There’s the old familiar iced coffee, then the slightly more “in” cold brewed coffee, then there’s this soon-to-be summer fad, Fizzy Cold Brewed Coffee, a simple, super refreshing carbonated coffee!

Fizzy cold brew coffee with cream in a glass

On a warm spring or summer day, there’s nothing better than preparing a nice, refreshing glass of iced coffee… or is there?

Spoiler alert: There IS. It’s called fizzy cold brew coffee, and it’s the best coffee drink you’ll ever have. You can quote me on that one.

Fizzy cold brew coffee is made using normal cold brew coffee ingredients, but with the addition of sparkling water. The water gives it a carbonation that provides a nice bubbly kick that, when combined with the strong taste and familiar coffee flavor, is totally unbeatable.

I love coffee in the morning like everyone else, but this drink is especially perfect for long summer afternoons when I need a pick-me-up to help me avoid a mid-afternoon nap.

We’ll make a batch of coffee concentrate then mix that with sparkling water. BOOM, carbonated coffee, done! Summer, we’re ready for you.

Fizzy coffee in a tall glass with a straw on a blue background

Ingredients used to make carbonated coffee

This recipe uses three main ingredients: coffee, water, and sparkling water. For serving, we get creative and add a selection of ingredients that improve the flavor, remove the bitterness, and make this the best coffee drink you’ll ever taste. Say goodbye to the caramel macchiatos, because this coffee bev is taking over as the most delicious coffee drink!

Ground Coffee: We will use 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee for this recipe.
Cold Water: The coffee will be mixed with 1 ½ cup of water to form the coffee concentrate.
Sparkling Water: For fizzy-ness, we will use 2-3 cups of sparkling water.
To Serve: Add whatever you’d like! I suggest using ice, cream, simple syrup, and a squeeze of lemon for a refreshingly delicious fizzy drink.

How to make fizzy cold brew coffee

Fizzy cold brew coffee is made in four simple steps. We start with making cold brew as normal (by letting the grounds steep for at least 12 hours), and then we move onto straining the concentrate and adding extra flavor. Finally, we add a bit of fizz, and it’s ready to enjoy! After letting the coffee steep, the rest of the recipe will take less than 5 minutes.

Step 1: Steep the coffee
In a large pitcher or bowl, combine the ground coffee and water. Cover and let sit in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours.

Step 2: Strain the coffee
Next, strain the coffee concentrate through a towel-lined mesh sieve (or a French press). Measure your coffee concentrate and add water as needed to reach 1 cup, drizzling the water through the grinds to get as much coffee as possible.

Step 3: Add flavor
This drink is best with simple syrup and/or lemon to counteract the bitterness of the carbonation. To make simple syrup, combine 1 part sugar and 1 part water, stirring until dissolved. Add simple syrup and a squeeze of fresh lemon to your serving glass.

Step 4: Make it fizzy
Finally, add ice to the glass, and then fill it ⅓ full with coffee concentrate. Top it off with carbonated water, optionally adding a splash of cream!

Fizzy coffee tips

Here are a few quick tips for making the best carbonated coffee. From steeping to storing, this is what you need to know!

Steeping coffee
It’s recommend that you steep the coffee for 12-24 hours to get the most flavor from your beans. On the other hand, any more than 24 hours will result in a very bitter coffee that may not taste ideal, even with the added flavorings. For the best flavor, 12 hours is the sweet spot! I like to let mine steep overnight to be ready for drinking the next morning.

Which bean is best?
Arabica coffee beans are the most delicious type of coffee bean for using in cold brew.

Adding milk to cold brew
Just as you can add cream for flavor, feel free to add milk if that’s what you usually use. Almond, oat, soy, or dairy milk will all work.

Cold brew coffee vs. espresso
Cold brew may, in theory, sound like it’s essentially a cup of espresso. However, it’s actually pretty different! Cold brew is never heated and is brewed instead through the process of steeping. Espresso is heated much like regular hot coffee.

Storing leftovers
Fizzy coffee does not store well once assembled. It loses carbonation and becomes bitter, so I suggest enjoying as soon as it’s made. However, you can store leftover cold brew concentrate. Keep it refrigerated in an airtight container, and use within 1-2 weeks.

More summery beverage ideas

Need some more beverage ideas that are perfect for sipping poolside or after a nice spring walk? Try these!