Made with freshly brewed espresso, sugar, and club soda this Refreshing Espresso Soda is the solid pick-us-up at any time of the day. The love child of an espresso coffee and throwback soda shop cola, it's sweet, crisp, and bubbly. If you ever tasted the original coffee soda- Manhattan Special, then you will love this easy homemade version.

Espresso soda in a glass just poured with foam dripping down.

If you know us, you know we hate coffee. We know, we know, but we do love all the coffee-flavored things. And this one counts! As does our good espresso panna cotta. Why- because when you mix espresso with sugar and bubbles, well, that, our friends, is a treat!

If you grew up on the East Coast, anywhere near New York City, you may have heard of the Brooklyn-made coffee soda beverage Manhattan Special. The original may be the King of coffee sodas, but ours is a close second. It's sweet and crisp, with a toasty molasses flavor. And of course, it's full of coffee goodness.

Nowadays, Manhattan Specials are hard to find in supermarkets, but you might get lucky at a small bodega or specialty shop. Of course, they are readily available on Amazon and other retailers. But we say skip the delivery and make your own. Only 3 ingredients and completely customizable!

Key ingredients

According to its ingredient list, a Manhattan Special contains pure coffee, carbonated water, sugar, caramel color, and preservatives. For our refreshing espresso soda, we skip the artificial colors and preservatives and opt for pure espresso and club soda for carbonation.

Espresso soda in a glass with a red straw on top of a blue surface.

Freshly brewed espresso You can certainly use regular coffee too. If caffeine is not your thing, make it decaf.
Simple syrup we make our simple syrup with brown sugar to mimic the caramel color, while adding a hint of molasses flavor.
Club soda You can also use plain seltzer.
Ice Gotta keep it cold!
Milk Optional.

See recipe card for quantities.

This espresso coffee soda is as easy as 1-2-3!

Step 1. Fill a tall glass with ice.

Homemade espresso soda next to a Manhattan Special drink.

Step 2. Add the chilled espresso and sugar syrup, then top it off with club soda.

*These are abbreviated instructions. The full list of directions is located in the recipe card below.

Expert tip

Make sure your espresso and syrup are fully chilled before making the drink- you don't want to melt the ice.

Swaps

Feel free to adjust the amount of coffee, sugar, and club soda to your liking. If you want to mix it up, try these coffee-boosting ideas!

Add a splash of vanilla extract for a true nostalgic flavor.
Instead of espresso or regular coffee, opt for a cold brew.
Swap out the club soda or seltzer for Coca-Cola to make a Fat American (Americola). If you do, adjust the amount of sugar syrup, or you may get a cavity even looking at it!
Make it boozy! Add a splash of Sambuca liquor and make an Espresso Corretto.
Add a splash of milk, half and half, or even cold foam on top.

A clear glass of espresso soda on a blue surface.

Storage and make-ahead

You can make the espresso coffee in advance and store it in a glass container for up to 3 days. Making the simple syrup ahead of time will also make this drink a breeze when the mood strikes you. When you are ready to make your drink, grab your chilled espresso and sugar syrup and add the remaining ingredients.

Kitchen questions

What does an espresso soda taste like?

Espresso soda has a deep, sweet, syrupy taste that's crisp and refreshing. It's reminiscent of a soda shop cola, but with a moderate coffee flavor.

Pairing

These are our favorite dishes to serve with our espresso soda!

Ingredients

Makes 1

¼ cup freshly brewed espresso coffee
ice
3 tbsp brown sugar simple syrup (*recipe below)
¼-½ cup club soda
milk or half and half ((optional))

Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

½ cup dark brown sugar
½ cup water

Equipment

coffee maker
small pot

Method

Brew your coffee as per your coffee maker's instructions. You will need about ¼ cup. Place in a glass container and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Prepare the drink. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add espresso, 3 tbsp sugar syrup, and stir. Top with club soda, give it another quick stir, and drink immediately. Adjust with more sugar if needed. Top with milk if desired.

Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

In a small pot, combine the brown sugar and water. Cook on medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool in the fridge at least 30 minutes.