Coffee in Technicolor

Saffron brings its sunny vibes to coffee drinks

Innovation today in the coffee space is astounding, offering a bevy of globally inspired builds. Thanks in large part to the rise of the global bakery, coffee drinks serve as an ideal platform for new-to-American-consumer flavor builds. Innovation here is often guided by the color story—look to the proliferation of matcha, pistachio, black sesame, butterfly pea powder and ube as evidence here. Saffron is next. The spice’s unique profile lends itself well to both hot and cold coffee creations, adding its warm floral tones and rich yellow hue. At Flora Jean’s in Little Rock, Ark., the Iced Saffron Latte stands out with its gorgeous color, offering a heady blend of saffron, cardamom and vanilla.

About the Author

Katie Ayoub serves as managing editor of Flavor & The Menu and content strategist for the Flavor Experience, an annual conference geared toward chain operators. She is president of Katie Ayoub & Associates, serving up menu trends expertise, content creation and food & beverage consultancy. Based in Chicago, Katie has been working in foodservice publishing for more than 20 years and part of the Flavor team since 2006. [email protected]Click to Read More Stories by Katie Ayoub