As if we needed another way to drink coffee, right?
Wrong. We always need another way to drink coffee. In fact, the more ways, the better.
First, TikTok brought us the Espresso Bomb, then Instagram did the honours with the aesthetically pleasing Mont Blanc.
Now, there’s a new variant in town, The Cloud Coffee.
Its creamy peaks are set to become part of our morning routines, as soon as we can pick up a carton of coconut water.
Here’s everything you need to know about it…
What is a Cloud Coffee?
Yes, that’s right. I said coconut water, so you can almost consider this one as a health drink (right?).
And given that coconut water is something you chug when you’re in a heatwave, there really couldn’t be a more appropriate colliding of worlds.
It’s sweet, creamy, refreshing and ready for its close-up, Mr. DeMille.
A Cloud Coffee is coconut water poured over ice. It’s then topped with a hovering cloud of coffee, also known as a thick layer of double cream and coffee that’s been whizzed together with a frother.
The idea is the coffee and cream mix ‘floats’ atop the drink, like a cloud.
You can always add agave or vanilla syrup if you have a sweet tooth, though coconut water alone seems to do the job for most people.
A pinch of salt is also great for bringing out the sweeter flavours.
The origins of the Cloud Coffee aren’t entirely clear, but it seems to be a medley of two previous viral coffee drinks: the Dalgona coffee (the whipped South Korean coffee that was everywhere in lockdown) and the coconut water iced Americano that was trending earlier this year.
And now, the Cloud Coffee is getting TikTok love in its own right, described by @karen as ‘coffee ice cream in drink form’ and @charlottelouisetaylor said the drinks look ‘dreamy’. Meanwhile @ieaieaaaaa added ‘I think I’m falling in love.’
And would you believe it, there are already alternative twists on the Cloud Coffee, including tiramisu, iced strawberry matcha, peanut butter, Baileys, Biscoff and even Dubai chocolate.
Of course, there’s a Dubai chocolate version of everything nowadays. Have you noticed? They’ll be doing one with hot honey next… please don’t.
While I can’t actually claim that this iteration of a coffee is healthier than any others, coconut water is known to be a ready source of electrolytes and potassium.
Steer clear of adding syrups, mind, if you’re looking to keep the calories in check.
How to make a Cloud Coffee
It’s easy to make and most importantly, there’s no whipping cream and coffee until your arm falls off like the Dalgona.
Follow this recipe to give it a try:
- 150ml unsweetened coconut water
- A double shot of espresso, cooled
- 50ml tablespoons double cream
- A handful of medium-sized ice cubes, or one large one
- A pinch of salt
First, make the cloud foam. To do this, pour the cream, cooled double espresso shot and a pinch of salt into a small jug or cup and froth with your handheld frother for 15 to 30 seconds. Probably best to draw a double espresso and keep it in the fridge overnight.
Then, load the ice into a tumbler and pour in the coconut water. It should come to around two thirds full.
Then, spoon over your coffee-cream cloud, and it will sit on top of the coconut water like a, well, cloud.
Take a metal straw, stir and enjoy.
My verdict
I stuck to the above recipe and I have to say, it was sublime.
You have the roasty notes of the coffee coming through, made indecently decadent by the fluffy cream.
But when it’s mixed in with the coconut water, it takes on a refreshing nature with a touch of sweetness and is unlike any drink I’ve had. Unless you have a sweet tooth, I’d tend to leave out agave or vanilla syrup, which could make it cloying.
In conclusion, I would rate the Cloud Coffee ten out of ten, would absolutely make again.
I would probably experiment with dusting cinnamon on top, other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing.
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