Coffee trends are always changing. This year, we’re seeing more people staying away from the sweet, sugary drinks that have been popular in recent years. Instead of using familiar flavors like vanilla and caramel, baristas and coffee lovers are experimenting with unique ingredients such as salt, miso, tahini, and even cheese foam. This trend is called savory coffee, and it’s becoming widely popular!
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From caramel to umami
Savory coffee is an intriguing new way to enjoy coffee, using flavors like saltiness and umami (the savory taste often found in foods like mushrooms and tomatoes) instead of sugar. This means no more caramel drizzles or sweet syrups; instead, aiming for a more unique coffee experience with ingredients that enhance the coffee’s natural taste.
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Baristas are really getting creative with the flavors. It’s not just a seasonal trend, but something you can enjoy all year round.
According to the National Coffee Association, 46% of American adults now drink specialty coffee every day, making coffee America’s favorite beverage.
That number shows that today’s coffee drinkers are far more demanding and open to new options than they were a few years ago.
Popular savory coffee combos people are actually trying
Here are some of the most popular savory coffee drinks we are seeing all over social media right now.
Bone broth latte
This might sound strange, but mixing bone broth with coffee is becoming popular for a reason. It creates a rich, hearty flavor that is different but is surprisingly tastier than your usual latte.
It has become popular among health enthusiasts who enjoy both protein-packed drinks and those who prioritize gut health. For anyone who already enjoys drinking broth in the morning, mixing it with coffee is a great idea.
Salted cheese cold foam
Salted cream cheese foam layered over cold brew has become one of the fastest-growing trends all across America. The foam is slightly salty and rich, even though it uses a bit of sugar.
Many people and cafés are also coming up with their own versions using whipped cream cheese, flaked salt, and a small amount of heavy cream for a smoother texture.
Miso latte
Miso is a fermented soybean paste that has been a staple in Asian cooking for centuries, used in soups, marinades, and sauces, and now people are adding it to coffee, too. Adding miso to coffee helps balance any bitterness and gives the drink a satisfying, savory richness that makes it enjoyable all on its own. Some people are even adding tahini to the miso latte for a richer flavor.
Salted Spanish latte
A Spanish latte is espresso with sweetened condensed milk, rich and full-bodied. The salted version adds a flaked sea salt finish or a salted cream cap, and the difference is noticeable. The salted Spanish latte has quickly become a sought-after choice for those eager to indulge in a rich, flavorful coffee experience.
Salted honeycomb tahini latte
Maman, a bakery and café with locations across New York, introduced a salted honeycomb tahini latte that became popular in March 2025 after TikTok creator Halley Kate, who has more than 1.5 million followers, posted about it, calling it the best coffee she had ever had. The video hit 45,000 likes in a matter of hours, and the drink went viral. Today, Maman continues to serve this special latte, and many people are even trying to recreate it at home.
Where to find savory coffee in the U.S.?
Looking for unique coffee flavors in the U.S.? Savory coffee is becoming quite popular, and many cafés are now offering it on their menus.
In Los Angeles, Kumquat Coffee in Highland Park draws coffee drinkers with its Tennessee Iced Latte, a drink that gets its signature taste from smoked salt.
Across town, Be Bright Coffee on Melrose, founded by the 2024 U.S. Coffee Championships winner, serves a toasted coconut latte with macadamia nut milk and a dusting of smoked sea salt, which they call “sea mist twist”.
Miso coffee has also become quite popular with many cafés serving it with brown sugar. Studio 24 Coffee in Miami serves a delicious blend of miso caramel latte with sesame oil. On the other hand, Babaloo Coffee Club in Charlotte serves a miso latte blended with brown butter, delivering a nutty, salty flavor.
Over in Austin, Texas, Desnudo is known for its innovative, umami-flavored coffees, perfect for those looking to try something new. In New York, Caffe Paradiso has introduced a salted brown butter oat latte, with just the right amount of salt to balance the nutty taste of brown butter.
Many other cafés around the country are getting creative with savory flavors, and it seems like people are really enjoying these new tastes!
Why this matters
Many younger Americans have grown up tasting a wide range of international foods, such as Korean BBQ, Japanese ramen, and Middle Eastern dishes. This exposure has changed their coffee preferences compared to older generations, who typically drank regular coffee with flavored creamers.
This generation now keep speciality ingredients like tahini and miso in their kitchens. And when these unique flavors were introduced in lattes, they couldn’t resist trying them out.
Social media has completely transformed how quickly new coffee ideas spread across the country.
Cafés that are doing well today are the ones brave enough to try surprising new flavors and see how their customers res
