Espresso Tonic Mocktail Recipe
A shot of espresso dropped onto iced tonic — the bitterness doubles instead of cancelling out.
- Category: Mocktail
- Glass: Highball glass
- ABV: 0%
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: ~3 min
- Alcohol-free: ✓
Ingredients
- Tonic water140 ml (4.7 oz)
- Espresso30 ml (1 oz)
- Simple syrup10 ml (0.3 oz)
How to Make It
- Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in the tonic water.
- Stir in the syrup.
- Pull the espresso and pour it slowly over the back of a spoon.
- Express orange zest over the glass.
Garnish
Orange zest
What it tastes like
It has a bitter backbone, there is roasted coffee in it, it is carbonated and it drinks cool and easy.
The technique
Built in the glass. Ice goes into the serving glass, the ingredients go on top, and you stir once if at all. Anything carbonated goes in LAST and never gets stirred; every turn of the spoon costs you bubbles. Fill the glass to the rim with ice: less ice melts faster, not slower.
Glass and ice
A tall, narrow highball. The narrowness does real work — less surface area means the carbonation lasts longer and the ice melts more slowly.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Tonic water
- Carbonated water made bitter by quinine — that is what separates it from soda. Sugar content varies up to twofold between brands, and that directly sets how sweet the drink lands.
- Espresso
- Freshly pulled espresso. Cold coffee will not foam — the crema on top of an espresso martini comes from hot espresso hitting ice in the shaker.
- Simple syrup
- One part sugar to one part water, stirred until it dissolves — no need to boil it. Keeps a month in the fridge. No syrup? Use the same amount of honey, loosened with a little water.
The Story
Ordered in northern Italy long before speciality cafés elsewhere claimed it, and still the fastest way to see whether a café can pull a clean shot.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a Espresso Tonic mixed?
- It is built in the glass and served in a highball glass.
- Does a Espresso Tonic contain alcohol?
- No. It is safe to serve to children, to anyone pregnant, and to whoever is driving.
- Is a Espresso Tonic hard to make?
- Easy. No bar kit required — a measure, ice and a jar will do.
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Alcoholic drink recipes are intended for those aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.