Philly baristas are obsessed with espresso tonics — and you should be, too

Espresso tonics are the drink of the summer, according to Food & Wine. But I’ve been drinking them for years — and so have Philadelphians.

Aptly named, the iced drink is espresso poured over tonic water at its most basic, tasting like a refreshing coffee-flavored soda. But Philly baristas are experimenting with their offerings, adding flavoring agents to take the wonderful fizzy sipper to the next level. What makes espresso and tonic the perfect duo is the bright, crispy taste that plays up the notes of espresso while offering an effervescent, citrus-forward alternative to lattes or black coffee.

“It allows for a lot of creative variations within the flavor profiles,” said Kyle Horne, co-owner of Forin Cafe in East Kensington, who’s been serving the drink for the greater part of the year.

Playing with ingredients to create dynamic espresso tonics has been part of the culinary magic at Rival Bros. coffee shops since 2014. The inspiration to include fizzy espresso drinks on the menu comes from co-owner Jonathan Adams’ time as a line cook down the Shore. He and other back-of-house staff drank “brown bowls,” as they called them, quart containers filled with ice, Coke, and espresso (or French press cold brew).

“It was a poor man’s Red Bull,” he said.

The drink is also a light, refreshing pick-me-up, and a great substitute for an alcoholic cocktail, said Kelsey Bush, chef-owner of Bloomsday Cafe in Headhouse Square, who serves the drink like a spritz in a wine glass at Bloomsday. The espresso concoctions have been on the menu since the doors opened in 2019.

With coffee shops around town going beyond the basic cold brews and iced lattes, espresso tonics should be your caffeinated (and carbonated) drink of the summer. From citrus to cherry cola syrups, there’s a wide selection of twists and flavors to try. Here’s your guide to Philly’s espresso tonics.

At his red-brick coffee shop and market near Jefferson Square Park, co-owner Mat Falco has offered two shots of house blend espresso with international brand Fever-Tree tonic water and grapefruit-sage syrup since opening in 2017. You can also find the espresso tonic in its basic form or you can order one with fresh squeezed citrus, bitters, or seasonal syrups for $5.

📍1313 S. Third St., 🌐 hermanscoffee.com, 🕒 Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Co-owner Jonathan Adams named this offering after a song by the band Glasvegas. Described as “fun and pop-y,” the Geraldine espresso spritz ($5.25) features Fever-Tree sparkling pink grapefruit soda, a sage-heavy grapefruit simple syrup, and house-roasted espresso poured over the back of a Guinness spoon for a layered look. Topped with a lime wedge, the very pink drink ties the tannic taste and citrus-forward flavors of a classic tonic.

📍2400 Lombard St. and 1100 Tasker St., 🌐 rivalbros.com, 🕒 Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Espresso tonic drinks are a collaborative effort with the staff at Forin. Team member Gab Abramson came up with a strawberry peach espresso tonic made with real strawberries, simple syrup, and peach bitters, while Ren D’auria created one with chaga mushrooms, which tastes like birch beer or root beer. A version made with cascara (dried coffee cherries) can be found at the Frankford Avenue location, along with chaga. “We wanted to add something a little bit brighter and crisper,” said Horne. Strawberry peach is at Coral Street for $6 to $8, depending on size.

📍2525 Frankford Ave. and 2041 Coral St., 🌐 forincafe.com, 🕒 Tuesday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Step into the bright blue Portuguese cafe in Fishtown for a $5 espresso tonic. The custom blend of Elixr Coffee espresso brings bold notes of dark chocolate and cherry to the Fever-Tree tonic water for a refreshing punch of caffeine..

“It surprises me how many people will order the espresso tonic, just knowing from years for bartending how many people absolutely hate tonic water,” said Brian Mattera, co-owner of the cafe.

📍300 E. Girard Ave., 🌐 gildaphilly.com, 🕒 Monday and Wednesday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Craving an afternoon espresso, Chad Durkin found the perfect combination for an espresso tonic drink: two ounces of fresh grapefruit juice and a can of Spindrift sparkling water mixed with a two ounce pour of Greenstreet Coffee Co. Lupara blend espresso. With the help of general manager Jeff Carr, there’s an expansive menu of sparkling espressos with house-made syrups like yuzu ginger, masala chai, and butterscotch. All 16-ounce drinks are $6.

📍2204 Washington Ave., 📞 215-545-2939, 🌐 smallovenpastryshop.com, 🕒 Wednesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Inside the Divine Lorraine Hotel, an espresso tonic isn’t on the menu but it’s a popular requested item. For $6, Mr. Espresso (an Oakland, Calif., brand that roasts coffee over oak fire) is poured over tonic water with a house-made vanilla bean simple syrup for a rich, smoky, sweet drink — you can also get it spiked with amaro.

📍699 N. Broad St., 📞 267-886-9334, 🌐 cicalarestaurant.com, 🕒 Tuesday to Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 to 10:30 p.m., Sunday 5 to 9 p.m.

Fever-Tree tonic is the star of the corner coffee shop’s effervescent creations. For $5, the baristas pour the espresso to drip down the side of the cup of iced tonic water so that it floats, a classic espresso tonic.

Part of the spring menu, the Paddington ($5.50), espresso and club soda sweetened with house-made ginger mandarin marmalade and topped with a sprinkle of bee pollen, will be available till the end of June — the summer menu is still in the works, but general manager Emily Ganser says last year’s Capybara ($5.75), a yuzu lime variation, may return. There’s also a ginger beer and espresso ($5) drink offered regularly for those looking for a sweeter vibe.

📍701 S. Seventh St., 📞 215-925-3657, 🌐 heyrally.com, 🕒 Monday to Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mimicking the ones found in owner Joe Marro’s travels to Lake Como, the iced orange espresso spritz ($5) is a slightly sweet, citrusy pick-me-up of espresso and house-made orange syrup topped with sparkling water. The recipe for the drink at the East Kensington doughnut shop riffs an offering at Easy Luck cafe in Orlando, Fla., owned by Marro’s friend. Marro tweaks the orange extract ratio for a lighter hit of citrus.

📍 2557 Amber St., 📞 215-595-2557, 🌐 hellodonuts.shop, 🕒 Monday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

From West Philly to South Philly, espresso tonic is at its most basic for $4.50 at ReAnimator. The iced drink is made with house Keystone espresso, which offers an earthy, berry flavor, and Fever-Tree tonic water for the perfect balance of bitter and sweet with each sip.

Or try the cherry espresso cola ($5.50). Not quite an espresso tonic, the cola is made with a house-made cherry cola syrup, soda water, and house Keystone espresso, a crisp sipper that tastes like Cherry Coke with an extra shot of caffeine.

📍Multiple locations, 🌐 reanimatorcoffee.com

Co-owner Sawyer Beckley invented the Cloud Dancer, a summer favorite made of house espresso and tonic water with ginger beer and blueberry preserves. The refreshing, bubbly berry drink ($7), named after the brand’s official colors in the Pantone book, is finished with a little heavy cream and a sprig of mint.

📍11 W. Girard Ave., 📞 267-314-7903, 🌐 persimmoncoffee.com, 🕒 Monday to Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In a wine glass, you’ll find a double shot of Rival Bros. Whistle & Cuss blend poured over Fever-Tree tonic water for $7. The drink comes with a house-made nonalcoholic vermouth syrup, which is made of pomegranate juice and sugar infused with herbs found in vermouth. A sprig of mint or a peel of lemon sits atop this off-menu item during dinner hours and on the menu item at brunch.

📍414 S. Second St., 📞 267-319-8018, 🌐 bloomsdaycafe.com, 🕒 Dinner: Wednesday to Saturday 5 to 9 p.m.; Brunch: Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Just steps from the Italian Market, you can enjoy espresso tonics and a special iced coffee tonic for $5.50 each. The coffee tonic mixes tonic water and iced Ethiopian pour-over for a naturally fruity, floral flavor that’s heightened by the tonic’s effervescence. Traditional espresso tonics have been offered in past years — while they’re not on the menu, you can ask for one with either medium roasted, traditional tasting espresso or a light-roasted single origin espresso.

📍1001 S. 10th St., 📞 267 606-6734, 🌐 functioncoffeelabs.com, 🕒 Monday to Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.