Recipes, iced coffee and decaf coffee
Banana Milk Coffee Has Gone Viral. Here Is The Decaf Version That Still Tastes Like Coffee
Banana milk coffee is sweet, creamy and unnecessarily photogenic. Here is how to make the viral iced drink with proper decaf espresso so it still tastes like coffee and does not invite the full caffeine circus.
Banana milk coffee is the latest iced drink to escape from TikTok and begin appearing everywhere else.
Vogue has covered it. Coffee brands are launching banana bread creamers. Searches for banana lattes are climbing and the trend has somehow produced banana latte nail varnish, which suggests the internet has now completed the entire journey from beverage to paint chart.
The drink itself is considerably more sensible.
Banana milk coffee combines strong iced coffee with sweet, creamy banana milk. The trend draws heavily on South Korean banana milk, particularly the small bottles of Binggrae Banana Flavoured Milk that have been sold in Korea since the 1970s.
To make a decaf version, fill a glass with ice, add one or two short decaf espressos and pour in around 150ml of cold banana milk. Stir and taste before adding syrup. Most banana milk is already sweet enough to handle the situation without further assistance.
The coffee needs to be strong.
Banana, milk and melting ice can flatten an ordinary brew very quickly. One weak coffee poured into a large glass produces a banana milk drink containing rumours of an espresso. Two short decaf shots provide a much better balance.
You can use shop bought banana milk or make your own by blending half a ripe banana with milk, a small drop of vanilla and a pinch of salt. Strain it if you prefer a smoother drink.
Decaf works particularly well here because banana milk coffee is exactly the sort of drink people reach for during a warm afternoon. You keep the cold coffee ritual and the unnecessarily attractive layers while adding considerably less caffeine than a standard double espresso version.
Decaf still contains a small amount of caffeine, but normally much less than regular coffee.
What Is Banana Milk Coffee?
Banana milk coffee is an iced coffee drink made with strong coffee, ice and banana flavoured milk.
Some versions use shop bought Korean banana milk. Others blend fresh banana with dairy or plant based milk. Banana bread latte recipes often add vanilla, cinnamon and brown sugar to create a warmer bakery flavour.
The basic drink works because banana adds sweetness and body while espresso gives it enough bitterness and depth to stop it becoming a milkshake with career ambitions.
Why Has Banana Coffee Gone Viral?
Banana coffee fits several current consumer trends at once.
- People want cold café style drinks they can make at home
- Social media rewards drinks with obvious layers and recognisable ingredients
- Flavoured iced coffee remains popular during warm weather
- Banana milk has an established following through Korean food and drink culture
- The recipe is simple enough to recreate without specialist equipment
The drink is also easy to change. It can become a banana bread latte, a cold brew drink, a protein coffee or a sweeter dessert style iced latte with very little effort.
Very little effort is often the decisive ingredient in a viral recipe.
What Does Banana Milk Coffee Taste Like?
Banana milk coffee is creamy, sweet and smooth with a soft banana flavour.
A well made version should still taste clearly of coffee. The banana should round out the espresso and add sweetness without taking over the entire glass.
The final flavour depends on three things:
- The strength of the coffee
- How sweet the banana milk is
- The amount of ice and milk used
Weak coffee produces a sweet banana drink with a vague brown tint. Strong decaf espresso creates something much closer to a proper iced latte.
How To Make Decaf Banana Milk Coffee
Ingredients
- One or two short shots of decaf espresso, around 30ml to 60ml
- 150ml cold banana milk
- A full glass of ice
- One teaspoon of maple syrup or brown sugar, optional
- A small pinch of sea salt, optional
Method
- Fill a tall glass with ice
- Pour in the cold banana milk
- Brew one or two short shots of decaf espresso
- Leave the coffee for a minute so it does not melt the ice immediately
- Pour the coffee over the banana milk
- Stir and taste
- Add syrup only if the drink needs more sweetness
Use two espresso shots for a larger glass or when the banana milk is particularly sweet. One shot is enough for a smaller and softer drink.
How To Make Banana Milk At Home
You do not need to find a specialist Korean supermarket or order a crate of tiny yellow bottles from the internet.
Homemade banana milk ingredients
- Half a ripe banana
- 150ml cold dairy milk or plant based milk
- Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract
- A small pinch of salt
- One teaspoon of maple syrup or honey, optional
Method
- Add all the ingredients to a blender
- Blend until completely smooth
- Taste before adding extra sweetener
- Strain through a fine sieve if you want a smoother drink
- Use immediately or keep chilled in a sealed container for up to one day
Riper bananas create a sweeter and stronger flavour. A firmer banana produces a lighter milk and may need a small amount of added sweetness.
Can You Make Banana Milk Without A Blender?
Yes, but the finished drink will have more texture.
Mash half a ripe banana thoroughly with a fork until it becomes a smooth paste. Add the milk a little at a time and whisk firmly. Stir in the vanilla and salt, then strain the mixture if required.
A handheld milk frother can help break up any remaining banana pieces. It will not produce the same perfectly smooth result as a blender, but it avoids introducing another electrical appliance to the washing up.
How To Make A Banana Bread Latte
A banana bread latte uses the same basic recipe with a few extra flavours.
Add the following to the homemade banana milk:
- Half a teaspoon of brown sugar
- A small pinch of cinnamon
- A small drop of vanilla extract
- An optional pinch of nutmeg
Pour the mixture over ice and add one or two shots of strong decaf espresso.
For a hot version, warm the banana milk gently before adding it to the coffee. Do not boil it. Boiling banana milk risks creating something closer to breakfast sauce than a latte.
How Much Coffee Should You Use?
Use one or two short shots of espresso or around 60ml of very strong brewed coffee.
Banana milk and ice both dilute the coffee flavour. A standard mug of lightly brewed coffee will struggle to remain noticeable.
Use:
- One espresso shot for a small and milky drink
- Two espresso shots for a large iced latte
- 60ml of moka pot coffee as an alternative
- 60ml of strong AeroPress coffee
- 75ml of cold brew concentrate
Avoid pushing extra water through one espresso serving. More water does not create more coffee. It creates a longer and weaker extraction from the same grounds.
Shop Decaf Espresso Coffee
Banana milk and ice need a strong coffee base. Use proper decaf espresso beans or ground coffee so the finished drink still tastes recognisably of coffee.
Which Decaf Coffee Works Best?
A fuller decaf espresso works best because it needs to balance sweet banana milk and melting ice.
Look for coffee with chocolate, caramel, nut or deeper fruit notes. Very delicate coffee can become lost once the milk and banana arrive.
The Only Trillionaire’s Decaf Coffee
A rich and full bodied option suited to espresso machines, moka pots and strong iced coffee. Use it when you want the coffee to stay firmly in charge.
Sugar, Sugar Colombian Decaf Coffee
A naturally sweet and balanced option that fits the banana bread latte variation particularly well.
Decaf Espresso Coffee
Choose beans when you grind at home or select an espresso grind for a machine, moka pot or suitable pressurised basket.
Can You Use Coffee Pods?
Yes. Use one or two strong decaf espresso capsules and brew them as short shots.
Two capsules usually work better for a large glass because banana milk and ice can overwhelm a single small coffee. Check that the capsules are compatible with your machine before ordering.
Can You Use Cold Brew?
Cold brew works well with banana milk because its smooth flavour suits the creamy drink.
Use around 75ml of strong decaf cold brew concentrate and add banana milk gradually. A ready to drink cold brew may need a higher coffee to milk ratio because it is already diluted.
Cold brew does not have to contain a large caffeine hit. Make it with decaf coffee beans and you keep the smooth preparation method with considerably less caffeine than a regular version.
How To Stop Banana Coffee Becoming Too Sweet
Shop bought banana milk and flavoured creamers can contain plenty of sweetness before any syrup is added.
Keep the drink balanced by:
- Using strong decaf espresso
- Adding syrup only after tasting
- Mixing banana milk with ordinary unsweetened milk
- Adding a small pinch of salt
- Using plenty of ice without leaving the drink to melt for half an hour
- Choosing a fuller coffee rather than a very light roast
The goal is banana milk coffee. It does not need to become a liquid cake unless you have made a deliberate decision.
Is Decaf Banana Milk Coffee Caffeine Free?
No. Decaf coffee still contains a small amount of caffeine.
It normally contains much less caffeine than regular coffee, which makes it a practical option for people reducing their caffeine intake or choosing a cold coffee later in the day.
Caffeine sensitivity varies. Anyone who needs to limit caffeine for medical or pregnancy related reasons should follow appropriate professional or official guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is banana milk coffee?
Banana milk coffee is a cold or hot coffee drink combining espresso or brewed coffee with banana flavoured milk. The iced version is the most common social media recipe.
Does banana taste good in coffee?
Banana works well with stronger coffee, particularly espresso with chocolate, caramel or nutty notes. The coffee needs enough body to balance the sweetness.
Can you make banana milk coffee with decaf?
Yes. Use one or two short shots of decaf espresso or strong decaf cold brew. The preparation method remains the same.
What coffee works best with banana milk?
A fuller espresso style coffee works best. Medium or darker roasts tend to remain more noticeable beneath the banana milk and ice.
Can you use Korean banana milk in coffee?
Yes. Korean banana flavoured milk can be poured directly over ice before adding espresso. Taste the drink before adding more sweetener.
Can you make banana coffee without a blender?
Yes. Mash a ripe banana thoroughly, whisk it into the milk and strain the mixture if required. Shop bought banana milk provides the easiest blender free route.
Is banana milk coffee served hot or cold?
It can be served either way. The viral version is usually iced, but warmed banana milk also works in a hot latte.
Does decaf banana coffee still contain caffeine?
Yes. Decaf contains a small amount of caffeine, but normally much less than regular coffee.
Make The Trend With Proper Decaf
Banana milk coffee is creamy, simple and visually impressive enough to occupy the internet for at least another fortnight.
The recipe works best when the coffee is strong enough to remain noticeable. Use proper decaf espresso, plenty of ice and banana milk that supports the coffee instead of burying it.
