Orange Coffee Soda
Some flavors are just meant for each other, and orange and coffee are two matches made in heaven. Orange Coffee Soda is the perfect drink for a hot summer day! It is bubbly and refreshing, yet still wonderfully bold coffee. Come along and find your new favorite summer coffee drink!
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Why Make Orange Coffee Soda?
Years ago in one of the cities we lived in for a time, my husband introduced me to this drink combination after he had tried it at a coffee shop. I had never heard of coffee with a carbonated drink and honestly thought it would be gross. Boy, was I wrong on that first sip! You get the flavor profiles of both orange and roasty coffee, yet, they also pair together and create a blended flavor that is unique and wonderful! It’s refreshing from the bubbly orange soda, and comforting from the dark coffee. It’s amazing. It’s weird…I know, but it is actually good.
You know on hot days when you want coffee but don’t want something heavy? And if you’re like me and don’t want black cold brew, then this is worth a try. It’s perfect for throwing together in a tumbler and hitting the streets for a festival on a warm day. The carbonation is just the right amount too, it’s not overly bubbly but just enough to keep it light. Enough carbonation for awkward burps that sneak up your throat making you sound like a drunk trucker instead of being the little wispy silent burp that you thought it would be.
Not All are Equal…
Now, I was on a trip recently and came across a coffee shop with ginger beer coffee. I thought this would be a good combo like the orange soda and coffee, but it was not. The ginger beer and coffee were reacting against each other so it kept foaming and overflowing like a shook-up pop can. It also was just spicy from the ginger and didn’t mix with the coffee flavor well at all. They were not friends at all. And I even like ginger. So…I advocate that not all sodas be mixed with coffee will work. I preach for orange soda and coffee. That’s the hill I stand on.
Choosing the Right Ingredients
Not all ingredients are created equal, and sometimes you really do require a nicer ingredient for rich flavor. For the orange soda, I’m not talking like Faygo or whatever off the pop shelf. I like to find a quality blood orange soda and sometimes you can find a large glass bottle of some with pulp in it too and that’s tasty. Today I found Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa in cans and I am very pleased with it mixed with the coffee. Whole Foods used to have (they might still carry it) their own 365 brand large glass bottle of blood orange soda, which was really good in this recipe. Sodas such as these taste way less sweet (in a good way for this recipe) and more pure in citrus flavor. So find yourself something good like this.
When it comes to coffee, you want something bold! Otherwise, the coffee flavor will be “watered” down by the soda and a few ice cubes. You have a few options for coffee here:
- You can use a cold brew. Make your own or pick up a bottle from the store.
- You can use leftover and cooled drip coffee that has had maybe an extra scoop added to the brew to make it bolder.
- Use cooled French press brew. French press is amazing coffee anyways with superior coffee flavor since it retains its natural coffee oils!
- Or even cooled espresso
How to Make Orange Coffee Soda
This is a matter of preference really so I feel wrong telling you exactly how to mix this drink. Depending on the strength of the coffee or how much orange over coffee flavor you prefer, will determine the amount of each that you put in the glass. I typically like a half/half ratio. Just to be safe, pour equal parts of each and leave room in the glass so you can taste and see if you’d like to add more orange soda, more coffee, or just fill it up the rest of the way with equal coffee/orange soda.
Pop a few ice cubes in the glass and you can call it a day! But if you feel fancy, then add an orange rind or mint leaves. You can make just one glass or a whole pitcher! This could easily replace an afternoon sweet tea on the porch with friends!
Enjoy!
I hope you try this concoction and love it like we do! It’s funky, it’s flavorful, and it’s sure to please! There’s nothing better than Orange Coffee Soda :). That’s debatable, I guess, but it’s still a rockin’ drink.
If you would like a great summer sandwich to pair with this drink, the Cape Fear Sandwich is a real winner!
Orange Coffee Soda
Ingredients
- Bold Coffee extra dark cooled drip coffee, chilled espresso, cold brew, or chilled french press brew
- Blood orange soda canned or large glass bottle. Look for a good quality soda and not one of the 2 liter plastic bottle types of pop
Instructions
- Start by filling a glass halfway with equal portions of soda and coffee. Taste and see if you would like more orange soda added, more coffee, or to fill up the glass with an equal ratio of both. Serve over ice and enjoy!
