How to Make Cola

Let’s break down the main Cola ingredients you’ll need to brew an old fashioned soda at home. While the name Cola comes from the Kola Nut, the original source of caffeine and flavor in old fashioned Colas, this ingredient isn’t used in modern formulations. Our Cola Recipe uses black tea instead, along with a blend of botanicals, Demerara Sugar and Maltodextrin to make a Cola Syrup. Then you’ll carbonate your syrup using either yeast or seltzer water.  

Try our complete Craft Cola Kit, which includes all of the Cola ingredients listed below (except for Seltzer Water) to brew 4 liters of soda.

You know it & love it, but what gives Cola’s flavor anyway? While every recipe varies, the common ingredients include citrus and spices. Our Cola Kit includes a curated blend of botanicals to provide delicious flavor, signature aroma and rich color. This zesty blend includes Chicory Root, Cinnamon, Black Tea, Coriander, Lemon Peel & Orange Peel.

This sugar is perfect for making Cola thanks to its rich color and subtle molasses flavor. 

Maltodextrin is a mostly non-fermentable powdered sugar, which helps give your Cola a traditional fuller body and mouthfeel so it isn’t watery in your glass.

• 5 Grams Yeast* OR Seltzer Water (for carbonation)

You can carbonate your homemade Cola Syrup one of two ways. ONE: you can simply combine 1 part syrup with 3 parts seltzer water over ice for an instant glass of Cola! Personally, we love Topo Chico for this. It’s one of the most fizzy sparkling water brands and the bubbles last quite a long time in your glass. TWO: you can divide your syrup between two plastic 2 Liter soda bottles, top with water & add yeast to naturally carbonate the Cola. The yeast convert sugar into carbon dioxide in a sealed bottle. We’ll get into the specifics of this technique later. 

• ¼ Teaspoon Salt

While it may seem odd, salt is a flavor enhancer! A small addition of salt helps brighten flavors and subtly reduce harsh acidity.

*Included in our complete Craft Cola Kit!

Before you begin, make sure you have these essential tools. Proper cookware and accurate measurements are important for a smooth cola making process, so make sure you have everything below before you begin. Items with an asterisk are included in our Cola Making Kit!

• Stock Pot with a Lid - You’ll need this to brew your Cola Syrup. Make sure it can fit 2 Quarts or more volume.
• Small Saucepan with a Lid - You’ll only need this if you choose to caramelize any sugar for your Cola syrup (an optional step). This should be a flat pan (like you’d fry an egg in) for best results!
• Measuring Spoons - You’ll need a ¼ Teaspoon & a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon to accurately measure Cola ingredients throughout the process.
• Measuring Cups - You’ll need a ⅓ Cup and a 1 Cup measuring cup to accurately measure Cola ingredients throughout the process.
• Steeping Bag* - You’ll need a bag to keep the Cola botanicals contained for easy removal. A medium cheesecloth bag, fine mesh nylon bag or a muslin straining bag work well.  
• 32 Oz Storage Container with Lid (such as a mason jar) - After you’ve made your Cola Syrup, you can store it in the fridge for 6 weeks. OR you can naturally carbonate your syrup instead using yeast and 2 Liter soda bottles.
• Two plastic 2 Liter soda bottles - Buy two 2 Liter sodas at the store & enjoy the contents. You can enjoy the soda and use the empty bottles for your homemade Cola. TIP: 2 Liter bottles of club soda are usually much cheaper than soda.
• Specialty Soda Bottle Caps* - You’ll need specialty soda bottle caps in order to safely carbonate your Cola in 2 L soda bottles. Our Cola Making Kit includes 2 of these caps, which feature a specialty escape valve that prevents over carbonation or rupturing.
• Funnel* - Reduce mess on bottling day with a funnel. 

*Included in our complete Craft Cola Kit!

Once you have your ingredients and your equipment, you’re ready to follow our easy Cola recipe! This step by step guide produces about 32 oz of Cola Syrup, which is used to make 4 Liters of finished Cola. Following our simple homemade Cola recipe you’ll be able to sip your Cola in 12-24 hours!

Make your Cola “Tea”

1. Bring 32 Oz (4 cups) of water to a boil in a stock pot that has a lid. While water heats, add the Cola Botanicals to the steeping bag & tie off the top in a knot.
2. Once you see the first boiling bubble remove the pot from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Then, add the bag to the pot. Dunk the bag & gently flatten with a spoon so the botanicals are submerged during the steep. Place a lid on the pot & set a timer for a 6 minute steep. 
3. After a 6 minute steep remove the botanicals from the pot, but DO NOT squeeze the excess water from the bag. This will release unwanted bitter flavor. Discard the bag & solids. You’ve just made Cola “tea.”
   
   OPTIONAL ADVANCED STEP: Caramelize SugarIf you do not want to follow this step, you can skip ahead to step 5.
   
   
4. If you’d like to caramelize some sugar for your Cola Syrup (for darker color & richer flavor), follow these steps. View a step by step instructional video of this process here. 
   
   - Measure ½ Cup of the Demerara Sugar & pour into a small saucepan. Shimmy the pan to create an even layer. Reserve the rest of the Demerara Sugar for step 5. 
   
   - Add 1 Fluid Oz (2 Tablespoons) of water to the pan to cover the sugar. NOTE: This is just enough water to help with the caramelization reaction, so it may not wet all of the sugar. 
   
   - Heat the saucepan on medium heat until you reach a steady bubbling simmer. Once achieved, set a 5 minute timer. DO NOT stir or mix the sugar - you must avoid intervening with the natural reaction. There will be lots of bubbles, the color will gradually darken and you’ll notice fragrant butterscotch & nutty aromas.
   
   - After 5 minutes, the color should be quite dark, you’ll smell caramel candy aroma & the bubbles will release puffs of steam. At this point, reduce heat to low. But if the color isn’t dark enough yet, continue simmering 1-3 more minutes before reducing heat. 
   
   - Measure 3 Tablespoons (1.5 Oz) of water & have the saucepan’s lid ready. Carefully add water to the pan & quickly cover the pan with the lid - there will be lots of steam. Keep the lid on & the pan on low heat for at least 3-5 minutes to simmer. Even if you see sugar crystals on the walls of the pan resist the urge to stir just yet - this trapped steam is necessary to help dissolve any lingering sugar crystals. 
   
   - Remove the lid & stir with a spoon. If clumps or crystals remain, increase heat slightly to help melt. You’ll end up with a thin, dark brown syrup. Remove pan from heat, cover & set aside for step 5.
   
   Make your Cola Syrup
   
5.  Bring the pot containing your Cola “tea” up to medium-high heat. After a few minutes, add ¼ Teaspoon of Salt & the Demerara Sugar. Gradually add the Maltodextrin, breaking up any clumps & dissolving completely. If you followed step 4 and caramelized any Demerara Sugar, add it to the pot now. If the caramel sticks to the saucepan, pour some of the hot Cola “tea” into the pan to help loosen it. 
6. Let simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure all ingredients are dissolved and well mixed.Then remove the pot from heat. 
7. Allow the pot contents to cool to room temperature (without lid), this will take 30+ minutes.There shouldn’t be any visible steaming and the tea should feel luke-warm to the touch. 
8. You’ve just made your own Cola Syrup! If not using right away store in a sealed container in the fridge.
   
   Carbonate Your Cola
   Now that you’ve crafted your syrup there are a few options for carbonating, bottling & enjoying your Cola. Option 1 is our preferred & recommended method. 

Option 1 - Add Syrup to Seltzer (Recommended)

Create an instant glass of Cola by combining 1 part Cola Syrup with 3 parts seltzer. Feel free to use store bought seltzer water or a SodaStream® machine. Adjust the syrup to seltzer ratio depending your personal tastes. Syrup can be stored for 6 weeks in the fridge. This method helps your homemade Cola last longer & allows you to pour the perfect glass every time.

Option 2 - Carbonate in 2 Liter Bottles

1. Using two 2 Liter plastic soda bottles and the included Bottling Kit, you can naturally carbonate your own Cola. DO NOT use glass bottles or beer bottles. Carbonating this way will take 12-24 hours & requires frequent monitoring during that time.Yeast is a living organism that converts sugars into CO2 through fermentation. If bottles are left unattended, the yeast will continue to create carbonation indefinitely & bottles can explode. If you don’t have time to monitor your bottles just yet, you can refrigerate your Cola Syrup in a sealed container until you’re ready to bottle. Bottles can be stored for 1 week in the fridge.
2. Clean your soda bottles and rinse well. Remove the tamper resistant cap rings that may have been left behind. Discard the caps that came on the bottles - you’ll be using the specialty caps included with this kit instead. 2. Using the included funnel, divide your Cola Syrup evenly between the two bottles. Top off each bottle with cool filtered water to about 3 inches below the top. Gently swirl to combine. 
3. Sprinkle ¼ Teaspoon of Yeast into each bottle. There will be plenty of leftover yeast in the packet, which you can discard. 
4. Use the Bottle Caps included in this kit to seal the bottles. Push and twist, but do not over tighten, this can lead to the seal bunching and carbonation escaping. These caps are specially designed to ensure your bottles do not over-carbonate and explode.
5. Store the sealed bottles at room temperature (65-75°F) to allow them to carbonate - this process usually takes 12-24 hours. Roughly 12 hours after adding the yeast, check the bottles to see if they are hardening. Continue to check on the bottles every 6 or so hours to monitor their progress, keeping them at room temperature until they are hard like a new bottle of soda from the store. Once hardened, immediately place the bottles in the fridge and let chill for at least 12 hours before enjoying. Do not leave bottles stored at room temperature, otherwise bottles can explode. 6. Refrigeration will slow, but not completely stop the yeast from creating CO2 in the bottles.
   
   To prevent over-carbonation of your Cola, please enjoy your bottles within 1 week of placing 7. in the fridge. Excess CO2 and alcohol will begin to develop beyond this point, making bottles more dangerous to handle and making the flavor more bitter.

Once you've made your own soda with our Craft Cola Kit, what’s next? Try these tasty recipes for customizing your small batch soda!

Cola Slush

• To make a pair of Cola Slushies, you’ll need 24 oz of cola. Pour 12 oz of homemade cola into an ice cube tray & place in your freezer overnight. Once frozen, add the cola cubes to a blender along with 12 oz of cola and about 8 regular ice cubes. Blend to combine. Pour into a glass and serve with a straw or a spoon.

Roy Rogers Drink (Cherry Cola)

• Make this old fashioned soda shop treat simple by mixing cola and grenadine! Grenadine is a fruit syrup that’s used in a Shirley Temple drink (grenadine and lemon lime soda) or a Tequila Sunrise cocktail. To make a Roy Rogers drink, pour 0.5 - 1.0 oz grenadine into an ice filled glass. Top with 6 oz of homemade cola and stir. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve with a straw!

Cola Float

• If you love a Root Beer Float, try it with Cola! Freeze a mug for 10 minutes before assembling for best results. Pour 12 oz of cold Cola into your frozen mug. Top with 1 to 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Dirty Cola

• You might have heard of the Dirty Coke trend online. It has a strange name, but this is a delicious treat that combines Cola, coconut & cream. To make a Dirty Cola, fill a glass with ice. Add 2 pumps (1 Tablespoon) of coconut syrup. Squeeze the juice from half a lime (1 Tablespoon) into the glass. Then pour 12 oz of Cola into the glass and stir to combine. Top with 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream, which will curdle from the lime’s acid, but will still taste great! Serve with a straw to stir and incorporate all the flavors. 

Cuba Libre Cocktail

• It doesn’t get any simpler or more refreshing than a rum and coke. Fill a highball glass with ice, add 2 oz rum. Squeeze the juice from a lime wedge into the glass and top with your homemade cola. Garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy!

Kalimotxo Cocktail

• Pronounced Calimocho, this cocktail is a tasty Red Wine & Cola concoction. Combine 3 oz Cola and 3 oz dry red wine in your glass. Top with ice and a dash of bitters. Garnish with an orange or lemon slice and enjoy!

Chocolate Cola Cake

• Use 12 oz of soda instead of oil, water and eggs in a cake recipe for a fluffy and moist creation with a Cola flavor kick! Simply use a box of chocolate cake mix (18.25 oz) and 12 oz of your homemade cola. Combine the boxed cake mix and the cola. Pour into a cake pan or baking dish. Bake the cake per the instructions (or for about 35 - 40 minutes). Allow to cool then enjoy!

Making your own old fashioned cola offers several benefits!

• Healthier, all natural ingredients.
  When you make it yourself, you see exactly what goes into your soda. Savor every sip knowing that your soda is made with whole botanicals and natural sugars!
• You are in control of the process!
  If you want a richer flavor, caramelize some sugar! If you want an easier experience, just add seltzer water. You can choose your own adventure with our Craft Cola Kit and follow different variations or optional steps to make a soda that suits your tastes & timeline!
• It’s fun for the whole family!
  Who doesn’t love to make something from scratch? Not to mention the bragging rights that come with it! Making Cola at home is a fun science experiment and kitchen activity that the entire family can enjoy.

With Craft a Brew’s easy cola recipe and complete Craft Cola Kit, making your own soda has never been simpler! Enjoy the classic flavors and the pride of crafting it yourself. Cheers!

Looking for more DIY beverage ideas? Check out our related articles and recipes:

• How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar
• Homemade Root Beer Recipe
• Crafting Your Own Kombucha