What Is Coffee Soda? Sparkling Coffee, Explained

Coffee soda, also called sparkling coffee or carbonated coffee, is cold coffee with carbonation, so it drinks like a soda rather than a cup of coffee. The best versions start from real brewed coffee, not coffee flavoring. There's no milk, and sweetness runs from none at all to soda-sweet depending on who makes it.

What does coffee soda taste like?

Lighter and brighter than iced coffee. The bubbles add a small tangy bite up front, the coffee comes through in the middle, and the finish is clean because nothing is coating your mouth. It's closer to sparkling cold brew or an espresso tonic than to "fizzy hot coffee," which is what most people picture before the first sip.

That first sip surprises people in both directions. If you're on the fence, read our straight answer on what sparkling coffee actually tastes like.

Is coffee soda new?

No. A few markers:

• Manhattan Special, a Brooklyn company founded in 1895, makes an espresso coffee soda from espresso beans, seltzer water and sugar (source).
• Coca-Cola with Coffee launched in the US in January 2021 and was discontinued in the US in November 2022 (source). Fans are still looking for a replacement. Here's what they drink instead.
• Coffee shops have poured espresso over tonic and topped cold brew with sparkling water for years. You can make both at home with these coffee soda recipes.

How is coffee soda different from cold brew, nitro and espresso tonic?

Drink	What it is	Bubbles	Milk	Sweetened?
Coffee soda	Coffee, chilled and carbonated	Carbon dioxide	No	Depends on the brand
Cold brew	Coffee steeped in cold water for hours, served still	None	Optional	Usually not
Nitro cold brew	Cold brew infused with nitrogen	Tiny nitrogen bubbles, creamy texture	No	Usually not
Espresso tonic	Espresso poured over tonic water	Carbon dioxide	No	Regular tonic is; diet tonic isn't
Coffee-flavored soda	Soda with coffee flavoring added	Carbon dioxide	No	Usually

Last checked: October 2026. General definitions; individual products vary, so read the can.

How much caffeine is in coffee soda?

It depends on how much coffee goes in, so check the label. For reference: ESSELATE has 80mg in a 12 fl oz can. Coca-Cola with Coffee had nearly 70mg per 12 oz can (Tasting Table). The FDA lists 113 to 247mg for a 12 fl oz cup of regular brewed coffee (FDA). Our caffeine comparison puts 13 drinks side by side.

What's in a can of ESSELATE?

We make ESSELATE, so here's the whole label rather than the highlights. Ingredients: carbonated water, coffee, stevia extract, natural flavors, malic acid, citric acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate.

• 80mg caffeine per 12 fl oz can, from the coffee. No guarana, taurine or niacin added.
• 10 calories, 0g sugar, 2g carbohydrate, 15mg sodium.
• Sweetened with stevia only. No sucralose, no aspartame.
• Keto-friendly and vegan. No dairy.

Two honest notes. Potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate are preservatives; they're what lets a shelf-stable can stay safe. And if stevia isn't your thing, you may notice it. It's light, but it's there.

How should you drink coffee soda?

Ice-cold. Cold liquid holds carbon dioxide better, so the drink stays lively, and many people say stevia's aftertaste is more noticeable as a drink warms up. Chill the can thoroughly, or pour it over plenty of ice and drink it before the ice melts down.

Quick answers

Is coffee soda the same as sparkling coffee?

Yes. Coffee soda, sparkling coffee and carbonated coffee all describe cold coffee with bubbles. Some brands use "coffee soda" for sweeter, soda-style drinks, but there's no official definition.

Does coffee soda have milk in it?

Usually not. Canned coffee with milk is a latte or a nitro latte, which is a different drink.

Is coffee soda an energy drink?

It has caffeine, but in a coffee soda the caffeine comes from coffee. Many energy drinks add caffeine alongside taurine, guarana and B vitamins. ESSELATE has nothing stacked on top of the coffee.

Can you make coffee soda at home?

Yes. Start with about one part cold brew concentrate to two or three parts cold sparkling water. Full ratios are in our coffee soda recipes.

Want to try one without making it? ESSELATE sparkling coffee comes in packs of 4 or 12 cans and ships free.