Beijing Museum Serves Coffee Topped with Ground Cockroaches.

2 hours ago7 min read2 comments

In a move that's equal parts audacious and icky, a Beijing museum has decided that your morning latte needs a serious protein boost, launching a coffee that comes topped with a sprinkling of ground-down cockroaches. Yes, you read that correctly.This isn't just a quirky latte art situation; the entire beverage is an entomological adventure, also laced with dried yellow mealworms for good measure, creating a caffeine pick-me-up that is literally crawling with controversy. Priced at a cool 45 yuan (about US$6) a cup, this bizarre brew is being served at the coffee shops within the capital's insect museum, a detail that somehow makes the concept both more understandable and yet infinitely more unsettling.Early drinkers, those brave culinary pioneers, have described the flavor profile to news outlet The Cover as having a distinctly 'burnt and slightly sour' character, which honestly sounds about right for a drink that essentially involves pulverized pests. Imagine the deepest, darkest roast you've ever tasted, but with an underlying tang that whispers of forgotten corners and sudden movements in the dark—it’s a sensory experience that goes far beyond your standard single-origin bean.This isn't just a random stunt, though it certainly has that viral, Instagram-bait quality; it taps into a much larger, global conversation about sustainable food sources and the future of protein. As climate concerns mount and traditional agriculture strains under its own weight, scientists and food innovators have been pointing to insects as a logical, eco-friendly alternative for years.They're packed with protein, require a fraction of the resources of livestock, and cultures around the world have been enjoying them as delicacies for centuries. From the tangy crunch of chapulines in Oaxaca, Mexico, to the fragrant silk moth pupae in Korea, the world is already full of bug-based bites.What makes the Beijing museum's coffee so brilliantly disruptive is its method of introduction—it's not presented as a challenging standalone dish on a brave foodie's menu, but as a direct, almost confrontational addition to the most ubiquitous of modern rituals: the coffee break. It forces a conversation, making you question what you're willing to put in your body and why.The 'ick' factor is, of course, the main event here, a powerful psychological barrier that food companies have been trying to overcome for decades. Will this caffeinated creep-show become the next big thing? Probably not for the faint of heart, but it’s a fascinating experiment in consumer psychology and a bold statement from a museum dedicated to the often-maligned world of insects.It’s a drink that doesn’t just wake you up; it makes you think, it makes you gag a little, and it absolutely makes you text your friends with a disbelieving 'you won't believe what I just read. ' In the grand tapestry of food trends, from rainbow bagels to charcoal-infused everything, the cockroach coffee of Beijing is a dark, six-legged thread that we won't soon forget.

#cockroach coffee

#insect brew

#Beijing museum

#food innovation

#unusual drinks

#featured

Stay Informed. Act Smarter.

Get weekly highlights, major headlines, and expert insights — then put your knowledge to work in our live prediction markets.

Comments

Loading comments...