Coffee lovers are always looking for new ways to enjoy their daily cup, and over the past few years, sparkling cold brew has gone from a quirky café experiment to one of the hottest drinks of 2025. It combines the smooth richness of cold brew with the crisp fizz of sparkling water, resulting in a refreshing, lightly carbonated coffee drink that feels perfect for warm days, workout pick-me-ups, or anyone who wants something lighter than a traditional iced latte.
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In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about sparkling cold brew—from its origins to step-by-step recipes, nutritional benefits, and even how cafés are customizing it. By the end, you’ll be able to whip up your own sparkling cold brew at home that rivals anything from a trendy coffee shop.
What Is Sparkling Cold Brew?
At its core, sparkling cold brew is just what the name suggests: cold brew coffee mixed with sparkling water or soda water. Some variations include citrus juice, simple syrups, or herbs, but the foundation is always the same—coffee + carbonation.
The result is a drink that has:
- The smoothness of cold brew (less acidic than iced coffee).
- The effervescence of soda, making it light and refreshing.
- Endless opportunities for flavor infusions.
If you’re bored of iced lattes or don’t want something heavy with milk, this fizzy alternative is a perfect pick.
A Quick History: Where Did Sparkling Cold Brew Start?
While sparkling cold brew feels like a 2025 TikTok sensation, its roots go back further. Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway have been mixing coffee with tonic water for years, creating a drink called espresso tonic. Specialty cafés in Japan also experimented with carbonated coffee as early as the 2010s, but it wasn’t until cold brew became mainstream that sparkling versions started trending worldwide.
Today, you’ll see sparkling cold brew on menus in independent cafés from Los Angeles to London. Brands like Stumptown, Blue Bottle, and smaller third-wave coffee shops have released canned versions, making it accessible to anyone who wants a grab-and-go option.
But the good news? You don’t need a specialty café to enjoy it—you can easily make sparkling cold brew at home with a few ingredients.
Why Sparkling Cold Brew Is Trending in 2025
So, why is this bubbly coffee drink suddenly everywhere? Here are a few reasons:
- Healthier alternative to soda – With zero added sugar (unless you sweeten it), it provides the refreshing fizz of soda without empty calories.
- Low-acid option – Cold brew is naturally less acidic, making it gentler on the stomach than hot coffee.
- Creative café culture – Baristas love it because it’s highly customizable. Customers love it because it looks and tastes like a specialty drink.
- Social media appeal – Its amber coffee base topped with sparkling bubbles or citrus slices photographs beautifully—making it a TikTok and Instagram favorite.
- Fits the “functional beverage” trend – Many cafés are now adding adaptogens, collagen, or mushroom extracts to sparkling cold brews to appeal to health-conscious drinkers.
Sparkling Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee: What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to confuse sparkling cold brew with regular iced coffee, but they’re quite different:
- Iced Coffee – Brewed hot coffee poured over ice. Often more acidic, sharper in taste.
- Cold Brew – Coffee grounds steeped in cold water for 12–18 hours. Smoother, less acidic.
- Sparkling Cold Brew – Cold brew concentrate mixed with sparkling water, creating a fizzy, lighter alternative.
In short, iced coffee is bold, cold brew is smooth, and sparkling cold brew is refreshing and playful.
Nutritional Benefits of Sparkling Cold Brew
If you’re health-conscious, you’ll be happy to know sparkling cold brew is one of the cleanest coffee drinks you can enjoy.
- Calories: 0–20 (without added sugar).
- Sugar: None (unless flavored syrup is added).
- Caffeine: Around 100–150 mg per serving (varies depending on cold brew strength).
- Hydration: The sparkling water adds extra fluid, helping counterbalance coffee’s mild diuretic effect.
Compared to a soda or energy drink, sparkling cold brew gives you the same refreshment but with far fewer calories and no artificial ingredients.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make your own sparkling cold brew at home, gather:
- Cold brew concentrate – Store-bought or homemade.
- Sparkling water – Plain or flavored (unsweetened works best).
- Ice – Essential for keeping it crisp.
- Optional add-ins – Citrus slices, flavored syrups, honey, herbs (mint, basil, rosemary).
How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate at Home
If you don’t already have cold brew, here’s the simple method:
- Grind beans coarsely (like sea salt texture).
- Mix 1 cup grounds with 4 cups cold water in a jar or pitcher.
- Steep 12–18 hours in the fridge.
- Strain with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Store up to a week in the fridge.
Now, you’re ready for the fun part—making sparkling cold brew.
Step-by-Step Recipe: Classic Sparkling Cold Brew
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour in cold brew concentrate (about ½ cup).
- Add sparkling water (equal parts, or slightly more than coffee).
- Stir gently to preserve carbonation.
- Optional flavorings – Add a squeeze of lemon, a splash of vanilla syrup, or garnish with mint.
That’s it! In under 2 minutes, you have a café-worthy sparkling cold brew.
Flavor Variations to Try
- Citrus Sparkling Cold Brew – Add orange zest or lemon slices for brightness.
- Vanilla Honey Fizz – Stir in a drizzle of honey and a drop of vanilla extract.
- Herbal Refresh – Muddle fresh mint or basil before adding cold brew.
- Ginger Kick – Add ginger syrup for a spicy, warming twist.
- Mocktail Style – Swap sparkling water for tonic water to create a coffee-based mocktail.
Expert Barista Tips for Perfect Sparkling Cold Brew
- Chill everything first – Cold brew and sparkling water should be ice-cold for the best fizz.
- Don’t over-dilute – Use a 1:1 ratio to avoid a watered-down taste.
- Experiment with beans – Fruity single-origin beans (like Ethiopian or Kenyan) pair beautifully with carbonation.
- Layer for presentation – Pour sparkling water first, then slowly add cold brew for a beautiful layered effect.
- Serve immediately – Sparkling coffee loses its fizz if it sits too long.
Sparkling Cold Brew in Cafés: What’s Trending
Cafés are getting more creative with sparkling cold brew in 2025. Some trends you’ll see include:
- Coffee spritzers – Cold brew mixed with flavored soda syrups and herbs.
- Adaptogen boosts – Added ingredients like ashwagandha, reishi, or maca.
- Seasonal flavors – Think cranberry-orange for winter or watermelon-mint for summer.
- Nitro + Sparkling blends – Combining nitrogen-infused cold brew with soda water for extra creaminess and fizz.
These drinks often cost $5–$7 at coffee shops—but making them at home costs pennies per glass.
Sparkling Cold Brew vs Ready-to-Drink Cans
In 2025, many brands now sell canned sparkling cold brews. While convenient, homemade versions give you:
- More control – Adjust sweetness, strength, and flavors.
- Freshness – Carbonation fades in cans over time.
- Lower cost – A bag of coffee beans makes multiple drinks compared to $3–$4 per can.
Still, canned versions are great for travel or on-the-go energy.
Final Thoughts
Sparkling cold brew may sound unconventional, but it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular coffee drinks of 2025. Its light, bubbly texture makes it a refreshing change from traditional iced coffee or lattes, while still delivering the caffeine boost coffee lovers crave.
The best part? You don’t need a fancy setup or barista skills to enjoy it. With cold brew concentrate and a bottle of sparkling water, you can create endless variations at home—whether you prefer zesty citrus, sweet vanilla, or bold herbal twists.
So next time you want to break free from your usual coffee routine, try making a sparkling cold brew. It’s affordable, healthy, customizable, and surprisingly addictive. Who knows—it might just become your new signature summer drink.
