Alcohol-free
Espresso Tonic
Cooled espresso and tonic make a crisp alcohol-free coffee drink. We use plain tonic, an option in Jacy Topps’s published recipe, and rounded metric measures.
Alcohol-free · Coffee · Bitter
Ingredients
- 45 ml Espresso (brewed and cooled)
- 150 ml Tonic water (0.0%) (choose a 0.0% alcohol product)
- 1 piece Lime (wedge, for garnish) (Optional)
Ice and water are assumed. Add everything else you have.
Method
Build
Equipment: Jigger or measuring spoon · Bar spoon
- Brew the espresso and let it cool. Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour in the cold tonic. Slowly add the measured espresso over the ice to control the foam.
- Add a lime wedge if desired. Stir gently before drinking if you prefer an even flavour.
A small detail
Build each glass when serving, as the foam and bubbles fade. Coffee contains caffeine; tonic is a soft drink, not an alcoholic bitter.
Estimated strength
Zero
What does this mean?
Per serving: ≈ 0% ABV · ≈ 0 g alcohol
An estimate, not a measurement. Dilution lowers concentration but does not remove alcohol. Check your bottle label. These typical alcohol levels can vary by brand and market.
Added water from ice: 10%. Water added as a percentage of the measured liquid before mixing. Ice melt varies with temperature, time and technique.
Assumes the mixers labelled alcohol-free are 0.0%. Check labels when traces matter.
Plan for a party
Mix individually
Fresh preparation makes the difference here. Use these totals to shop, then make each serving separately.
Guests: 6
Fresh preparation makes the difference here. Use these totals to shop, then make each serving separately.
One recipe serving per guest. Choose the amount you want to prepare.
Ingredients for the party
- 270 ml Espresso (brewed and cooled)
- 900 ml Tonic water (0.0%) (choose a 0.0% alcohol product)
Optional garnishes · Optional
- 6 pieces Lime (wedge, for garnish)
Water for the batch
No pre-added water. Chill the ingredients, build over fresh ice and add the cold sparkling mixer last, except where the original recipe specifies a different order.
Prepare and serve
- Prepare fresh juice close to serving and keep it chilled separately unless it is explicitly in the base. Fresh batches are for this service, not an overnight storage promise.
- Keep fizzy drinks cold and closed until pouring. Add them per glass; never shake or blend them.
The list saves ingredient names, not party quantities. Check the totals above against how much you have. Garnishes and ice are not added.
Bartender sources: Campari Academy: batching techniques · Dave Arnold: measuring dilution and batching · Simon Difford: water and dilution · Jeffrey Morgenthaler: batch calculator
Sources & inspiration
About this recipe
Recipes and house adaptations have source links. Measures, substitutions and estimated strength are explained separately. Images are AI-generated illustrations.
We do not claim every recipe has been physically tested. Community reviews are moderated user reports, separate from recipe sources.
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