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The past few years have seen their fair share of unusual coffee crazes. From activated charcoal to bone marrow, there seems no end to the weird and wonderful things that people will add to the humble cup of coffee. Perhaps you’ve already tried a mushroom coffee, or maybe a turmeric latte, but are you ready for coffee with broccoli?
You might be relieved to hear that broccoli coffee is actually just a couple of spoonfuls of broccoli powder added to a standard latte, rather than some strange infusion of broccoli and hot water. And in a way, the idea makes sense - after all, most of us struggle to meet our daily quota of fresh fruit and vegetables, but we do all drink plenty of coffee.
At least, this was the thinking of the Australian-based scientists at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), when they developed the broccoli powder that is used in broccoli coffee. The powder is made from unwanted ‘ugly’ broccoli that doesn’t sell in shops, and uses the whole broccoli, stem and all. These veggie misfits then undergo a careful drying process, allowing the powder to retain all the colour, flavour and nutrients of fresh broccoli. So broccoli powder actually provides a convenient way to increase your vegetable intake, while helping to minimise food waste at the same time.
Approximately two tablespoons of this magic powder is equal to one serving of broccoli, and if you’re not sure about putting it in your coffee, it can be added to smoothies, savoury muffins, soups and dips. Researchers at CSIRO have even made it into an extruded corn puff snack that is reportedly a big hit with children.
The broccoli coffee, or ‘broccolatte’ first hit the news back in 2018, when Aussie baristas at Commonfolk Coffee in Melbourne began serving up the bizarre brew to their customers as part of an experiment in conjunction with the scientists at CSIRO. Results, we are told, were ‘mixed’, but perhaps because the idea was so off the wall, people couldn’t resist trying the broccolatte out in their own kitchens, and a modest craze was born.
Now it seems that the cruciferous cuppa could be making a comeback, so if you want to try adding some veggie goodness to your morning cup, check out our how-to guide, below. And if you don’t like it, you can always add the rest of the powder to more conventionally broccoli-friendly dishes, like an omelette or some mac and cheese.
Broccoli Coffee: How to Make it and Health Benefits
If you’re ready to take the plunge and try making your own broccolatte at home, it’s actually pretty simple, although you will need some coffee-making equipment.
Broccoli powder is available to buy online and from health food shops everywhere. To get the full benefit of the broccoli, make sure you choose a powder that is 100% broccoli, with no added ingredients.
To make your broccolatte, pull an espresso shot, then stir in around two tablespoons of broccoli powder. Next, add some steamed milk, and sprinkle some more broccoli powder over the top. And that’s it.
There are plenty of potential health benefits to adding more broccoli to your diet. It is particularly rich in vitamins K and C, and also provides a good source of folate, phosphorus, potassium and calcium, as well as beneficial plant compounds like beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, and small amounts of vitamins A and E.
Other benefits of a diet high in broccoli may include a boost to brain health, stronger bones thanks to its vitamin K, and calcium content, and anti-inflammatory protection for the cells of the body.
If you’re thirsty for more unusual coffee concoctions, why not take a break from modern innovations, and draw inspiration from a drink with its roots firmly in the past? You may not have heard of chicory coffee, but people have been brewing it for hundreds of years. Made from the ground roots of the chicory plant, this herbal coffee substitute has been served in both eighteenth century Prussia and in New Orleans’s Cafe du Monde. Find out how to enjoy it at your own breakfast table here.
