Banana Coffee: The Viral Korean Drink You Must Try Today

A creamy fusion of banana milk and espresso that’s taking over cafés (and Instagram) worldwide

A hybrid between a smoothie and latte: ripe banana (or banana‑flavoured milk) + chilled milk (dairy or plant‑based) + ice + a shot of strong coffee or espresso.
Delivers natural sweetness and creaminess from banana; coffee adds depth and a gentle bitterness.
A lighter alternative to sugary frappés — many versions are under ~150 calories if not overly sweetened.

Banana Milk Coffee: Uses Korea’s iconic banana‑flavoured milk (by Binggrae), sometimes paired with hazelnut coffee, poured over ice.
Banana Espresso Smoothie: Made with real banana, ice, milk, and espresso — thicker, fruitier, more homemade feel.

Binggrae launched banana milk in 1974, when actual bananas were a rare luxury in Korea. The banana‑flavoured milk became a symbol of aspiration and childhood nostalgia.
Its jar‑shaped bottle design was inspired by traditional Korean pottery. It helped root the drink in culture and memory.
By 2010, Binggrae was selling over 800,000 bottles a day.
Banana milk regained global attention when BTS’s Jungkook was spotted sipping it — a moment that helped accelerate the drink’s nostalgic, celeb‑led pop culture appeal.

Health Appeal: Bananas bring fibre, potassium, and natural sugar. Coffee offers antioxidants. A balanced combo that appeals to those reducing processed sugar.
Aesthetic Power: Layered visuals — creamy banana base, dark coffee top — make it perfect for Instagram, reels, and TikTok.
Media & Search Surges: Searches for terms like “banana latte” are up ~1,500% year‑on‑year. “Banana bread latte” has seen even larger jumps (~6,000%) in some places.
Customisable: You can tweak sweetness, milk type, add protein, cocoa, or switch to vegan versions.

Ingredients:

Method:

Blend banana (if using fresh), milk, ice, and optional sweetener until smooth.
Brew coffee separately.
Pour banana‑mixture into a tall glass. Slowly layer the coffee on top to get that visual separation.
Stir before drinking or enjoy as is to appreciate the layers.

Cafés from Seoul to New York now include it on menus. Even major chains are experimenting with banana flavours in cold coffees and protein foams.
Banana coffee owes its spread partly to K‑pop and idol culture — fans saw it in behind‑the‑scenes videos, interviews, etc., especially when famous faces like Jungkook are seen drinking banana milk.
Its roots + nostalgia + social media = powerful combo for global virality.

Yes — if you enjoy bananas + coffee, and want something healthier or more playful than standard lattes.
Perfect for summer, for visuals, for experimenting at home.
Just watch added sugars, and tweak to personal taste or dietary requirements.