What Is a Banana Bread Latte?

One of the internet’s advantages is that when someone has an innovative idea for a new food or beverage creation, their suggestion can spread like wildfire. For caffeine-lovers like me, the result is a bevy of coffee trends that are always introducing new ways to enjoy our daily brew — and the latest coffee fad might be my favorite one yet.

This summer, the “banana bread latte” is the elaborate brew that everyone is making at home, and if you love the classic baked good in its name, then you should try this drink too. It captures the flavor of banana bread but doesn’t require mixing batter or turning on an oven, and it’s incredibly delicious. 

It’s difficult to pinpoint a single social media user as the creator of the banana bread latte, but one specific recipe for it has gained popularity on social media recently, and it’s super easy to make at home.

How do you make a banana bread latte?

This simple drink starts with the same method you’d use for real banana bread: mashing a banana in a bowl (or on a plate or in a jar). Transfer the mashed banana to a small saucepan, and add brown sugar and water. Different creators might suggest slightly different ratios for their recipes, but one example recommends using a straightforward 1:1:1 ratio, meaning one banana, one cup of brown sugar, and one cup of water.

At this point, you can optionally add a pinch of salt, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and/or some nutmeg. Stir to combine everything, then heat the banana and sugar mixture over medium heat until it boils. Let the liquid simmer until it starts to thicken, then remove it from the heat and add a dash of vanilla or almond extract if desired.

Next, you can either strain your banana syrup through a mesh strainer to remove any fruit pieces, or blend it. Now, your banana syrup is ready! Add the desired amount to an espresso cup or another small, heatproof vessel, and brew the espresso directly over it. Stir to combine the hot espresso and flavored syrup.

From there, you can use the espresso mixture to make a latte just as you normally would. Pour it over ice and your choice of milk for an iced latte, or steam some milk for a warm, comforting beverage. If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can also stir a spoonful of this syrup into drip coffee or cold brew. And if you're craving an extra finishing touch, try mixing some of the banana syrup into cold or hot foam to top your drink.

This isn’t the first banana coffee trend

Alongside the trending banana bread latte, “banana cream” or “banana pudding” lattes gained popularity online in 2024. Unlike the banana bread latte, these didn’t have a standard recipe that most creators followed. Instead, different accounts shared a variety of ways to create these banana-flavored drinks.

One user crafted a banana cream latte with banana pudding mix and white chocolate syrup, while another blended a banana into a frothy cream topping. Of course, most banana pudding lattes incorporate Nilla wafers, the vanilla cookies that are essential to a classic banana pudding’s flavor.

Where can you buy a banana bread latte?

If making a homemade banana syrup isn’t in your future, don’t worry — Dutch Bros coffee has over 1,000 locations across the United States and offers a banana bread syrup on its menu. Fans of the chain have praised the syrup, with many choosing to add it to cold brew, although you can certainly add it in a latte as well. (Note that if you order a banana bread latte at Dutch Bros, it might contain hazelnut syrup.)

Thanks to the TikTok trend, many independent cafes might now serve banana bread or banana-flavored coffee drinks too, although they’re often seasonal or only available for a limited time.

If you’re in New York City, visit Not As Bitter in the East Village to try its “Banana Split” beverage, which mixes coconut milk, espresso shots, and fresh fruit over ice. Lift Coffee Shop & Cafe in Richmond, Virginia, offers a Banana Bread Latte that’s very similar to the one being created online, featuring a spiced banana syrup as the base. 

Personally, I’ll be making a batch of my own banana syrup so I can use it for more than just coffee. This weekend, I’m making banana pancakes topped with a drizzle of this sweet concoction. One syrup, endless banana-fueled possibilities — and I’m just getting started.