Cold Brew Tonic Recipe

This drink is the perfect choice to cool down a hot summer day! It is refreshing but still mature in its character.

You can also make this drink using a double shot of espresso instead of cold brew. It gives is a stronger and less refreshing taste. So that is up to you, what do you prefer?

The Tonic 

What’s essential making tonic and cold brew is 1) The ratio between cold brew and tonic, and 2) The quality of ingredients.

If you are die-hard cold brew fan, you tend to focus on the cold brew and not so much on the tonic. However, you will use double the amount of tonic for this recipe, so make sure to get a good one.

I know from my research that through taste test, Schweppes is often chosen as the winner. However, it’s maybe not seen as a premium brand. I suggest checking out Q Mixers and Fever-Tree as well.

I guess it all depends on your personal taste.

The Cold Brew

The cold brew I will use for this recipe is made from medium-dark roasted beans, which I grind to a coarse grind. Then, I let it brew for about 16hrs.

The ratio for brewing your coffee for cold brew tonic is important. You want to brew a concentrate instead of a drink ready cold brew.

Why? 

Because you don’t want your tonic and cold brew drink to be too watery. You are already adding tonic water, so you don’t need to have that much water for brewing the coffee.

1:4 (one to four) is the coffee-to-water ratio I would advise you to use. Adjust after personal taste and for what type of coffee beans you are using.

That is the basics, so let’s start with the recipe.

Step 1 – Brew the cold brew

Use whatever cold brewing device you prefer and brew the cold brew. If you are using whole beans, grind them to a coarse grind. These are the beans I recommend.

Use a high coffee-to-water ratio. Somewhere between 1:3 – 1:5. I would say 1:4 is a great start.

So, for every gram of coffee, you add to your cold brew maker, you will add 4grams water. For example, 50grams coffee, 200grams water. If you are only making one serving for this recipe, you will need about 15grams of coffee and 60grams of water.

Make sure all the coffee gets wet and let it brew for 12-24hrs.

Filter out the coffee.

*If you are buying your cold brew, make sure it is a concentrate and not drink ready cold brew.

If you want a more in-depth guide on how to cold brew, check out the cold brew coffee video guide here.

Step 2 – Make the cold brew tonic

Take a glass and add ice and 100ml tonic. You can use any tonic you like, for example, Q Mixers tonic water or a flavored tonic like Fever-Trees lemon tonic water. 

Then add 50ml of your freshly made cold brew concentrate on top.

Top with orange/lemon peel twist or serve your cold brew and tonic just as it is.

Enjoy!

Thank you for reading, and if you think any of your friends should try this recipe, please share. It would help them, but it would also help us a lot! You can use the share buttons to the left (or at the bottom if you are on your phone).

Ps. Don’t forget to join our Facebook group if you are a true cold brew lover! And, if you want to watch the YouTube version of this recipe, check it below or go to the DripBeans YouTube-channel.