Coca Cola Recipe

Make the concentrate

In a small saucepan, combine 0.25 cups water and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.

Add 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon, a scant 1/16 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, 1 tsp grated/dried orange peel (or orange zest), 1/2 tsp grated/dried lemon peel (or lemon zest), 1/16 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp vanilla paste (or the seeds from 1/4 of a vanilla bean), and 1 tsp thinly sliced fresh ginger to the saucepan.

Bring the mixture just to a gentle simmer and cook for 3–4 minutes to infuse flavors. Do not boil vigorously; maintain a low simmer so aromatic oils release without burning.

Remove from heat and let steep, covered, for 20 minutes to further extract flavor from the spices and peels.

Strain the concentrate through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a small bowl, pressing on solids to extract liquid. Discard solids. If using citrus oil or orange blossom water, add 1 drop to the strained concentrate and stir.

Taste the concentrate — it should be strongly aromatic and slightly sweet. If too intense, dilute with a teaspoon of warm water; if too weak, simmer briefly to reduce slightly. Let the concentrate cool to room temperature.

Sweeten and flavor

In a clean mixing jar or pitcher, combine 0.5 cups high-fructose corn syrup (or an equal-weight simple syrup made from cane sugar) with 1 tablespoon caramel color syrup and the cooled cola flavor concentrate. Stir until homogenous.

Add 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract to the syrup mixture. Stir to incorporate.

If using powdered caffeine, dissolve 50 mg caffeine into a tablespoon of warm water first, then stir into the syrup mixture until completely dissolved. (Optional — omit for caffeine-free beverage.)

Fill a serving glass with 1 cup cold carbonated water (chilled soda water). Pour the prepared syrup-flavor mixture over the carbonated water slowly while stirring gently with a bar spoon to combine without losing too much fizz. Aim for roughly 1:4 syrup to soda ratio; adjust to taste.

Taste and adjust: add a few drops more lime/lemon juice for brightness or a small pinch of salt (a pinch, optional) to round flavors if needed.

Add ice cubes to the glass if desired and stir gently once more to chill. Garnish with a lemon wheel or lime wedge on the rim.

Serve immediately cold. Store any unused syrup-flavor mixture in a sealed jar refrigerated for up to 1 week; keep carbonated water separate and combine just before serving for best fizz.