Iced coffee, in the right order
Scandinavia·Lighter version available

Espresso tonic

Bitter, citric, absurdly refreshing

Works best with a bright, fruity, light-roast coffee. On a dark chocolatey roast it turns ashy.

Tall glass
Tonic
150 ml
Espresso
1 shot
Glass
Highball
Servings
1

Ingredients

  • tonic water, very cold150 ml
  • espresso36 ml
  • ice150 g
  • orange or lime1 wedge

Method

1

Ice, then tonic

Pour tonic down the side of the glass to keep the carbonation.

2

Rest 20 seconds

Let the foam settle or the espresso will make it erupt.

3

Pour espresso over a spoon

Slow, over the back of a spoon, so it sits in a dark band on top. Serve unstirred with the citrus.

Notes

  • Add 5 ml of syrup if your tonic is a dry one — a little sugar bridges the coffee and the quinine.

Lighter version

Sparkling water instead of tonic removes all the sugar and most of the bitterness. It becomes an espresso soda: cleaner, sharper, and it needs a bright light-roast to carry it.

What you need

  • Espresso machine (pump) or Lever / piston machine or Moka pot