Home » Delicious And Simple Espresso Tonic Recipe 

Delicious And Simple Espresso Tonic Recipe 

Two glasses of beautifully garnished Espresso tonic in front of a blue wooden background

Are you looking for a new way to enjoy your coffee? Then you may want to give espresso tonic a try. This simple drink will refresh you with its fresh, sparkling taste and a fantastic caffeine kick! Espresso tonic is the perfect summer vacation drink for me. There is nothing like enjoying an espresso tonic next to the pool or lakeside. Also, this espresso tonic recipe is super simple to make. So, grab your favorite espresso beans and tonic water. It’s about to get tasty!

What Is an Espresso Tonic?

Espresso tonic is a fantastic simple non-alcoholic drink. It is the perfect summer day refresher, combining the flavor of fresh coffee with tonic water. Served chilled, this is a simple yet luxurious drink to enjoy a lot.

Espresso and tonic go so well together. The bold flavor of espresso and the refreshing yet slightly bitter tonic water pair fantastically. They combine to a chocolate-like flavor while still being refreshing. This drink almost feels like a mocktail. Garnished with a touch of fresh mint, it brings out an almost after-eight-like flavor that is to die for! Served ice cold, this drink makes a great summer day refresher if you don’t feel like a hot cup of coffee.

Ingredients for Making a Delicious Espresso Tonic

Beautifully presented ingredients for espresso tonic (espresso beans, mint and tonic)
  • Espresso beans
  • Tonic water
  • Ice cubes
  • Sugar (optional)
  • Garnish of choice (Mint or citrus fruits)

Choosing the Right Espresso Beans & Tonic Water

Look for a blend with bold and rich flavors. If you prefer a milder taste, opt for a medium roast. Freshly roasted beans tend to make the best espresso! If you want to enjoy this drink during the afternoon or evening, you can opt for decaffeinated espresso beans. The drink will taste fantastic nevertheless!

Regarding tonic water, use any tonic you like otherwise. I enjoy a strong, highly carbonated one for my espresso tonic!

Espresso Extraction Techniques

If you have an espresso machine, that’s fantastic! But no worries if you don’t. You can use alternative methods like a Moka pot or AeroPress to extract a strong espresso shot. It works just as well. I personally enjoy Moka pot espresso a lot. It tastes quite different compared to the espresso machine, also when making this drink. Feel free to experiment around until you find the version of this drink you like most!

This simple recipe only needs a few ingredients, and the final taste of your espresso tonic depends a lot on the preparation and taste of those. So, a good cup of espresso and a nice tonic water matter for this drink!

two shots of espresso in beautiful espresso cups

Espresso Tonic Recipe:

For this recipe, it’s good to prepare a bit ahead. Store your tonic water in the fridge so it’s nice and chilled. Also, have a bit of ice on hand. The drink is best if it’s chilled well.

Step 1: Preparing the Espresso

Now, you can prepare the drink! Firstly, you need a shot of delicious espresso. If you want it strong, you can opt for a double shot. Prepare your espresso using your method of choice. I am using an espresso machine today. If you want your drink to be a bit more on the sweeter side, you can decide to add a bit of sugar to the espresso shot. It dissolves nicely in the hot liquid, so you need no simple syrup to sweeten the drink. This is optional, but as both the tonic and espresso are bitter, it can be nice to balance the drink with some additional sugar.

Step 2: Build the base with Ice and Tonic

Next, fill a glass with ice cubes and pour in your chilled tonic water. Leave some room at the top for the espresso.

Step 3: Add the Espresso Shot

Gently pour your freshly brewed espresso over the tonic water. The contrasting temperatures will create a delightful layering effect. Take your time and slowly pour the espresso, as it will react with the cold tonic, which can cause some foaming. Simply take your time and slowly pour in the espresso.

The Ideal Garnishes

Two glasses of espresso tonic with ingredients scattered around it

You can enhance this drink with a lot of different garnishes. You will be surprised how much the garnish changes the experience of this drink! The aromatic smell of the garnish matters a lot.

  • My go-to: Mint. It has this delicious after-eight effect.
  • A slice of citrus fruit (lemon, lime, or orange).
  • A twist of orange or lemon peel (Orange peel is fantastic!)

All of these garnishes work fantastically. I find that the smell of fresh orange zest or mint complements the chocolate notes the best. But feel free to try any other garnishes you like! I could imagine other herbs to work fine. Burned rosemary could be a super interesting, fancy twist!

Enjoy this delicious drink right away! Doesn’t this feel like a vacation? I cannot get enough of this beverage. It is so simple, refreshing, and customizable. The mint garnish or orange peel are so simple, yet so luxurious. Let me know what you think in the comments!

FAQs

How to make an espresso tonic

Making an espresso tonic is super simple. Firstly, brew a shot of espresso. Fill a glass with ice and pour in chilled tonic water. Leave some space at the top and top it with the espresso. Garnish with citrus fruits or mint, and enjoy!

Can I use decaffeinated espresso for a milder version?

Yes, you can. This is something I like to do to enjoy its delicious taste during the afternoon or evening without sacrificing sleep quality. It is just as delicious and refreshing.

Is it possible to make an espresso tonic without an espresso machine?

It works perfectly fine to make this drink without an espresso machine. You can use any brewing technique you like. A Moka pot or Aeropress works perfectly fine.

What’s the ideal serving temperature for this drink?

I like it nice and cold! It is super refreshing that way.

Some more recipe recommendations:

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Two glasses of beautifully garnished Espresso tonic in front of a blue wooden background

Delicious And Simple Espresso Tonic Recipe 

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This espresso tonic is the perfect summer day refresher with a caffeine kick. It is simple and quick to make and a luxurious drink to enjoy!

  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 serving 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 shots of espresso

46 oz of tonic water

Ice cubes

Garnishes of choice (mint leaves, orange, lemon, lime)

Optional: 1 tsp of sugar

Instructions

Store your tonic water in the fridge so it’s nice and chilled. Also, have a bit of ice on hand. The drink is best if it’s chilled well.

Prepare your espresso using your method of choice. You can sweeten the espresso with sugar if you want this drink to be more balanced.

Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour in your chilled tonic water. Leave some room at the top for the espresso.

Gently pour your freshly brewed espresso over the tonic water.

Garnish the drink with your garnishes of choice. Enjoy it chilled!

Notes

I love mint leaves or fresh orange zest as garnishes for this drink.

  • Author: Ivo
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: drink, beverage
  • Cuisine: international
  • Diet: Vegan

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