Is there no end to the myriad ways people make their coffees summer-ready? Apparently not, as the latest cold coffee trend to hit our feeds is the espresso spritz.
It's sort of like a coffee tonic, a refreshing mix of espresso, tonic water and a squeeze of fresh orange or grapefruit, but boozy. In her video of an espresso spritz, cocktail expert and self-proclaimed CEO of Spritz Season Julianna McIntosh included tonic water, some Italian amaro, a splash of fresh orange juice and some fresh basil to garnish.
While coffee and fizzy water might not seem the most appealing combo, we have to admit that this recipe from Julianna sounds like our cup of tea (or coffee).
The idea isn't exactly new. Trendy bars and restaurants in Sweden started serving coffee tonics back in the early 2000s, with the drink eventually making its way to barista competitions like the World Barista Championships. Now, while you're not going to find an espresso spritz or coffee tonic in Starbucks, you might see it listed on your favourite stylish cocktail bar or cafe menu.
Spritzy coffee drinks have also made it onto coffee shop menus in the UK this summer, with Blank Street launching a Grapefruit Cold Brew Spritz as part of their latest menu refresh.
Jai Lott, VP Product at Blank Street says the inspiration behind their coffee spritz is an Australian "sparky," a drink where tonics and sparkling waters are topped with a shot of espresso.
"With the Aperol Spritz being the most searched for cocktail of 2022 - and sparkling water experiencing its own renaissance - it's no surprise that these bubbly new coffees are causing such a stir," says Jai. The fizz adds a whole other dimension to you coffee, he says.
The citrus element of these spritzes is also key, with Jai saying: "after extensive research, we finally settled on grapefruit thanks to its slightly tart but sweet profile which really allows the vanilla tasting notes in our cold brew to shine."
It's also true that it's not the first time a cold coffee drink involving orange or citrus juice has trended. Back in March 2022, people were drinking a full glass of OJ topped up with a shot of espresso. If the idea of sweet orange juice mixed with your favourite craft coffee makes you shudder, then perhaps the coffee tonic or espresso spritz is a more accessible cold coffee with a citrusy kick.
Since Julianna posted her video in May, food content creators and coffee lovers have been creating their own versions of the drink. In one video, food, lifestyle and travel influencer Callie Thorpe credited Julianna as the inspiration behind her own espresso spritz recipe, which involved ice, tonic water, a shot of espresso, some coffee liqueur and a squeeze of fresh orange.
We can see why this trend is so appealing. While an espresso martini involves a couple of bits of cocktail kit (a shaker and strainer for banishing those pesky glass shards) and a small amount of cocktail making skill (just the right amount of shaking to create that lovely foam) an espresso spritz only requires a glass and a little bit of stirring.