ItalianMedium · Chilled
A refreshing Italian-inspired beverage that marries the bold complexity of freshly pulled espresso with sparkling water, bright citrus notes, and a warming spiced honey syrup. Perfect as an afternoon refresher or after-dinner digestif.
10 min
30 min
40 min
Method
Combine honey, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and ground ginger in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Warm gently, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until the honey becomes thin and fragrant — do not boil.
Remove from heat, cover the saucepan, and let the spices steep in the warm honey for 15 minutes to develop deep, warming flavor.
Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean heatproof jar, pressing gently to extract the honey — discard the cloves and cinnamon. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
While the spiced honey steeps and cools, pull two shots of espresso (120ml total) using a clean, calibrated portafilter with freshly ground coffee beans. Aim for a 25-second extraction with rich golden crema.
Transfer the espresso to a pitcher and let it cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes, before assembling the beverages — cool espresso prevents the sparkling water from going flat prematurely.
Fill four tall glasses with ice cubes, dividing evenly.
Top each glass with 180ml of chilled sparkling water, pouring slowly down the side of the glass to preserve carbonation.
Using a fine microplane, grate fresh orange zest directly over each drink — aim for bright golden curls that release their aromatic oils upon contact with the effervescent surface. Optionally, float 2-3 whole coffee beans on top for garnish. Serve immediately while the bubbles are lively.
Nutri-Score
Estimated nutrition
Grade pending · 100% ingredient coverage
Calories
192
per serving
Protein
6g
Carbs
47g
Fat
1g
Fiber
9g
Sodium
208mg
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
Environmental impact
Low impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
0.6
per serving
Ground coffee beans drives 73% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
Umami
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
Spicy
Textures
Aromas
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
Small SaucepanTechniques
Safety & Storage
High Risk Population
Honey is not safe for infants under 12 months due to the risk of infant botulism from Clostridium botulinum spores. Even gentle warming does not eliminate this risk. Do not serve this beverage or any honey-containing product to young children.
Cross Contamination
Coffee beans and ground coffee may be processed in facilities that also handle tree nuts or peanuts. Check packaging for allergen statements if serving to individuals with tree-nut or peanut allergies.
Spices including cinnamon, cloves, and ground ginger may be processed in facilities that handle major allergens. Verify supplier allergen statements before use in commercial or sensitive settings.
Storage
Store the prepared spiced honey syrup in a clean, airtight heatproof jar in the refrigerator. The syrup will keep for 2-3 weeks when properly refrigerated.
Shelf Life
Prepared espresso should be used within 30 minutes for optimal flavor. The assembled espresso seltzer should be served immediately after preparation to preserve carbonation and prevent flavor degradation.
Handling
Use a clean, calibrated portafilter for pulling espresso to prevent flavor contamination from previous extractions. The 25-second extraction window is critical for optimal crema quality and flavor balance.
Equipment Safety
Ensure the espresso machine is properly maintained with calibrated pressure settings. Use only freshly ground beans from a reputable source to ensure consistent extraction and minimize foreign material in the final beverage.
Pro Tips
Technique
Let the espresso cool to room temperature before assembling — hot espresso will flatten your sparkling water instantly, and you will lose all that beautiful carbonation you worked so hard to preserve.
Substitution
If you prefer a deeper honey flavor, substitute with a dark varietal like chestnut honey — it will add more complexity to the syrup without overpowering the espresso.
Presentation
Pour the sparkling water slowly down the side of the glass to maintain visible layers and preserve that lively effervescence — this is not just technique, this is theater.
From the chef
One scorching August afternoon in Milan, I found myself staring at my espresso machine, already sweating at the mere thought of another doppio. But tradition is tradition — until I realized that tradition never said espresso couldn't be refreshed. I started experimenting with sparkling water, and when I added my grandmother's spiced honey and a curl of orange zest, something magical happened. The result honors the espresso while giving it new life — she would have called it unconventional, but I think she would have approved, as long as you pulled those shots with proper extraction and perfect crema.
Source: generated · June 13, 2026