Coffee is always a treat! And this Coffee Soda is no different. Mix cold-brew coffee with a homemade vanilla simple syrup and sparkling water for a refreshing beverage!
About this Coffee Soda recipe
I’m always, always, always in the mood for coffee. I prefer it hot in the morning and iced in the afternoon. Because I work from home, I try to get out to a coffee shop (at least) one day a week for a change of scenery. And, once a week, I treat myself to a fancy coffee from a local coffee shop.
I just love how versatile coffee is — it’s perfect for lattes, cold brewed, on its own, with ice cream, blended into a smoothie… Even mixed into soda!
Coffee soda is a cold beverage of coffee mixed with club soda. Oftentimes coffee shops will add flavored syrups like caramel syrup or cinnamon syrup to add some extra pizzazz. It’s more along the lines of root beer, but coffee-flavored. And you can tweak it to taste how you like it!
I’ve loved making my coffee sodas ever since I tried one at a fancy coffee shop years ago. (One of those special treats!) Fizzy and dark, coffee sodas are a totally different way to enjoy an iced coffee. They’re similar to an Italian soda, but they’re not fruity.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Lighter than a coffeehouse drink. This refreshing coffee soda skips the heavy cream and syrups you’d find in store-bought beverages. It’s made with simple ingredients: just cold brew, sparkling water, and a splash of homemade syrup.
- Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. Once the cold brew is made, it comes together in minutes, no espresso machine * required. Just mix and sip!
- Fun and unexpected for guests. With its bubbly texture and smooth coffee flavor, this drink feels a little fancy. Your friends will be intrigued and delighted!
Tools & glassware
You’ll need just a few tools to make this coffee soda. Grab a saucepan to heat your vanilla syrup, and a fine-mesh strainer * to catch any solids for a smooth finish.
Once your syrup is ready, transfer it to an airtight container for storage. Mason jars work great for this. When it’s time to serve, reach for a highball glass * and a reusable straw to enjoy your fizzy, caffeinated drink!
Ingredients
Here’s your ingredient list for this Coffee Soda recipe — everything should be easy to find, or you can make it from scratch.
- Cold brew coffee: Use homemade or store-bought cold brew. Make sure it’s chilled before adding. If using homemade, cold brew is less bitter and smoother when made with a coarse grind! Filtered water is ideal to let the coffee flavor shine.
- Vanilla syrup: Homemade vanilla syrup takes this up a notch — use as much or as little as you like, depending on how sweet you want the drink. To make it, you’ll need sugar, water and some kind of vanilla. Granulated white sugar dissolves easily and sweetens the syrup without adding any additional flavor. A teaspoon of vanilla extract * adds warm, sweet flavor.
- Club soda: Adds fizz and lightness. Use plain sparkling water or seltzer if that’s what you have.
Substitutions & variations: You can use cooled hot coffee, if you prefer. For the syrup, you can use vanilla bean paste * or a split vanilla bean * if you prefer. Coffee soda can also be delicious with other flavored syrups. I love this cinnamon dolce syrup, but you could also try pumpkin spice syrup or gingerbread syrup.
Instructions
To make this Coffee Soda, I brewed coffee overnight to make cold-brew coffee. This lets the smooth, bold flavors of my favorite medium-dark blend come through in spades.
Bubbly and flavorful, this lightened soda features cold-brewed coffee and a homemade vanilla syrup, plus a splash of unflavored sparkling water. (You can also use a cinnamon vanilla syrup for a little more spice.)
Mixed together over ice, it becomes a refreshing, iced beverage with a kick of caffeine.
Tips & tricks
- Use coarse grounds for cold brew. A coarser grind prevents over-extraction and helps keep your coffee smooth and less bitter!
- Let the cold brew steep long enough. Aim for 12–24 hours in the fridge for the best flavor. Don’t rush it! Under-steeped coffee can taste weak or unpleasant.
- Add syrup before the soda. Mixing the vanilla syrup with the cold brew first helps it dissolve evenly. Add the sparkling water last to preserve those bubbles.
Food pairings
This is definitely a beverage I’ll be sipping on all summer long. Try it paired with:
- Sweet breakfast items: French toast casserole or blueberry muffins are some of my favorites!
- Savory brunch: I love having a coffee soda paired with a warm quiche.
- An afternoon pastry: For a savory treat, make these bruschetta pinwheels. If you’re looking for something sweet, I recommend this easy pumpkin bread.
FAQ
Yes! If you don’t have time to make your own, bottled cold brew concentrate or ready-to-drink cold brew works just fine. Just be sure to adjust the amount if using a concentrate.
Not really! Plain club soda or unflavored sparkling water both work well. If you prefer a flavored version, stick with something subtle like vanilla or citrus that won’t overpower the coffee.
You can mix the cold brew and vanilla syrup in advance, but wait to add the club soda until just before serving so it stays fizzy.
More iced coffee recipes
- Try iced Irish coffee or a classic Irish coffee.
- The coffee old-fashioned cocktail is made with coffee liqueur.
- Enjoy a Boozy Coffee Kahlua Coke Float with your favorite ice cream.
- Make whipped coffee, a creamy foamy, frothy coffee drink.
Coffee Soda
ingredients
For the cold brew coffee
- ⅓ cup ground coffee
- ½ cups water
For the vanilla simple syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the coffee soda
- 1 ounce vanilla syrup to taste
- ½ cup cold brew coffee
- 3-4 ounces club soda
instructions
- In an airtight container, mix coffee and water. Refrigerate for 12 hours.1/3 cup ground coffee, 1/2 cups water
- Strain coffee twice through a coffee filter or a fine-mesh strainer *.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together water and sugar until dissolved. Bring to a simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Let cool entirely, then stir in vanilla. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
- In a tall glass filled with ice, mix vanilla simple syrup and cold brew coffee. Top with club soda. Garnish with a straw.1 ounce vanilla syrup, 1/2 cup cold brew coffee, 3-4 ounces club soda
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cathy says
What an amazing idea to create coffee soda! I have to try this recipe out! {client}
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