine.
Step 3: Savor. Garnish with lemon slices or wheels and enjoy! Repeat as needed to kick the afternoon sleepies.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Aim for 20-30 seconds. Pulling a perfect shot of espresso takes a little bit of practice; you need to learn how to measure and tamp the grinds to the right tightness for the water to take at least 20 seconds to run through it. Alternatively, opt to use a stovetop model like a Bialetti where no tamping is involved!
- Use filtered water. It might sound silly, but water is an essential ingredient for both espresso and ice. Using filtered water will ensure no weird tap tastes interfere with the crisp, revivifying flavors we’re building here.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Mixing coffee with sparkling water doesn’t yield any explosive, exciting results. The espresso becomes diluted by the bubbly water and yuzu juice, making for something of a sparkling americano laced with fresh, citrusy flavors.
This espresso soda tastes like a citrusy, effervescent americano. It's a bubbly bev that reminds me of an effervescent iced americano and iced lemonade soda with a yuzu twist! Though a standard americano is made with espresso, you can use strong black coffee if that's all you have on hand!
I’m not a licensed nutritionist, so I’m not comfortable giving health advice. That said, since this tasty drink is made with 3 ingredients that I happily imbibe every day (citrus juice, espresso, and sparkling water), I feel like it’s safe to say that carbonated coffee is probably better for you than, say, a Diet Coke.
If you're looking for a different take on this espresso fizz, you can always use tonic water, fresh-squeezed orange juice or lemon juice if those juices are more accessible to you. Another variation could be to add a splash of simple syrup, add a touch of sweet vermouth to make a bold espresso americano cocktail! Orange bitters could also heighten your coffee cocktail to new levels!
More Refreshing Beverage Recipes
If you try this recipe for an Iced Yuzu Coffee Soda, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧
Iced Yuzu Coffee Soda
Equipment
- Serving Glass
Ingredients
- 6 oz Sparkling Water
- ¾ oz Yuzu Juice
- 1 oz Espresso
- Lemon Wheels for garnish
Instructions
- Simply pour ingredients over ice, and stir to combine. Garnish with lemon wheels and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- What happens when coffee and sparkling water mix? Mixing coffee with sparkling water doesn’t yield any explosive, exciting results. The espresso becomes diluted by the bubbly water and yuzu juice, making for something of a sparkling americano laced with fresh, citrusy flavors.
- What does sparkling coffee taste like? This espresso soda tastes like a citrusy, effervescent americano. It's a bubbly bev that reminds me of an effervescent iced americano and iced lemonade soda with a yuzu twist! Though a standard americano is made with espresso, you can use strong black coffee if that's all you have on hand!
- Is carbonated coffee good for you? I’m not a licensed nutritionist, so I’m not comfortable giving health advice. That said, since this tasty drink is made with 3 ingredients that I happily imbibe every day (citrus juice, espresso, and sparkling water), I feel like it’s safe to say that carbonated coffee is probably better for you than, say, a Diet Coke.
- What other variations could I make? If you're looking for a different take on this espresso fizz, you can always use tonic water, fresh-squeezed orange juice or lemon juice if those juices are more accessible to you. Another variation could be to add a splash of simple syrup, add a touch of sweet vermouth to make a bold espresso americano cocktail! Orange bitters could also heighten your coffee cocktail to new levels!
Juan
How about, without the presence of sparkling water (if no supply), what are other options will be using to create iced yuzu coffee soda?
Thank you..
Emily
I personally enjoy how the yuzu and espresso flavors are so prominent with the flavorless sparkling water, but some people enjoy adding tonic water with their espresso shots as an alternative!