Today we’re taking on a very particular recipe – cold brew orange tonic recipe.
As you may know, cold brew has been making waves in recent years. It is a very good alternative to both espresso and brewed coffee as it has a very palatable taste that isn’t nearly as bitter as that of espresso and it isn’t as watered down as that of brewed coffee.
Plus, cold brew makes for a very refreshing drink that just can’t be compared to iced coffee; iced coffee can’t be put in a can, like it happens with cold brew, because the taste will dilute. Cold brew is in many ways the ultimate convenient coffee.
But of course, as coffee lovers, we’re never content. And that’s how a recipe as unique as the Cold Brew Orange Tonic came about.
Although this recipe has been around for a while, it was launched into popularity thanks to Starbucks. They came up with a very interesting cold brew orange tonic recipe that was able to captivate the hearts of many coffee lovers and make a name for itself, therefore reviving this drink which had been neglected for a long time.
What is Cold Brew Orange Tonic?
We already know what cold brew is. It is regular coffee that has been brewed using cold or room temperature water. This brewing process takes a lot longer because of the absence of high temperatures; it can take up to 24 hours. This also helps draw out a lot of flavors that otherwise you wouldn’t get in other types of coffee.
Orange tonic is, well, orange tonic. It is fizzy, orange-flavored water.
It might sound like a very weird combination, but it actually makes a lot of sense.
Orange after all is a notable companion in many chocolate recipes because of how its tanginess and sweetness fit so perfectly with the flavor of chocolate. And the flavor profile of coffee, after all, isn’t so far apart from that of chocolate.
Cold brew orange tonic Recipe
This is a recipe featuring the Starbucks product Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee Pitcher—these are filtered coffee pouches that you can submerge in a pitcher of water and it will brew cold brew for you.
No need to procure the coffee yourself, sift it, or even measure it. These pouches are truly one of the most convenient and best ways of making cold brew out there. You can easily get them at a Starbucks or online.
This recipe may take a little more effort than some other recipes—because it is so different, it takes different skills than you’re used to making coffee. If you’re used to making cocktails and such, then this recipe surely won’t pose a challenge for you.
Ingredients
- Two Coffee Pitcher packs
- 1080ml water
- 80ml orange juice
- 120 grams white sugar
- 1 tablespoon crushed cardamom pods
- Orange zest
Instructions
- First, make the cold brew. Drop two pouches into a pitcher full of water; you should use around 1000ml of water for this. The leftover 80ml we’re going to use for something else.
- After around twelve hours have passed, your cold brew should be done. Take it out of the fridge and discard the coffee packs.
- In a saucepan, mix all the other ingredients: the water, zest (of just one small orange, maybe less), sugar, cardamom and orange juice.
- Bring to a gentle boil while you stir, then turn the heat off immediately. We want the sugar to dissolve, not burn.
- Now strain it out with a fine metal strainer and into a separate glass.
- Fill a glass with ice, a slice of lemon, and cold brew.
- Add orange tonic to taste.
- Sweeten if desired.
- Enjoy!
As you can see—and taste-—this is a very complex drink both to prepare and in flavor. It has a very distinguished flavor that reminds you of a very sophisticated cocktail or something along those lines. Making it might be a little bit of trouble but it definitely feels worth the trouble all the way.
FAQs
Is the cold brew orange tonic an alcoholic drink?
No, it isn’t.
The name might seem like it is a cocktail, and it probably takes some inspiration in cocktails, but this recipe has no alcohol whatsoever.
That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t! If you want, you can definitely add alcohol to this recipe to add a little bit of punch.
Some of the obvious options are brandy, for example, or coffee liquor. Brandy has a naturally sweet flavor that is very popular for coffee-containing cocktails and coffee liqueur has a very similar flavor to coffee, so it’s the perfect ingredient that won’t mess with the flavor of your drink too much.
Can I make it using homemade cold brew?
Yes!
Making cold brew at home is rather satisfying and, quite frankly, much cheaper than it is to buy the Starbucks-issued cold brew packets.
What you have to keep in mind if you’re making cold brew at home is that the cold brew required for this recipe is supposed to be a concentrate, that is, a very concentrated version of cold brew that feels much like espresso.
Whatever water ratio you’re using, it’s probably best that you go down to 1:1. It might seem like too much coffee, but that’s the best you can do for the flavor of your tonic. After all, you’re really only using a small amount of cold brew per glass.
Should I use sparkling water?
Some recipes for this particular beverage have sparkling water in them, even though the popular Starbucks version does not.
That means that the recipe is quite versatile and the flavor of it does not depend entirely on the water being sparkling or not; you can decide for yourself what kind of water fits your taste best.
To make a more informed decision, you should try making this recipe both with regular water and sparkling water and see which one tastes better for you. It might be a little tricky to make cold brew with sparkling water, though!