Espresso Tonic
You might have seen it on a menu, possibly wondered what it is when you saw someone having it in a coffee shop, and will love it once you try it: the Espresso Tonic.
In an Espresso Martini, we have come to love the bitterness and balance with sweetness. And the Espresso Tonic is no different. It is an easy-to-make drink particularly well suited for those warm summer days. However, it’s not as hard to get it right as it is a lot more forgiving in terms of balance.
Although it is hard to give you the perfect recipe for this drink, as tonics vary considerably from brand to brand, even within the variants of a particular brand you get wide ranges of sweetness, aromas, and the amount of bitterness. Either way, it is a good starting point to have an excellent espresso. Ideally not too strong; sweeter or more floral can be of preference. Once again, we’re trying to stay away from the 3 Cs (crappy coffee capsules) as they simply don’t deliver as well on taste as a freshly brewed espresso. Alternatively, a cold brew coffee can be a great starting point as well.
Espresso Tonic ingredients
- 30 ml of freshly brewed espresso
- ca. 120 ml of tonic water
- Lots of ice, clear ice preferred
Variations and upgrades
- 50 ml of cold brew coffee for a slightly different aroma profile
- A few drops of saline solution to reduce the bitterness and boost taste
How to make the Espresso Tonic
- Make ca. 30 ml of espresso and let it cool.
- Completely fill your long drink glass with ice.
- Let the ice sweat a bit (so it gets a bit wet).
- Optionally: Add a few drops of saline solution.
- Carefully add the 120 ml of tonic.
- Now gently pour the espresso on top to create a nice layer.
- Carefully mix a bit, do not fully stir it.
The "flavour gradient"
This drink comes with a feature: You could start with a stronger coffee flavour and slowly let the sweeter tonic take over as you work your way down the glass. Or you want the unified sipping experience and mix it slowly before drinking. The latter is probably a bit less exciting.
Coffee as an essential ingredient for drinks
With its broad range of flavour profiles and intensities, coffee makes for an excellent component in drink building. At the right ratio, it adds depth, bitterness, texture, and colour as well. The Espresso Tonic is a wonderful example of something you might not expect to be served but, given that you like coffee, might enjoy quite a lot.
