Sparkling Mint Cold Brew
This drink is a delightful twist on iced coffee, perfect for a warm day. The smooth, low-acid profile of cold brew coffee is brightened by the cool essence of fresh mint. Topped with sparkling water, it becomes an effervescent and invigorating beverage that's both simple and elegant. It's a fantastic alcohol-free alternative to a coffee cocktail.
Preparation
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Preparation time
Difficulty
Drink Classification
This beverage is categorized as an iced coffee drink due to its core ingredients. Because it is non-alcoholic and presented in a cocktail-like fashion, it also fits comfortably within the mocktail or coffee spritzer category, representing a modern approach to specialty coffee preparations.
Serving
Served cold over ice in a tall Highball or Collins glass, this is a refreshing and completely non-alcoholic beverage.
Serving size
300-360 ml / 10-12 oz
Alcohol content
0% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Highball
Glass treatment
None
Backstory
This style of drink emerged from the third-wave coffee movement, where baristas began experimenting with coffee as a base for complex, cocktail-like beverages. The trend of combining coffee with herbs and carbonation, popularized by drinks like the espresso tonic, paved the way for creative variations. This mint-infused cold brew spritzer is a modern creation focused on highlighting the nuanced flavors of quality coffee in a refreshing, non-alcoholic format.
Origin
A modern creation from the 2010s, originating from the specialty coffee shop culture in North America and Europe. It doesn't have a single inventor but evolved from the trend of crafting sophisticated non-alcoholic coffee beverages.
Sparkling Mint Cold Brew
The drink's name, Sparkling Mint Cold Brew, is straightforward and descriptive. Alternative names like Cold Brew Mint Spritzer or Mint Coffee Soda emphasize its fizzy, refreshing nature, highlighting either the spritzer style or its similarity to a craft soda.
Original name
Sparkling Mint Cold Brew
Alternative names
- Cold Brew Mint Spritzer
- Mint Coffee Soda
Characteristics overview
This drink offers a refreshing flavor profile where the boldness of coffee meets cool mint, complemented by a light, bubbly texture. Its crisp and clean aftertaste makes it an ideal choice for a summer day.
Flavor
Coffee, minty, refreshing, slightly sweet, crisp
Aroma
Coffee, fresh mint
Taste balance
Balanced, slightly bitter, slightly sweet
Aftertaste
Clean, refreshing, lingering mint
Fizziness
Bubbly, effervescent
Color appearance
Dark brown, translucent, layered
Texture
Light, crisp, fizzy
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery
Flavor intensity & Experience
The flavor intensity is moderate, with a pleasant balance between the coffee's bitterness and the syrup's sweetness, all elevated by lively carbonation. Being alcohol-free, it is not strong and lacks any creamy, salty, or spicy notes.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation
Ingredients
The core components for this drink are cold brew coffee concentrate, mint syrup, and sparkling water. It is built over ice directly in the serving glass.
- Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate90 ml / 3 ozUse a smooth, low-acid cold brew concentrate for best results. The ratio to water should be around 1:1.
- Mint Syrup15-30 ml / 0.5-1 ozCan be store-bought or homemade. Adjust quantity to your desired sweetness level.
- Sparkling Water120-150 ml / 4-5 oz, to topUse a neutral, highly carbonated sparkling water or club soda.
- IceEnough to fill the glassUse clear, fresh ice cubes.
Ice type
- Cubed
Mixing equipments
No special equipment is needed beyond a tall glass and a bar spoon for a gentle stir to combine the ingredients.
- Bar spoon: for gently stirring the drink once assembled.
Instructions
This drink is built directly in the serving glass. Simply add ice, mint syrup, cold brew, and top with sparkling water, then garnish and serve.
1. Fill a Highball or Collins glass to the top with ice cubes.
2. Pour the mint syrup directly over the ice.
3. Slowly add the cold brew coffee concentrate.
4. Gently top the glass with sparkling water, leaving a little space at the top.
5. Give the drink a very brief and gentle stir with a bar spoon to lightly combine the ingredients.
6. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig before serving.
Garnishing
A fresh sprig of mint is the ideal garnish, enhancing both the visual appeal and the aroma of the drink.
- Fresh Mint Sprig: Gently clap the mint sprig between your palms to release its aromatic oils before placing it in the glass.
Dietary Information
This beverage is naturally vegan and vegetarian, as well as free from dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten. However, it contains caffeine from the cold brew coffee.
✕ Contains alcohol
✕ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly
Nutrition information
This is a relatively light beverage, with its calorie and carbohydrate content primarily determined by the amount of mint syrup used. It is a lower-sugar alternative to many commercial coffee drinks.
Calories
averagely 40-80 kcal / 167-335 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
averagely 10-20 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
averagely 10-20 g
Sugar level
Occasions
This drink is perfect for weekend brunches, as a revitalizing afternoon refresher on a warm day, or as a sophisticated non-alcoholic option at summer parties and social gatherings.
- Brunch
- Afternoon pick-me-up
- Summer party
- Social gathering
Pairing suggestions
It pairs wonderfully with light brunch items like croissants or scones. The coffee and mint notes also complement rich chocolate desserts, simple biscotti, or the natural sweetness of a fresh fruit salad.
- Light pastries
- Chocolate desserts
- Fresh fruit salads
- Biscotti
The Invigorating Sparkling Mint Cold Brew Experience
The Sparkling Mint Cold Brew is a sophisticated yet simple non-alcoholic coffee drink. It combines the smooth, rich flavor of cold brew with the bright, cooling sensation of mint, all lifted by the effervescence of sparkling water. This results in a crisp, invigorating beverage perfect for warm weather, brunch, or any time you need a refreshing caffeine boost without alcohol. Its ease of preparation makes it an accessible and elegant choice for home baristas and coffee enthusiasts alike.
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