What is coffee soda? Everything you need to know about this caffeinated drink
Coffee sodas are the latest rage in the coffee industry.
Light and refreshing, think of it as a sparkling spin on cold brew coffee.
“Coffee soda is exactly what it sounds like,” said Hayes McPherson, co-owner of Comeback Coffee in Memphis. “It is soda made with coffee.”
McPherson has had coffee sodas on the menu of his Downtown Memphis coffee shop since it opened in 2021. This summer, Comeback Coffee opened a new coffee soda production facility to launch its signature coffee sodas nationwide.
“It’s a different way to enjoy coffee,” said Amy McPherson, Hayes' wife and business partner. “It hits the mark for coffee lovers, as well as people who don’t like coffee.”
Here are five things to know about coffee soda and why you should give it a taste this summer.
What does coffee soda taste like?
One sip and you know you are tasting a drink that has coffee in it. You taste the flavor of a strong cold brew coffee, but it has the effervescence of a soda fountain drink.
The basic formula to make coffee soda is the same for most producers, but that's where the similarities end. What's unique about this drink is that almost every coffee soda is different — unique to the coffee shop, barista or manufacturer.
"Some folks consider it simply cold coffee that’s carbonated. Some add sweetener to it," Hayes McPherson said. "At Comeback, we add unique flavors (like lemon and thyme, strawberry and lime, pineapple and cinnamon), natural sugarcane, and carbonate all of that together. For us, citrus and fruit forward flavors work well in our coffee sodas."
How is coffee soda made?
The process starts with flash-chilled cold brew coffee. Then flavored syrups, water and carbonation are added.
The McPhersons started out making it in small batches in their coffee shop, before expanding production with commercial equipment.
Does coffee soda have caffeine?
A 12-ounce can has about 6 ounces of cold brew coffee in it.
“The caffeine level is like in a small cup of coffee,” Hayes McPherson said.
Is coffee soda healthy?
Most coffee sodas do have added sugars. It is a soda after all.
"One thing that separates us from the other sodas or energy drinks is that our ingredient list in pretty short," said Hayes McPherson about Comeback's coffee sodas. "We have around five ingredients in all of coffee sodas. And we stay away from fake sugars and unhealthy additives. Also, our caffeine comes from a natural source: coffee."
COMEBACK COFFEE: How coffee soda is helping a Memphis company become a national brand
How do you buy it?
Most coffee sodas are sold in cans at grocery stores, specialty shops and farmers markets — making it perfect to have on hand in your fridge. If in a coffee shop, you might be able to find it on tap.
It can be served over ice or you can drink it straight from the cans.
"Our crew loves pouring it over ice," Hayes McPherson said. "Especially if you want to throw a bit of alcohol in it and make a refreshing cocktail."
MEMPHIS RESTAURANTS: What's the most expensive restaurant dish in Memphis? It's a $225 tie.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
If you want to keep up with the tastiest news in the Bluff City — like the story above, sign up for our Eat Drink Memphis weekly newsletter for a hearty serving of stories on everything from restaurants to recipes. You can sign up here.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What is coffee soda? What to know about this caffeinated drink
