The birth of a new gastronomic trend is nothing new. Nor are the reasons why a product manages to reach every corner of the world. Sometimes, however, even the paradigms that drive the world of social media can be subverted: this is the case of the raspberry danish latte, which is literally driving everyone crazy. This drink, in fact, went viral for a rather unexpected reason: the coffee shop that makes it decided to make the recipe public, encouraging any coffee shop or the simply curious around the world to replicate it. The result was global fame, both for the drink and for its creators.
Raspberry Danish Latte Has Conquered the World
This story has its roots in a small independent coffee shop in Northfield, Minnesota, called Little Joy Coffee, which launched this seasonal latte inspired by a classic Nordic dessert: the berry Danish. What makes this drink interesting isn't so much the recipe, which is rather simple —raspberry syrup, milk, coffee, and a cream cheese filling—but what its popularity has spawned.
After it went viral last March, the owners decided to encourage all coffee shops to offer it in their establishments. They published both a home version and a more detailed one, designed for professionals, inviting everyone to find their way onto a map showing where they can enjoy a raspberry danish latte around the world . Today, coffee shops offering it are present on every continent except Antarctica: over 400 locations in 24 countries.
DIY or Buy is Actually a Series
This isn't the first time Little Joy Coffee has shared one of their recipes: their social media profiles feature several reels from the "Diy or Buy" series, which not only showcase the preparation process but also provide transparency into the cost of each drink. The goal is to make consumers more aware, helping them understand the price tag and the real margin. In the case of the raspberry danish latte, the owners say it costs around $2.46 to make, while it retails for $8. This difference, however, includes labor, equipment, and running costs. The manager in the video states: "The verdict is unanimous: don't try this at home."
This video series, however, highlights a clear limitation: not everyone can, or wants to, travel to this small Minnesota town to taste the original drink. So, why not share the recipe? Cody Larson, owner of Little Joy Coffee, said, according to the Guardian: "I thought, ‘No, this isn't going to work because no one is actually going to put this on the menu.' I even wrote down in my notebook the pros and cons of this idea. The downside was that we would look like losers, because no one would put it on the menu." The result, however, was far from disappointing and, in addition to appearing in coffee shops around the world, Little Joy Coffee has received hundreds of visits from those eager to try the original drink. As the owners themselves explained, it's likely that variations made elsewhere are not identical to the original: precisely for this reason, some enthusiasts have decided to travel directly to the place where this particular latte was born.
How to Make a Raspberry Danish Latte
The raspberry danish latte is a cross between a latte macchiato and a full-blown dessert. The recipe combines milk and coffee with a raspberry syrup on the bottom and a vanilla cream cheese filling on top. If you can't make it to Little Joy Coffee, here's the recipe from the official website:
- For the syrup: Combine 250 grams of raspberries, 250 grams of sugar, 250 grams of water, and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Strain the mixture and let it cool.
- For the vanilla cream cheese mousse: Mix 30 grams of cream cheese with 30 grams of brown sugar. Add 50 grams of fresh cream, 20 grams of milk, 1 gram of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine and whip the mixture until smooth.
- Assemble the drink: Fill a 470 ml glass with ice. Pour 40-50 grams of syrup into the bottom, then add 200 ml of milk. Pour a double shot of espresso, top with the cream foam, and garnish with a fresh raspberry.
;Resize,width=767;)
