Coca Cola Recipe

Make Simple Syrup

Combine 2 cups granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture just reaches a simmer. Do not boil vigorously. Once dissolved, remove from heat.

Stir in 2 tablespoons caramel color, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the warm syrup until evenly incorporated. Set aside to cool slightly.

Prepare Zests and Spices

Place 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/20 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander and 1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel into a small heatproof bowl or a fine-mesh tea infuser.

If using a tea infuser or muslin sachet, add the spice/zest mix to the warm syrup prepared above. If using a bowl, gently warm the spice mix with 1–2 tablespoons of the hot syrup in a small saucepan for 1 minute to bloom the oils, then add that back into the main syrup.

Add 1 teaspoon cooled strong espresso (or concentrated very strong coffee) to the syrup and stir. Allow the combined syrup and spice mix to steep, covered, for 30–45 minutes at room temperature so the flavors meld.

After steeping, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a clean bowl or container to remove zests and spices. Press gently to extract the syrup but avoid forcing fine particles through.

Stir in 1/2 teaspoon food-grade phosphoric acid solution (or a citric acid solution if phosphoric is unavailable). Taste carefully — the syrup should be noticeably tart but not sharp. Adjust by adding up to another 1/4 teaspoon acid solution if needed, a few drops at a time.

Dilute the finished concentrated syrup with 2 cups cold water to create a ready-to-use syrup. This yields a syrup ratio appropriate for home mixing. Stir until uniform and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.

To serve, combine 1 part syrup to 4 parts chilled club soda (for example, 1/2 cup syrup to 2 cups chilled carbonated water). Pour syrup over ice in a glass, then gently add the chilled club soda to preserve carbonation. Stir once gently once to combine.

Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately over ice. Adjust syrup-to-soda ratio to taste (some prefer 1:5 for a lighter cola). Store any leftover concentrated syrup refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.