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Recipe

Cold Brew Tonic Recipe

Cold Brew Tonic is our favorite refreshing drink for the summer. The bitterness of the tonic water surprisingly harmonizes well with the full-bodied cold brew and is particularly well-suited for enjoyment by the water. We'll show you how to make the drink and achieve the layering effect: the clear layered effect with tonic water at the bottom and cold brew on top.

Joscha Gewinner
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Cold Brew Tonic Rezept

At a glance

Time18–24 hours EffortLong steep Caffeine42 mg CategoryIced coffee

Ingredients for 4 glasses

Coffee beans (Filter roast)24 g
Water (cold)240 ml
Ice cube(s)to taste
Tonic Water (120 ml per glass)480 ml
Orange slice (per glass)1

Caffeine and nutrition

Caffeine42 mg
Energy164 kcal
Fat0.0 g
Carbohydrates10.0 g
Protein0.0 g

Values per glass.

What You Need for a Cold Brew Coffee Tonic

Metal filter
Metal filter
Cold Brew Jar
Cold Brew Jar
Grinder
Grinder
Coffee Scale
Coffee Scale

The most important ingredient for a cold brew tonic is, of course, the cold brew itself. Since we want to prepare it fresh, you will need a fine filter and a container, which we call a cold brew jar. We grind the coffee fresh and use a controlled coffee-to-water ratio. That is why a coffee grinder and a coffee scale are essential pieces of equipment.

Method

How to make a Cold Brew Tonic

01 Der Kaffee für den Cold Brew Tonic wird im Strandkorb neben dem Beanwatch SUP Board von unserer Barista Lady gemahlen

Grind coarsely and steep

For this cold brew tonic, we use a stronger concentration than in our classic cold brew recipe to ensure the coffee flavour remains prominent once mixed with tonic water. We therefore use a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:10.

We use freshly roasted coffee beans that are intended for filter coffee brewing. Fruity coffees that have undergone controlled fermentation shortly after harvest work particularly well for cold brew.

For cold brew, we grind the coffee slightly coarser than for a French press. The grind size should be somewhere between coarse sea salt and brown sugar.

Place the ground coffee into the metal filter and insert it into the cold brew jar. If you do not have a metal filter, add the grounds directly to the carafe and filter the brew through a paper filter after steeping.

For the cold brew concentrate, we use a coarse grind size.

02 Das Cold Brew Konzentrat wird luftdicht verschlossen und zwischen 18 und 24 Stunden im Kühlschrank aufbewahrt.

Into the fridge overnight

Seal the cold brew jar tightly and let the mixture steep in the refrigerator for 18 to 24 hours.

The mixture is sealed airtight and stored in the refrigerator for 18 to 24 hours.

03 Die Cold Brew Mischung wird mit der Chemex gefiltert.

Filter and bottle

Remove the cold brew jar from the refrigerator once the steeping time is complete. Let the metal filter with the coffee grounds drain over the jar, then remove it. Do not pour the used coffee grounds down the sink. Dispose of them in the bin instead.

If you prepared the brew without a filter in the jar, carefully pour the mixture through a paper filter using your filter coffee setup, for example a Hario V60. Be patient, as the fine particles may clog the filter. Gentle stirring can help.

If you do not have a metal filter, you can filter the cold brew mixture through a Chemex after the steeping time.

04 Unsere Beanwatch Barista giesst vorsichtig das Cold Brew Konzentrat in das Tonic Glas mit Eiswürfeln.

Layer with tonic and orange

To achieve a beautiful layering effect in the glass, the order of the ingredients is important. Start by adding the ice cubes. Then pour 120 ml of tonic water into the glass, using your coffee scale for accuracy. Next, carefully add 60 ml of your cold brew concentrate. If the tonic water and cold brew do not mix, or only mix slightly, you have done it correctly. To balance the bitterness of the tonic water, add a slice of orange as a contrasting flavour note.

Carefully pour the cold brew concentrate into the glass with the tonic water to preserve the layering effect.

Variations

  • With rosemary or basil: a sprig in the glass lifts the citrus notes.
  • Stronger: raise the ratio of cold brew to tonic to 1:1.
  • Without tonic: cold brew neat over ice, with a slice of orange.
Per serving

Caffeine and nutrition

42 mg Caffeine
164 kcal Energy
0.0 g Fat
10.0 g Carbohydrates
0.0 g Protein

Values per glass.

Frequently asked questions

What is tonic water?
Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink made from water, sugar, acids, and quinine. Quinine is a substance derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, which grows in the mountainous regions of Central and South America. Tonic water was originally used as a malaria preventative before modern synthetic medicines became available.
Can you drink cold brew tonic during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, it is generally recommended to avoid tonic water and drinks containing tonic water, including cold brew tonic. Tonic water contains quinine, which may pose risks during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor or healthcare professional before consuming tonic water or beverages that contain it.
Which tonic water is best for cold brew?

Popular choices include Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water and Thomas Henry Tonic Water. Both offer a clean, balanced flavour profile with a pleasant bitterness.

We have also had good results with Apéritif Tonic Water, a private-label tonic available from Migros. Another Swiss option is Swiss Mountain Spring Dry Tonic. Originally a Swiss brand, Schweppes is now owned by an international company, but its Indian Tonic and sugar-free Indian Tonic Zero also work well in a cold brew tonic.

Does cold brew tonic contain sugar?

In most cases, cold brew tonic contains sugar because tonic water contains sugar. Depending on the brand, tonic water typically contains between 8 and 10 g of sugar per 100 ml. Reduced-calorie versions can contain as little as 4 g per 100 ml.

Today, most tonic water brands also offer sugar-free alternatives, usually labelled with the word “Zero” in the product name.

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