The summer of ‘cloud coffee’

First there was Dalgona coffee, then the iced coconut water Americano, and now there is ‘cloud coffee’. It may not be the ‘colourful’ drink that Gen Z consumers seek but it does meet two other ‘requirements’ younger consumers desire: flavourful and social media worthy.

Of course, cloud coffee is ideal for social media — it gained popularity on TikTok.

So, what is cloud coffee? The viral sensation is a layered cold coffee drink in which coconut water is poured over ice, topped with a frothy layer of espresso and cream/milk or non-dairy milk. According to Food & Wine magazine, cloud coffee blends elements of two previous viral beverages — the whipped Dalgona coffee from 2020 and the iced coconut water Americano. Its name is derived from its visually appealing ‘cloud-like’ appearance, with the whipped espresso mixture floating atop the transparent coconut water.

As with the Dalgona coffee, cloud coffee is easy to make at home — it uses tools like an espresso machine and milk frother or even just a moka pot and a mason jar for shaking and foaming the ingredients. Although there can be subtle differences in how people create their own cloud coffees, the trending version of the drink typically calls for three key components: espresso, coconut water, and a creamer of choice. Some variances include cold brew coffee, ‘leftover’ coffee or instant coffee/espresso rather than espresso, sweeteners (honey, maple syrup), flavourings (extracts or syrups such as vanilla), which are frothed into the espresso before pouring over ice. Additionally, for a ‘spirited’ twist, some consumers add liqueur to the concoction.

Cloud coffee is essentially a tropical twist on the iced coconut water Americano that went viral this past spring — with the added layer of a frothy layer. The iced coconut water Americano requires only two ingredients: espresso and coconut water. It is similar to a traditional Americano with one major difference — the coconut water rather than regular water, which is poured over ice and then topped with a shot (or two) of espresso.

While I have not yet tried it, apparently, the sweet, slightly salty coconut water helps smooth out the bitter flavours in espresso, which, per Food & Wine, “allows you to fully appreciate the coffee’s complexity and highlighting its fruity notes.”

Variations on cloud coffee preparation can be viewed here: tiktok.com/@makaylasmuckerr/video/7508093601973390622

and here:instagram.com/reel/DKka0Bex77T.

As it has been quite a hot summer across North America (and incredibly humid here in New York City) and Europe, it could be fun to test the latest viral, refreshing, and even healthy (coconut water) cloud coffee. I should have all the ingredients so I may just try it…

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, [email protected]