Make Carbonated Coffee Drinks at Home: Bubbly Coffee Soda Recipes

A mesmerizing symphony of bubbles dancing through rich coffee flavors. That’s what happens when two beverage worlds collide in carbonated coffee drinks.

While this combo might sound like a contradiction, it’s not. It’s downright delicious and revolutionizing how we experience our daily brew. From nitro cold brew to espresso tonics, these effervescent drinks are more than a passing trend. Instead, they’ve become the poster child for nuanced coffee.

So without further delay, let’s get to learning more about these fizzy coffee drinks!

Overview: Carbonated Coffee Drinks

Carbonated coffee drinks represent a confluence of traditional coffee and modern innovation. These coffee and soda combos have significantly influenced the coffee industry. Espresso tonic, the most well-known, consists of espresso with tonic water. Others include nitro cold brew, coffee sodas and ready-to-drink, shelf-stable sparkling coffees.

From a technical perspective, these drinks have enabled us to understand how carbonation affects coffee’s flavor compounds. They’ve also helped coffee shops attract younger customers and appeal to those who prefer lighter brew options. Interestingly, these coffee and soda combos have also become a marker of third-wave coffee shops. They signal a coffee establishment’s willingness to experiment and innovate.

As a consequence, major brands like Starbucks and La Colombe have joined the bandwagon. So have independent coffee drink manufacturers like REBBL. They’ve come up with shelf-stable functional coffee and soda craft flavors with botanical elements. These drinks appeal not only to the health-conscious, but those seeking new taste experiences.

Sparkling Coffee: A Brief History

The journey of carbonated coffee drinks is a recent chapter in the history of coffee. The earliest mainstream innovation emerged in Sweden around 2007. Progressive coffee shops in the Scandinavian capital began serving kaffe tonic (espresso and tonic water).

But the real breakthrough came in 2013, when Portland’s Stumptown Coffee Roasters introduced nitro cold brew. They adapted beer-dispensing technology to infuse cold brew coffee with nitrogen gas. As a result, its creamy, cascading effect revolutionized iced coffee service.

However, Manhattan Special deserves a special historical mention. They’ve been producing an iced coffee soda since 1895. Though, I must say, their coffee creation was more akin to a coffee-flavored soft drink (much like Coca-Cola).

By the 2010s, espresso sodas had spread globally. The decade saw an explosion of ready-to-drink carbonated coffees around the world. In Japan, in particular, these coffee drinks really took off. Why? Partly due to Japanese coffee culture and its love of the unique and partly due to the Japanese’s obsession with brewing cold coffee. And let’s not forget their scorching summer season. On any given day, most Japanese people would rather reach for an iced coffee or cold-brewed coffee than a hot coffee.

Carbonated Coffee Recipe Ideas

It’s time to introduce the drinks that asked, “Why should sodas have all the fun?” Meet carbonated coffee drinks. These beverages occupy a curious space between coffee and cocktails.

To make your Italian coffee soda count, opt for high-quality soda water brands. Topo Chico and LaCroix are well-known for their neutral flavor and tight bubbles. Others like Perrier and San Pellegrino are famous for mild carbonation and a rich mineral taste. Another good option is Polar Seltzer, which boasts powerful carbonation.

Interestingly, the type of carbonated water you choose to make your fizzy coffee with also affects the taste. Sparkling water, or carbonated water, is one. It’s basically carbonated plain water with no added minerals. You’ll also find it on shelves as seltzer water.

Soda water is more of a general term and can refer to either sparkling water or club soda. Unlike sparkling water, club soda contains minerals like sodium bicarbonate, which gives it a distinctive salty taste.

Coffee Soda

Do you prefer your caffeine hot or cold, flat or bubbly? Why choose when you can have it all? A classic coffee and soda combo brings together the sophistication of espresso coffee (I’m using cold brew coffee here for a twist) with the playful effervescence of sparkling water.

What you end up with is a drink that’s both grown-up and giddy and absolutely refreshing to drink. Make sure to use a standalone grinder or your best coffee maker with grinder to grind your whole beans on a coarse setting first. 

Coffee Soda Recipe

So, how to make a coffee soda? For one serving of this carbonated coffee recipe, you’ll need:

Here’s how to make this delicious coffee soda:

Coffee with soda dances between rich and light, sweet and bitter, smooth and sparkling. This refreshing beverage is the ideal pick-me-up and cool-me-down for hot summer afternoons.

Sparkling Americano

Move over, James Bond – there’s a new sophisticated sparkler in town! And this one’s wearing coffee instead of a tuxedo!

The sparkling americano showcases Italian coffee culture in the best possible way. The strong espresso coffee and bubbly water go well together, creating an Italian coffee soda that sings on your palate.

Sparkling Americano Recipe

For one serving of a sparkling americano recipe, you’ll need:

Here’s how to make the magic happen:

This is one of the most balanced carbonated coffee drinks. It’s simultaneously bold and refreshing. The bubbles add a playful effervescence, the citrus lifts the entire experience and the coffee delivers the desired caffeine hit.

Best of all, this iced sparkling americano is sugar-free! But you could add a dash of maple syrup and/or vanilla extract to your sparkling water americano for subtle sweetness.

Sparkling Espresso

What happens when an espresso decides it wants to be champagne? Enter the sparkling espresso! This espresso with sparkling water combo proves that bubbles aren’t just for celebrations. And delightfully, this beverage is simultaneously sophisticated and playful!

Sparkling Espresso Recipe

To make one serving of an espresso soda recipe, you’ll need:

Here’s how to put it all together:

Sparkling water with espresso marries the intensity of a classic espresso with the lightness of carbonated water. The bubbles lift and brighten the coffee’s natural flavors, creating a refreshing yet complex taste experience. For a slightly bitter twist, why not make an espresso tonic? The quinine in the tonic water compliments the bitter notes in the coffee perfectly.

Coffeeness Signature Espresso Blend

High-quality beans through direct trade

Notes of Chocolate & Hazelnut

Easy on the stomach

Freshly roasted right in Brooklyn

Medium roast

Discover now

Final Thoughts on Carbonated Coffee Drinks

As I wrap up this effervescent journey through the world of carbonated coffee drinks, one thing is crystal clear: these innovative beverages aren’t a passing fad; they’re here to stay. They represent coffee’s remarkable ability to evolve, surprise and delight us.

And it doesn’t matter if you’re a purist or an “anything goes” coffee explorer. Each of these fizzy coffees offers something special.

So, as spring approaches and temperatures rise, why not bubble up your coffee habits? Elevate your taste buds to new heights with an iced coffee soda recipe!

Carbonated Coffee Drinks FAQ

Coffeeness Community Updates

Bleib informiert über die neuesten Testberichte, Blogbeiträge, Produkte und Videos auf Coffeeness.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email Layout Vorname

Vorname *

Email *

Absenden