Head to head

Egg Cream vs. Italian Soda

Egg Cream and Italian Soda side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

Both have soda water. Only the Egg Cream has chocolate syrup and milk; only the Italian Soda has raspberry syrup. In parts, an Egg Cream is 1 chocolate syrup, 2¾ milk and 4 soda; an Italian Soda is 1 raspberry and 8 soda. By volume, the Egg Cream is 87% mixer and juice and 13% syrup and sugar; the Italian Soda is 89% mixer and juice and 11% syrup and sugar. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

They are about equally strong in the glass (both 0.0% ABV), and they hold about the same alcohol (0.00 standard drinks each). The Egg Cream has more calories (about 161 against 72) and more sugar (23.8 g against 18.0 g). Both are built and served in a highball.

On the ratio map

SpiritVermouthCitrusMixerSyrupLiqueurEgg CreamItalian Soda

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.