Originally published: SBS News, 17 January 2026
Coffee in Australia is undergoing a flavour revolution, as cafés experiment with Asian-inspired ingredients that blur the line between coffee, tea and dessert.
Watch the recording of the SBS Australia News interview with our Senior Account Director, Kate Richards, here > and listen to the podcast, Asian-Inspired coffees gain ground in Australia, exploring emerging coffee trends in Australia, here >
From matcha and roasted green tea to grapefruit, Earl Grey and roasted soybean powder, these hybrid drinks are gaining popularity among coffee drinkers looking for something beyond the traditional flat white.
In Melbourne — often described as Australia’s coffee capital — cafés are increasingly pushing the boundaries of what a coffee can be.
Online survey platform Pureprofile is tracking Australia’s growing fascination with exotic and visually striking drink trends.
Pureprofile’s senior client development director, Kate Richards, said: “It’s turning into beverage theatre.”
More than a caffeine boost, these drinks deliver texture, taste, and shareability.
“Presentation has become as important as flavour, with dessert-style lattes becoming visually arresting performances!” she said.
According to Pureprofile’s social insights tool, Asian-inspired food and drink now accounts for 28 per cent of online share.
“TikTok mentions of crema lattes soared from 6.01 million in January last year to 9.82 million in August, up by 63 per cent,” she said.
According to Pureprofile, the trend reflects a broader cultural shift.
“Trends like Instagram-worthy lattes are exploding in popularity right now. For example, last year TikTok views of pistachio matcha lattes more than doubled in eight months,” she said.
“Asian inspiration is everywhere, not only in food and beverage but also in categories like fashion, beauty, travel and technology.”
Download our full “Latest food & beverage trends in Australia” report here, using insights from Pureprofile’s Social Insights Tools, powered by Quilt.AI
