Looking for creative Iced Coffee Ideas? Then you have to try this refreshing Grapefruit Coffee Spritz! This sparkling coffee recipe (inspired by Blank Street) is similar to an espresso tonic (only better), and it's super easy to make and so delish!

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My husband and I were in London earlier this summer, wandering around Camden Town. It was super hot and crowded, and all I could think about was escaping the throngs of tourists (like myself, lol) and cooling off with a cold drink.
We popped into the first coffee shop we could find (Blank Street), and ordered two Grapefruit Cold Brew Spritzes ... and it was love at first sip! That delicious drink was pretty much the most thirst-quenching Iced Coffee I'd ever tasted, and I quickly became hooked.
I couldn't stop thinking about that tasty drink, and after trying it again on a trip to Washington, DC (there was a Blank Street conveniently located across from our hotel), I knew that I had to recreate it once I returned home. And this Grapefruit Coffee Spritz is the result!
You are going to love this tasty sparkling coffee drink! The grapefruit gives the drink a bright, lightly fruity flavor that's similar to an espresso tonic (but better). It's also super refreshing, making it the perfect summer coffee for hot days. Although if you're an iced coffee lover like me, you'll probably find yourself drinking it year round!
The best thing about this recipe (apart from its yummy taste), is that it's truly simple to make! You can throw one of these drinks together in five minutes flat.
Are you ready to start sipping? Then keep reading for the easy recipe, plus tons of helpful tips!
Ingredients
This tasty drink is made with four simple ingredients that are easy to find in most grocery stores! Here's what you'll need:
- Coffee - This recipe uses plain, unsweetened coffee. You can make it with a cold brew (store bought is fine), or you can use cold coffee (from a can, or brewed at home, then chilled) or espresso. I recommend using something that's full-bodied, but not super strong or bitter-tasting. This easy-to-find cold brew concentrate has been my favorite. (The cold brew I used for these photos was actually a little too dark / strong in my opinion. If you find yourself in a similar situation, just use a little less.)
- Grapefruit - You'll also need grapefruit juice. I recommend using Ocean Spray 100% Grapefruit Juice (not the Ruby Red kind), which doesn't have an added ingredients or sweeteners. Fresh-squeezed juice would also work.
- Sparkling Water - Use your favorite sparkling water to make this lightly carbonated drink, such as club soda, mineral water, soda water, or tonic water. I typically use Topo Chico (which is a mineral water), but I also like the neutral flavor of club soda.
- Vanilla - Just a few drops of vanilla extract gives this cold brew spritz a hint of flavor and sweetness without actually adding any sugar. For a sweeter drink, add some vanilla syrup instead.
- Optional Garnish - If you want to get fancy, a slice of dried grapefruit is the perfect way to garnish the finished drink!
This sparkling coffee drink is naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free ... so everyone at your table can enjoy it!
You'll Also Need
You'll need a measuring cup, plus a tall glass (such as a 16-ounce tumbler), which you'll use to make and serve the drink. I also like to add a reusable straw for easy sipping!
How to Make Grapefruit Coffee
This coffee with sparkling water is super quick and simple to prepare! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here an overview of the steps:
- Fill glass with ice. Start by filling a large glass about three-quarters full with ice.
- Add grapefruit juice. Next, you'll add the grapefruit juice.
- Top with coffee. After the grapefruit juice, comes the coffee. I like to use equal parts coffee and grapefruit juice, but you can play around with these proportions. If your coffee is super strong-tasting, you may want to add a little less.
- Add a few drops of vanilla. Top the coffee with two to three drops of vanilla extract ... just enough to add a hint of flavor.
- Fill glass with sparkling water. Finish your drink by topping it off with sparkling water. Tip: The ingredient layers look pretty in the glass, but make sure to stir before drinking so all the flavors can blend together!
And that's all there is to it, your Grapefruit Coffee Spritz is ready to enjoy! Give your layered drink a good stir, then start sipping ... you are going to LOVE this refreshing, easy to make drink!
Tip: The grapefruit and coffee should balance each other, not compete! If you coffee has a super strong flavor, you may want to use a little less coffee (say ¼ cup vs. ⅓ cup).
Variations
This coffee and grapefruit drink is super simple to customize! Here are a few ideas to try:
- Coffee - Experiment with different types of coffee to find your favorite! Cold coffee (from a can or brewed at home), cold brew, and espresso will all work. To save time, I like to use store-bought cold brew concentrate. You don't even need to dilute it, since you'll be adding juice and sparkling water.
- Water - Likewise, you can use various kinds of sparkling / carbonated waters. I prefer to use Topo Chico, which is a type of mineral water. Club soda, seltzer, and soda water also work great, or you can use tonic water, which is made with quinine. It will add a distinct bitter flavor to the finished drink.
- Orange - For a different flavor, try making this drink with orange juice instead of grapefruit juice. You could also use lemon juice, although you will probably need to add a little sweetener if you do.
- Sweeter - This Grapefruit Coffee Spritz recipe is naturally sweetened by the grapefruit juice, but it isn't super sweet. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add a little homemade simple syrup or vanilla syrup (skip the vanilla extract if you use flavored syrup).
Related Recipes
Looking for more iced coffee ideas? I you liked this one, make sure to try more Orange Coffee recipe, too! And don't miss these delicious drinks next:
- Iced Coffee Recipe - Learn how to make this classic cold beverage three different ways!
- Instant Cold Coffee - In a hurry? This recipe uses instant coffee powder to make your fave drink extra fast.
- Irish Iced Coffee - A fun twist on the traditional coffee drink!
- Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso - Follow this recipe to create a yummy Starbucks copycat at home.
- Dalgona Coffee - This simple recipe makes it easy to recreate the trendy whipped coffee drink!
- Australian Iced Coffee - You'll love this decadent drink from Down Under, which combines cold coffee with ice cream.
- Dirty Chai Latte - Can't get enough caffeine? Then you need to try this drink which pairs spiced tea with a shot of coffee.
- Coffee Cubes - The perfect way to use up leftover coffee!
- Iced Coffee Popsicles - This tasty frozen treat is so delicious on a hot day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Coffee and grapefruit go really well together. The acidity and bright flavor of the grapefruit complements the rich, aromatic coffee, creating a light, bright drink.
Coffee with sparkling water can go by a few different names, depending on the ingredients used to make it, such as Sparkling Coffee or Sparkling Americano (espresso with sparkling water), Espresso Tonic (espresso and tonic water), Cold Brew Tonic (cold brew and tonic water), Coffee Spritz (coffee and sparkling water), or Coffee Soda (coffee and soda water).
Sparkling Coffee tastes like a bubbly iced coffee. It has a lighter flavor than regular coffee, and it's super refreshing (perfect for hot days).
Grapefruit Coffee Spritz
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup grapefruit juice
- ⅓ cup cold coffee (see note)
- 2 to 3 drops vanilla extract
- sparkling water
Instructions
- Fill a large glass ¾ full with ice.
- Top ice with grapefruit juice, followed by coffee.
- Add a few drops of vanilla extract to drink.
- Fill glass with sparkling water. Stir everything together.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
