Coffee with tonic water (often called a “coffee tonic”) is one of those surprisingly good combinations—bright, refreshing, and slightly bitter in a really clean way. It’s especially good with lighter roast beans (which I know you’d appreciate with Bay Beans).
Here’s a simple, café-quality version you can do at home:
☕️ Coffee Tonic (Simple Recipe)
Ingredients:
Method:
What you’re aiming for:
A few pro tips (worth it):
Here’s a simple, café-quality version you can do at home:
☕️ Coffee Tonic (Simple Recipe)
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso (or ~30–40 ml strong coffee)
- 150–200 ml chilled tonic water
- Ice
- Optional: slice of orange or lemon
Method:
- Fill a glass with ice
Use plenty—this is a cold, refreshing drink. - Pour in the tonic water first
This helps keep the layers clean and preserves carbonation. - Slowly pour the espresso over the top
Pour gently over the back of a spoon if you want that nice layered effect. - Add garnish (optional)
A thin slice of orange works really well—it lifts the citrus notes in the coffee.
What you’re aiming for:
- Top layer: rich espresso crema
- Bottom: fizzy, slightly sweet tonic
- Taste: crisp, lightly bitter, citrusy, super refreshing
A few pro tips (worth it):
- Use a lighter roast with fruity notes (Ethiopian-style profiles are perfect)
- Make sure the tonic is really cold—warm tonic kills the experience
- Don’t stir until you’re ready to drink—let it look good first
- If it tastes too bitter, try a tonic like Fever-Tree or Schweppes that has a bit more sweetness
