An earthy, savory seed butter is making its way into the coffee world.
People Are Adding This Surprising Ingredient to Their Coffee
Published on Jul. 18, 2025
The variety of flavored coffee drinks is more unexpected than ever. From purple ube lattes to horchata shaken espresso to vanilla shakeratos, the inspiration for new coffee flavors can come from foods both sweet and savory.
The most recent coffee trend is based on one of the essential ingredients in … hummus?! Yes, savory, salty, nutty tahini coffee is making its way into social media feeds and local coffee shops alike. Because in the same way that it adds savory complexity to your favorite spreads and Mediterranean foods, it seems tahini can take a latte or morning cup of coffee to the next level.
What is tahini coffee?
Tahini coffee combines the United States’ most common source of caffeine with tahini, a creamy Mediterranean condiment made from ground toasted or untoasted sesame seeds. Not all tahinis taste alike. The type of sesame seeds used, the amount of time they’re toasted and the addition of salt or neutral oil all affect the final flavor.
It might seem surprising to see tahini on a coffee menu, but flavors like almond and hazelnut have long been popular coffee shop offerings. This sesame-centric take is simply another option for people who crave a nutty note in their java. Plus, many types of coffee have a natural nuttiness to them, so a dash of tahini is a perfect complement. You might notice lattes made with tahini syrup or blended espresso drinks that whip coffee and tahini together.
Is tahini coffee savory?
Tahini is a naturally savory ingredient. It’s made from toasted sesame seeds, which have an earthy, nutty, roasted and lightly bitter flavor. Salt is sometimes added as the seeds are ground into a paste, which makes the overall impression even more savory.
If you’re not a fan of black coffee, don’t worry! Tahini coffee is often sweetened, or the tahini is made into a syrup by blending it with water and sugar before it’s mixed into the coffee. It’s not going to be as sweet as an iced caramel latte, but it’s not going to taste bitter either.
Is tahini coffee meant to be hot or iced?
@halleykate Just trust me
Tahini coffee went viral thanks to a post from the TikTok account @halleykate about the iced Salted Tahini Honeycomb Latte, served by East Coast coffee chain Maman. That’s why so many of the copycat recipes by both home cooks and other coffee shops are served cold. But here’s the thing: If you really love the nutty note of tahini, serving it in a hot coffee will emphasize its flavor and unique aroma. Plus, stirring tahini into hot coffee helps the paste incorporate better into the beverage.
If you’re in for a more subtle tahini moment, iced coffee is the way to go. Keeping the tahini chilled keeps its flavors from fully mixing in with the coffee, and you won’t sense the scent of the tahini as easily, so it will take a backseat to the flavor of the coffee. The tahini or tahini syrup will likely collect at the bottom of your glass, so be sure to stir as you enjoy.
How to Sweeten Tahini Coffee
Tahini and coffee are naturally bitter. In order to balance some of that bitterness, add a sweetener. Coffee drinkers who love a big dose of sesame flavor should add white sugar or simple syrup to their tahini coffee. The pure sweetness of these sugar sources won’t interfere with the tahini at all, so you’ll get maximum sesame in every sip!
Honey or maple syrup will bring additional flavors to your drink, and using one of them as a sweetener will tamp down the impact of the tahini. Maple syrup is a common pairing with tahini because its caramelized notes complement the toasty flavor of roasted sesame seeds. Honey may add citrusy or floral notes which would make it taste more like the original viral latte that features honeycomb. You can choose the type of honey you use based on the flavors it will bring to your beverage.
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