Five Takes on the Coffee & Tonic

August 17, 2021

Espresso Tonic mocktail recipes — Espresso Tonic | Photo by Chelsea Laine Francis

Coffee Gin & Tonic — Honeyed Coffee G&T | Photo by Emma Janzen

Koffie & Tonic. | Photo courtesy of ATLAS.

Mocktail recipes — Coffee Tonic: The High Road | Photo by Noah Fecks

The Not So Late Night Tonic cocktail — Not So Late Night Tonic. | Photo by Bradley Tuck.

When tonic water and coffee first met in the glass, an instant café classic was born. Since then, baristas and bartenders have widely embraced the combination, often tweaking the formula, whether it’s choosing a specific type of coffee, incorporating citrus, or taking things in a spirited direction by adding gin. Here are five favorite variations to try.

Espresso and Tonic Lime juice adds an extra pop of flavor to this highball.

Honeyed Coffee Gin & Tonic This recipe works well with many types of coffee and gin.

Koffie & Tonic Genever and orange flower water expand the horizons of the classic.

The High Road Grapefruit and ginger elevate this spirit-free mix.

No So Late Night Tonic This ultra-refreshing cocktail brings the best flavor of coffee to the glass without the caffeine.

Emma Janzen

Emma Janzen is a journalist, photographer, and book author. Her first book, Mezcal: The History, Craft and Cocktails of the World's Ultimate Artisanal Spirit, was nominated for a James Beard Foundation award in 2018; She co-authored The Way of the Cocktail with Kumiko owner Julia Momosé (2021), contributed to David Wondrich's The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails (2021), and is currently working on The Bartender's Manifesto with Toby Maloney of The Violet Hour (2022). Writing and editing from her home base in the Midwest, she prefers her mezcal neat, her martinis made with gin, and her champagne served in a coupe.