Espresso tonics first became a “thing” in Sweden way back in 2007. That’s nearly two decades ago. Jeez. A few years later, it spread in popularity to Japan and finally made its way to the U.S. Now, you can find the mix of espresso and tonic water (often with a strip of lemon zest and maybe some herbs) on menus at hip coffee shops across the country.
Though it hasn’t made it to Starbucks or Peet’s yet, it did make it into the pages of Vogue and onto the shelves at Trader Joe’s. The new Trader Joe’s Sparkling Orange Flavored Espresso Tonic is a limited time release, but it might be the caffeinated drink of the summer. I, an espresso tonic enthusiast, gave the canned coffee-tail a try to find out.
Pros: It smells like fresh orange zest and coffee—heavy on the orange. This is a much more orange-heavy espresso tonic than anything I’ve had before. My guess is the brand is trying to tap into two coffee trends in one go: espresso tonics and orange juice espresso (a popular TikTok trend from 2024). The orange juice does what it’s supposed to do—it cuts the bitterness of the espresso and makes for a crisp, refreshing coffee drink that is totally perfect on a hot summer morning or afternoon. I’ve already crushed multiple cans.
Cons: It’s not quite tonic-y enough to really be an espresso tonic. Though it says it contains quinine on the can, it doesn’t have much of a bitter taste. I love tonic water. And I love the combination of bittersweet tonic water and espresso. This new Trader Joe’s drink does not scratch that itch. Also, I cannot find out how much caffeine is in one can. According to some dude on Reddit, there’s 42mg of caffeine in a can, which is not a whole heck of a lot. I’d prefer if it contained as much as caffeine as a cup of coffee (around 100mg).
Verdict: While I don’t think it’s a faithful espresso tonic, I do think this is a delicious canned coffee drink. It’s super refreshing, gives you a little pep, and acts as a tasty alternative to a soda or straight iced coffee. It’s a buy from me.
Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now).
Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test!
Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!
Justine Sterling
Griffin Parker
Jordan Myrick
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!