Coffee Tonic Recipe: How to Make It With Cold Brew

Coffee Tonic: The Easy, Sparkling Iced Coffee (No Espresso Machine Needed)

Espresso tonic gets all the attention, but coffee tonic is the easier version — and for a lot of
people, the better one. No espresso machine. No special equipment. Just cold brew, tonic water,
and ice.
It's smooth, sparkling, bitter-sweet, and made for warm afternoons and slow mornings alike.

What is a coffee tonic?
A coffee tonic is an iced drink made with cold brew coffee (or regular brewed coffee, chilled)
poured over tonic water and ice, usually with a slice of lemon or lime.
It's the same idea as an espresso tonic, with a different base:
Coffee tonic: cold brew or brewed coffee + tonic water. Smoother, lighter, less intense.
Espresso tonic: a double shot of espresso + tonic water. Bolder and more coffee-forward —
read our espresso tonic article for that version.
Tonic water is the key ingredient in both. Its quinine makes it bitter and botanical, and its fizz
makes the whole drink feel light. The coffee brings the depth; the tonic brings the sparkle.

The recipe

You need:
Cold brew coffee, chilled (about 1/2 cup / 120 ml of cold brew concentrate, or regular brewed
coffee, chilled)
Chilled tonic water (about 180 ml / 3/4 cup)
A tall glass full of ice
A slice of lemon or lime

The ratio: try 1 part cold brew to 2 or 3 parts tonic to start. If you're using regular brewed coffee
instead of concentrate, try equal parts coffee and tonic — about 4 oz of each — so the coffee
flavor doesn't get watered down.

How to make it:
1. Fill a tall glass to the top with ice, and add your lemon or lime slice.
2. Pour in the chilled tonic water first.
3. Pour the cold brew slowly over the top.
4. Give it one gentle stir, if any. Don't over-stir or you'll lose the fizz.
Drink it right away, while it's cold and sparkling.

What coffee should you use?
Cold brew is the best base for a coffee tonic, because it's already smooth and low-acid — and that
smoothness is exactly what you want against tonic's bitterness.
Our Cold Brew Blend is made for this: a medium-roast, multi-origin blend, optimized for cold
brewing.
The Cold Brew Blend Coffee — 12 oz, $26.00
Roast: Medium
Tasting notes: Dark Chocolate · Sweet Caramel · Toffee · Floral · Velvety
Profile: Smooth · Low Acid · Chocolate
Steep coarse grounds in cold water for 12–24 hours, then strain. Dilute to taste with water,
milk, or over ice.
Roasted to order in small batches, shipped fresh — and orders over $50 ship free.
The dark chocolate and caramel notes in this blend are what make the tonic work: they round out
the tonic's bite without adding sweetness. A bright, acidic coffee can taste sharp in a tonic; a
smooth one tastes balanced.

Make your cold brew first
If you don't have cold brew ready, make a batch the day before:
1. Grind The Cold Brew Blend coarse.
2. Steep in cold water for 18–24 hours.
3. Strain, and store the concentrate in the fridge.
4. When you're ready for a tonic, pour the concentrate over tonic and ice — no extra brewing
needed.

One batch gives you tonics all week.

Three ways to make it yours
Classic: cold brew + tonic + lemon. Clean, smooth, refreshing.
Fall twist: add a splash of apple cider and a cinnamon stick. It turns the tonic into a fall drink
without making it heavy.
Berry twist: a few fresh raspberries or a raspberry syrup drizzle for color and a little extra
sweetness.

Taste like a connoisseur
Pour your tonic, and pay attention before you stir:
Look: the dark cold brew should layer over the clear tonic before it starts to mix.
Smell: lemon first, then chocolate and caramel underneath.
Sip: smooth up front, bitter-sweet in the middle, clean at the finish. If it tastes flat, your tonic
was warm. Chill everything next time.

Ready to try it? Shop The Cold Brew Blend Coffee — 12 oz for $26, roasted to order.