Cold Brew Tonic
Rich cold brew coffee floated over tonic water and orange — bitter, aromatic, and surprisingly clean.

Base
none
Glassware
Rocks glass
Flavor Profile
bitterrefreshingearthy
Ingredients
- 2 oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- 4 oz tonic water
- 2 drops orange bitters
- Orange twist, to garnish
Instructions
- 1Fill a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
- 2Pour tonic water into the glass first — this keeps the fizz alive.
- 3Slowly pour cold brew over the back of a spoon so it floats on top.
- 4Add orange bitters and garnish with an orange twist.
Origin & Story
Scandinavia, 2010s
The coffee tonic was pioneered by Scandinavian specialty coffee shops in the early 2010s, who discovered that tonic water's bitterness and carbonation could lift and frame coffee's own aromas the way it does gin's botanicals. A deceptively simple drink with more complexity than its two ingredients suggest.
Compare with similar cocktails
Cold Brew Tonic vs Hibiscus Iced CoolerCold Brew Tonic vs Sparkling Rooibos SangriaCold Brew Tonic vs Fig Honey Fizz
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