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This 2-Ingredient Espresso Tonic recipe pairs rich, freshly brewed espresso with sweet and bubbly tonic water for a refreshing and invigorating coffee recipe that’s a great way to cool off while getting a caffeine buzz! Garnish with a slice of citrus for an even brighter burst of flavor!
An espresso tonic tastes like a sip of sweet and subtle heaven. It’s a light and fizzy drink that packs the flavor punch and caffeine of freshly brewed espresso with the delightful citrus-scented sweetness of tonic water.
Ingredients for this recipe
- Espresso – Freshly brewed espresso from a machine, Moka pot, or instant espresso powder! I love my Nespresso machine and use it daily.
- Tonic Water – That sweet and bitter bubbly soft drink that’s so common in mixed drinks. You’ll be able to find a variety of brands in most grocery store soda or mixer aisles.
- Sweetener – This is totally optional but if you want even more sweetness than just what the tonic water provides, you can add a splash of simple syrup to the drink before serving.
- Citrus – I love garnishing this espresso tonic with a wedge of lemon or lime to highlight the citrus notes of the tonic.
Is tonic water the same as club soda?
In short: no
They’re both common mixers for drink recipes and mocktails, but they are not the same thing.
Tonic water is carbonated water that has quinine (and sometimes sweeteners) mixed into it.
Club soda, on the other hand, is just regular water that is manufactured to have carbonation added to it.
How to Make an Espresso Tonic
This is just a quick overview, find the full recipe below in the recipe card!
Play with Ratios
If you want more of a coffee flavor, try using two or three shots of espresso to top off your tonic water. You can also use less tonic water per one shot of espresso for a smaller drink overall.
Liquid Sweeteners are Best
If you’re going to be adding sweetener to your espresso tonic, it’s best to use a liquid sweetener such as simple syrup, honey, or agave. Granulated sugar and sweeteners will be harder to incorporate into the liquid.
A little lavender simple syrup would really send this coffee mocktail over the top! The floral note would compliment the citrus-y tonic so well!
Stirred, Not Shaken
When you pour the espresso on top of the tonic water and ice, give it a gentle stir to incorporate. But not too much!
And certainly don’t shake these together in a cocktail shaker. It's not a pumpkin spice espresso martini. The shaker will burst open and you'll have a mess everywhere. No one wants that!
Also, if the espresso is too hot, it will make the tonic foam like mad and you risk a huge spill over.
Other espresso drinks you might enjoy
- Iced Vanilla Latte
- Dirty Chai Latte
- Maple Latte
- Pistachio Latte
- Add a shot of espresso to my iced chai latte with pumpkin cream cold foam!
I sure hope you enjoy this simple, two ingredient espresso tonic recipe!
Watch the Recipe Video!
2 Ingredient Espresso Tonic
Equipment
- Espresso Maker optional
- Serving Glass
Ingredients
- 1 ounce espresso
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup (or other liquid sweetener), optional
- 6 ounces tonic water
- Lemon wedge, for serving
Instructions
- Brew your shot of espresso and set aside to cool slightly. If using a liquid sweetener, such as 1 teaspoon of simple syrup, stir it into the espresso now.
- Fill a serving glass with ice and add 6 ounces of tonic water. Pour espresso over top.
- Stir gently, garnish with a citrus wedge, and enjoy immediately!
Video
Notes
- Refer to post for recipe tips and substitutions!
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