Forget lattes and flat whites, there's a new way to drink coffee. According to social media, the only way to consume the bean is in an espresso bomb. It's the drink that shouldn't work, but bizarrely, it does. And, being the consummate professional, our drinks columnist even tried it for you.
What is an Espresso Bomb?
Brace yourself, as this is going to sound like a drink you'd put together by raiding the kitchen shelves during a power cut. It's alcohol-free, of course, made of espresso, tonic water, a squeeze of lemon or lime and a pinch of salt. And while it sounds like something you'd consume on a dare, it turns out that it actually tastes, well, good.
Now, if you'd told me that even a week ago, I would have politely declined the beverage before calling a psychiatrist to assess your mental state. But thanks to TikTok, where the good, bad, and ugliest of ideas emerge, we can all hail the espresso bomb.
How It Works
Coffee is packed with bitter-tasting flavour compounds. Now, that's part of its charm for many, though it's also why others drown it in milk and sugar and syrups. The espresso bomb takes a different approach.
Salt suppresses bitterness, which is why some people add it to a particularly mouth-puckering coffee roast. You shouldn't actually be able to taste the salt you're adding, mind, it's purely there to take the edge off. No more than a small pinch, as too much salt creates a nucleation point for the soda, causing it to froth up and quickly go flat.
When it comes to the citrus, bear in mind that coffee is naturally acidic. Lemon matches coffee's brightness and coaxes out some of its hidden fruity notes. Think of what a squirt of lemon does to a piece of turbot; it transforms it, making it even lighter and more delicious. Same deal here.
Then, there's the tonic water, which is where this drink should technically unravel. Tonic famously contains bitter quinine, which is essentially doubling down on the problem. But somehow, the bubbles and the subtle sweetness act as the bridge between espresso and lemon.
How to Make One
To make an espresso bomb for yourself, you'll need: double shot of espresso (light roast), salt flakes, 1 lemon wedge, full-fat tonic water, and ice. Fill a largeish glass halfway with tonic and several ice cubes. Separately, draw off a double espresso shot into a shot glass. Rub the lemon wedge around the bottom of the shot glass, then dip it in salt flakes. Lower the glass into the tonic and ice, and drop it in. The foamy crema will start to activate. Drink immediately.
If you don't fancy the gimmicky shot glass, you can always pour the espresso over the tonic. Either way, the tonic water provides a sugar spike and bubbles to settle your stomach, while the caffeine wakes you up, and the citrus and salt combination acts like electrolytes. Hangover, who?
Top Tip for Making It
My key takeaway from the whole 'making of' process is as follows: Allow the espresso to cool before tipping it into the tonic water. Otherwise, it will curdle instantly. It's all there in my photos, loud and not so proud. Also, don't forget the ice, as I did. You can thank me later.
What Does It Taste Like?
I used Sainsbury's Espresso Wholebean Coffee 'Robust and Powerful' to make my version of this drink, but be warned that these are strong coffee beans. If you like a lighter, more floral flavour profile, opt for something else. Or, just go with whatever you have in the morning, that's the best litmus test for what you like.
My first attempt was erroneous with Double Dutch Soda Water, which I mistook for tonic. I'm glad I stuffed it up, as it showed me what tonic water brings to the party. Soda was far too dry and didn't provide the sweetness this drink requires to offset the bitter notes.
My second attempt was with Sainsbury's Zero Sugar Indian Tonic (yes, there's a Sainsbury's Local down my road). This transformed the drink, with oodles of sweetness that was intensified by the salt flakes and merged seamlessly with the bitter coffee notes. I added lemon and lime, which freshened everything up beautifully. Just as well, as I was outside, in the garden during a brutal heatwave when filming.
My final score is 8 out of 10, and I would definitely try again – especially if I was hungover.
