The Instagram-Inspired Drinks That Are Keeping Me Caffeinated
Sit back, relax, and sip.
Social media ASMR (that tingly feeling you get from watching or hearing something satisfying) comes to me in many forms; sometimes it’s watching eclairs get dipped in chocolate on Tastemade France’s Instagram feed, or calm app ads of sand being raked, whatever it is, I am grateful for any and all moments that encourage me to take a deep breath these days. This week, my social media solace has come in the form of watching coffee and tea-based drinks carefully being poured over perfect cubes of ice into vintage glasses.
As far as my research shows, these videos draw inspiration from traditional Japanese milk tea-style drinks you might find at your favorite boba shop. With pourable sweet cream, strawberry milk, and shaped ice cubes being added to glassware that perfectly reflects the sunlight, delicious drinks are formed and a deep breath is taken as a long spoon combines the layers of liquids within the glass, sounds relaxing, right? If you’ve never seen one of these videos and are on the edge of your seat waiting for an example of what it is I’m even talking about, don’t worry! I’ve made three drinks Inspired by the Instagram craze so you can feel the joy of watching matcha mix with milk for yourself.
1 /3 Strawberry Earl Grey Milk Tea with Cream
This simple iced drink has a balance of fruity flavors from the strawberry milk and earthy notes from the earl grey tea. If you can’t find strawberry milk, mash a few teaspoons of freeze-dried strawberries and add them to the milk of your choice. Most strawberry milk you will find at the store is dairy-based, so by making it yourself you can create a dairy-free version!
2 /3 Matcha Affogato
I can single-handedly blame affogatos for the severity of my caffeine addiction as a young adult, for without them, I probably never would have gotten into espresso. In this version, we’ve swapped out espresso for a hot matcha shot to make this bright and earthy green affogato topped with matcha KitKats and Pocky. While matcha still has caffeine, my fellow coffee drinkers know the effects are much more minimal, which makes this drink a perfect option for an afternoon pick-me-up.
3 /3 Caramel Cream Coffee
Some mornings, you need a coffee drink that brightens your day more than an average cup of joe would. This simple recipe takes the basic sugar you might add to your coffee and turns it to caramel, and makes creamer into sweet whipped cream. Two additions to your mug that will be sure to put a smile on your face and help you to begin your day on a sweeter note.