Coffee is always evolving. And the biggest trendsetter at the moment? TikTok.
You may or may not have heard of TikTok, but it's a social media app that's really taken off in recent years. It's kind of a cross between Vine, Persicope, Instagram, and YouTube but with 10 times more jump cuts than all of them combined. And it's a great resource for cooking tips, coffee experimentation, and staying on the bleeding edge of the latest coffee trends.
If you want to know what's going to be popular in coffee shops in 2022, just take a look at what's blowing up on TikTok right now.
Hey, I'll be honest—I browsed a lot of awful listicles to compile this list. And 9 out 10 TikTok “coffee trends” are just semi-official versions of secret menu items at Starbucks. Usually, they come in the form of colored milk that tastes more like gummy bears than coffee. (No, really, one of them was the "Gummy Bear Drink") But there are a couple coffee trends that actually sound alright, that you can try in your own home.
Hey, coffee is a social beverage, so it only makes sense that a social media platform would have an impact on the trends we see in coffee. And while TikTok might be full of cringe-worthy content—nothing but, according to one key analyst—there are actually a few good coffee trends that came from the app.
Ready to drink up? Here are a few of the most popular TikTok coffee trends of 2022:
Dalgona (Whipped Coffee)
Probably the biggest coffee trend to come out of TikTok in a while, dalgona is a whipped coffee that originates from South Korea—where instant coffee reigns supreme—and it's delightful. Dalgona is made with instant coffee, sugar, and hot water, and you can find a recipe with full instructions for how to make one here: How to Make Whipped Coffee
Adding Crushed Egg Shells to Coffee Grounds
This TikTok trend really took off. Apparently, if you add eggshells to your coffee grounds before brewing, it will help take the bitterness out of your cup of joe. Hey—I'm willing to give it a shot. I just don't get why you would do this one when a pinch of table salt has the same effect. Is there a common scenario people are finding themselves in where they have ready access to several cracked egg shells—and a mortar and pestle—but no salt?
The Resurgent-Class Affogato
If you're not familiar with affogatos, they're essentially espresso-flavored ice cream desserts. And while they've been around for at least a century at this point, they've recently gained a new surge in popularity thanks to TikTok.
Affogatos are made by pouring hot espresso over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and they can be topped with anything from chocolate chips to whipped cream. But honestly? If you try making one at home, you'll find that you don't really need the extras.
The Italians named the affogato after the Italian word for "drowned," but we'll forgive them—because this darkly-named treat is one of the most delicious coffee trends out there. And we have our old friend TikTok to thank for the current comeback it's making.
The "Draco Malfoy Refresher"
My research team tells me this has something to do with Harry Potter. Transport yourself into the Wizarding School with this TikTok-boosted matcha/white mocha coffee frappe. It's a secret menu item, but you can make it at home. All you need to do is make a frappe using white mocha syrup, then pour coffee, matcha, and cold foam over the top.
This is one of a few drinks like this I could even include on this list because most of these viral "secret menu" style concoctions are like drinking a half gallon of flavored milk, and don't even contain coffee—although they do come with barista contempt, which seems to be the sweetest taste of all for most TikTok influencers. (The ones who call people Karens, but then walk into coffee shops during a lunch rush and throw this kind of shit into the queue.)
The "Cloud Leopard Macchiato"
This secret menu item basically tastes like a cross between an iced latte, synesthesia, and a cotton candy machine. It's made with 4 espresso shots (2 decaf 2 ristretto), cold coconut milk, matcha powder, and several layers of flavored syrups—caramel, cinnamon, dolce, raspberry, and peppermint in order—and then topped with a layer of whipped cold foam, followed by more dolce syrup.
Ask for this TikTok creation by name at any participating drive through, and for an extra treat—make sure to order it "Animal Style." It's sweet, it's fluffy, and I made it up. But hey. Could you tell?
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Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the most popular TikTok coffee trends of 2022. While TikTok might not be the most reputable source for trends, comedy, news, information, entertainment, or decorum, there are definitely some good things on there when it comes to coffee. So go forth, and explore.
And if you find any other trends that are too weird to not try, be sure to let me know. I'm always looking for excuses to drink more coffee. Just, you know, maybe not always from TikTok.
