Cold foam coffee lovers, rejoice! If you’re a fan of thick whipped cream or cream cheese frosting, there’s a new twist to try: cold foam made with cream cheese.
Cream cheese cold foam is essentially a creamy concoction blending whipped cream with a touch of cream cheese. This innovative method adds a subtly tangy and indulgent flavor to your sweetened cold foam. By combining sugar, milk or half-and-half, whipping cream, a pinch of salt, and a dollop of cream cheese, you can elevate your cold foam with a new layer of richness and texture while maintaining a smooth and drinkable consistency.
However, it’s crucial to strike the right balance. Too much cream cheese can result in a texture resembling cream cheese frosting, delicious but not ideal for floating atop your cold brew. If you find your cream cheese cold foam too dense, simply diluting it with more milk or whipping cream can remedy the situation.
Origins of the Idea
This trend, also known as “cheese cap,” has its roots in Taiwanese cheese tea. Despite the name, no actual cheese is brewed with the tea. Instead, it involves a cold foam topping for iced tea, commonly black tea, matcha, or oolong. The slightly sweet, slightly salty, and slightly tangy cheese cap complements the bitterness of black tea and matcha perfectly.
The practice emerged around 2010 with Taiwanese street vendors offering it as a late-night drink option. It quickly gained popularity across Asian countries, particularly in China. By 2017 and 2018, it started catching the attention of milk tea and bubble tea enthusiasts in the U.S.
Expanding into the Coffee World
Now, this concept is making its way into the coffee world. As cold foam coffee gains popularity as a mainstream way to enjoy cold brew, cheese foam is becoming a sought-after topping. Alongside innovations like olive oil coffee and pistachio cold foam, cheese foam is anticipated to find its place in mainstream cafes. Already, it’s making waves in foodie videos on platforms like TikTok.
