Espresso Tonic Recipe – The Perfect Chilled Coffee for Summers
The espresso tonic is a bubbly and refreshing chilled coffee drink that’s gotten popular in the last few years.
It sounds weird at first, but after you taste it, you’ll realize there’s nothing like a chilled espresso tonic to refresh and revive you on a hot day.
Here’s a simple recipe to make this specialty drink your favorite go-to café drink.
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What Is an Espresso Tonic?
Like some classic cocktails, espresso tonics are specialty beverages with two basic ingredients. As the name suggests, this drink contains espresso and tonic water. The coffee’s acidity and the tonic water’s bitterness give this beverage a sweet and bitter taste.
The recipe is super customizable too. It’s the perfect chilled coffee beverage to drink all year round.

Espresso tonic drinks are often layered, with the tonic at the base and the espresso on top. The tonic-espresso ratio of a basic recipe is roughly 2:1 or 3:1; however, you can tweak the recipe to your taste. For this drink, some people also use concentrated cold brew.
This drink is thought to be first mixed in Europe c. 2007, but gained popularity in the US nearly a decade later. Espresso tonics are best served cold, and you’d find this specialty drink in most of your favorite cafés. It’s the perfect caffeine fix for summer.
How to Make Espresso Tonic?
What Kind of Cup Should Espresso Tonic Be Served In?
Your espresso tonic is best served in a highball glass. These glasses are great for presentation as they highlight the different layers of your creation.

However, you can also serve them in ceramic or other glasses or mugs. An advantage of the highball glass and other similar coffee glasses is that they do not leave ring stains on your coffee table.
Tips for the Perfect Espresso Tonic Recipe
Here are a couple of tips to make the perfect espresso tonic:
- You can sweeten your espresso tonics, but only use liquid sweeteners, not sugar.
- For the perfect layered look, pour the tonic water before the espresso. This also prevents your drink from fizzing over.
- Espresso tonics will become less carbonated if stored. Thus, it’s best to only make as much as you want to consume.
- Pour in the espresso slowly to prevent it from bubbling over.
- Add your favorite syrup to sweeten this bitter drink and garnish it with fresh fruits like citrus slices, berries, etc., to create your own flavor profile.
- If you want a more robust flavor, experiment with cold brew instead of espresso.

Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Coffee lovers can easily make espresso tonics to enjoy a chilled drink. You can experiment with your ratios and sweeteners, but you should stick to the simple recipe. If you prefer a bitter tonic drink, you can avoid sweeteners altogether.
How do you like your espresso tonic? Let me know in the comments!