The humble cappuccino could be a thing of the past if the latest coffee trend is anything to go by.
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Village Bakehouse Orange added beetroot and seaweed extract lattes to its menu this week, alongside its already popular turmeric and matcha offerings.
Barista Justin Sandry said both the novelty factor of coloured drinks and customers’ increased focus on health are what is driving the trend.
“None of these things existed four years ago, but people in Orange are health conscious,” he said.
“They are really liking these drinks.”
The bakery offers the powder based drinks both non-caffeinated and with a shot of coffee – or ‘dirty’ as it’s known in the barista business.
“It’s a good coffee alternative, especially coming into winter,” Mr Sandry said.
A Melbourne cafe took alternative ingredients to extreme this week when it became the first to test a CSIRO developed broccoli powder on its customers.
While response to the broccoli flavoured latte was mixed, The Grocer and Co Organics’ Guy Hampton said he was keen to give it a go.
“Our whole premise is about thinking outside the box – people are changing the way they think about diet and broccoli in coffee is a cool way to increase nutritional intake,” he said.
Mr Hampton said customers at his McNamara Street store are always looking for ways to improve their diets.
“People are looking for ways to detox their bodies – this is a good way to do it and steer away from pills.”
The coffee cup is unlikely to be the only place the broccoli base is likely to pop up, with scientists creating the powder to encourage the consumption of vegetables deemed too ugly for the supermarket.
Made from 100 per cent broccoli, the powder packs a powerful punch, with just two tablespoons containing one serve of broccoli.
Its development is part of a bigger Hort Innovation and CSIRO research project which aims to reduce food waste by finding alternative uses for produce unfit for sale.
The Agrestic Grocer’s Beau Baddock said that while he can see the benefits of expanding hot drink options, with the cafe’s own beetroot hot chocolate, tumeric and matcha lattes all popular with customers, the broccoli latte isn’t a trend he’s super keen to jump onboard with.
“Sounds gross,” Mr Baddock said.