A coffee drink that has become more common on coffee shop menus in recent years still regularly causes confusion - what exactly is an espresso tonic?
Espresso tonic is a refreshing and cold coffee drink that has gained international popularity, combining dry and citrusy carbonated tonic water with a full-bodied and strong espresso. The drink is served with ice and garnished with a citrus slice. This drink is perfect for a sunny terrace to enjoy with good company.
The history of Espressotonic begins in our neighboring Sweden, more precisely in Helsingborg, with the opening of the Koppi Roasters café in 2007. One of Koppi's founders, Anna Lunell , told European Coffee Trip that they had tasted the drink themselves, prepared by a coworker after a staff refreshment day. It had been surprisingly refreshing, and when they opened their own café in Helsingborg, the Kaffe & Tonic drink found itself on the café's menus.
Espresso tonic charms with its freshness
Lehmus Roastery noticed the popularity of espresso tonic at the 2022 Flow festival, where we sold it alongside the traditional iced latte. Towards the end of the summer, the drink also started gaining popularity on our café menu, and since then, its popularity has doubled every year.
The trendy espresso tonic is a good competitor to the traditional iced latte. In addition to its slightly fresher and more acidic taste, the drink is visually beautiful and picturesque.
Tonic water is perfectly paired with our light-roasted and fresh coffee Myllysaari , which has aromas of stone fruit and black tea. Another good option is dark Sammonlahti , which is our dark-roasted espresso. For those who make espresso drinks at home, this is definitely a summer drink worth trying. Espresso tonic is easy and quick to make, and you only need two ingredients.
Remember to pour the espresso only after the ice and tonic water are added, otherwise the ingredients will react with each other and foam up a lot.
If you don't have an espresso machine, you can make regular filter coffee into an espresso-imitating drink by either doubling the amount of coffee powder compared to normal, or if you have a grinder, grind the coffee as finely as possible and extract the normal amount.
You can also use an Aeropress to make a suitable shot of coffee, but we still recommend a finer grind than usual.
Espresso tonic recipe:
- Double shot of espresso
- High-quality tonic water if you want to get high. Regular store-bought Schweppes will also work if needed.
- Ice cubes
- Orange slice for decoration
Manufacturing:
1. Fill a glass with ice and pour tonic water over it, leaving room for the espresso. This will cool the tonic water and allow the largest carbon dioxide to settle.
2. Drain the espresso and carefully pour it over the ice and tonic water
3. Stir gently, being careful not to over-boil the drink. Garnish with an orange slice. Take a picture for social media.
4. Enjoy!