Learn how to make tahini latte at home with this step-by-step guide. Discover ingredients, recipes, health benefits, variations, and pro tips to perfect this viral, creamy, and nutty coffee drink. From traditional Middle Eastern flavors to modern twists, explore why the tahini latte is one of the top specialty coffee trends in 2025 US and beyond.
How to Make Tahini Latte at Home: Easy & Healthy Guide
The coffee world is always evolving, and in 2025, one of the most surprising yet delightful trends to capture attention in the US specialty coffee scene is the tahini latte.
With its creamy texture, nutty sesame flavor, and reputation as a healthier alternative to sugar-heavy beverages, this drink is gaining popularity both in cafés and among home baristas.
If you’ve been wondering how to make tahini latte at home, this guide will walk you through the steps, share expert tips, highlight health benefits, and explain why this latte has become a global sensation.
See more: Specialty Coffee Trends 2025 US: What’s Brewing Next?
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Tahini Latte at Home
When people search for this recipe, they want clear, practical instructions. Making a tahini latte at home is surprisingly simple, but it requires attention to balance and technique. Follow this step-by-step process to create a drink that rivals any café offering.
Ingredients You’ll Need for a Perfect Tahini Latte
Before you start, gather the essentials:
1–2 shots of espresso (or strong brewed coffee if you don’t have an espresso machine)
1–2 tablespoons of tahini (preferably smooth, high-quality sesame paste)
200 ml milk of choice (oat, almond, soy, or dairy—oat milk enhances creaminess best)
Sweetener (optional: honey, maple syrup, agave)
Pinch of cinnamon or cardamom for garnish (optional)
Pro Tip: The quality of tahini makes a huge difference. Just as specialty coffee lovers select beans with care, choose tahini made from 100% sesame seeds, ideally stone-ground for a smoother flavor.
Step 1: Preparing the Tahini Base
In a small cup, mix tahini with a dash of hot water or a splash of espresso to loosen its texture. This prevents clumping and ensures it blends seamlessly with milk and coffee. Think of this step like preparing a matcha paste—creating a smooth foundation is key.
Step 2: Steaming or Frothing the Milk
Heat your chosen milk until it reaches about 150°F (65°C), just below boiling. Froth it using a steam wand, handheld frother, or French press. Plant-based milks such as oat or almond work beautifully because they foam well and complement tahini’s nutty flavor.
Step 3: Combining Espresso, Milk, and Tahini
Pour freshly brewed espresso into a mug.
Add the tahini base and stir gently.
Slowly pour in frothed milk, holding back the foam with a spoon until the end.
Top with milk foam and swirl gently to create a creamy, layered drink.
Step 4: Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancements
Tahini has a naturally earthy, slightly bitter taste. To balance this, consider:
Honey for floral sweetness
Maple syrup for a richer, caramelized note
Cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to add warmth
Vanilla extract for a softer, rounded finish
A 2025 café trend report revealed that 62% of US specialty cafés now offer “functional flavorings” like spices and natural syrups, catering to health-conscious customers who avoid artificial additives.
Step 5: Presentation and Latte Art
Presentation matters. Sprinkle cinnamon on top, drizzle a few drops of tahini for aesthetics, or dust with sesame seeds. In professional cafés, baristas experiment with latte art even on tahini lattes, creating a mix of tradition and innovation.
As a Turkish saying goes, “Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love.” With tahini latte, we reinterpret this: smooth as sesame, rich as espresso, and comforting as home.
Why Tahini Latte? The Story Behind the Trend
The tahini latte didn’t appear out of thin air; it reflects broader shifts in food and beverage culture.
Origins in Middle Eastern Cuisine
Tahini, a paste made from ground sesame seeds, has been a cornerstone of Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries. Used in hummus, halva, and sauces, it’s valued for both nutrition and flavor. Blending it into coffee may seem novel in the US, but in regions like Lebanon and Turkey, sesame-based drinks are part of culinary tradition.
Rise of Tahini in Western Specialty Coffee
The Western adoption of tahini lattes reflects a globalization of taste. Just as matcha lattes from Japan and turmeric lattes from India became international wellness staples, tahini now joins this category.
In 2025, Yelp reported a 900% increase in searches for tahini coffee recipes in the US, with cafés in New York, Los Angeles, and Portland adding it to their menus. On TikTok, the hashtag #TahiniLatte has amassed millions of views, driven by Gen Z content creators showcasing DIY home café recipes.
Health Benefits of Tahini Coffee
Another reason behind the popularity of tahini lattes is their alignment with health and wellness trends dominating the specialty coffee industry.
Nutritional Value of Tahini
Tahini is rich in:
Protein – ideal for post-workout recovery
Calcium – bone health support
Iron and Magnesium – essential minerals
Healthy fats – unsaturated oils that support heart health
A tablespoon of tahini adds around 90 calories but delivers nutrients that sugary syrups cannot. It’s a functional ingredient that aligns with consumer demands for beverages that “do more than refresh.”
Comparing Tahini Latte vs Regular Latte
| Feature | Regular Latte | Tahini Latte |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Creamy, dairy-forward | Nutty, earthy, complex |
| Calories | 150–200 | 180–220 (depending on tahini & milk) |
| Nutrients | Protein, calcium (from milk) | Protein, healthy fats, minerals |
| Health appeal | Energy & comfort | Energy + nutrition + wellness benefits |
By replacing processed syrups with tahini, you turn an indulgence into a functional coffee drink that supports daily nutrition goals.
Variations of Tahini Latte Recipes
Part of what makes the tahini latte trend exciting is its adaptability. Consumers and cafés alike are experimenting with versions that suit different lifestyles and seasons.
Vegan Tahini Latte with Oat or Almond Milk
Plant-based diets continue to surge, and tahini naturally fits into vegan recipes. Using oat or almond milk ensures the drink is fully plant-based while maintaining creaminess. According to Statista, 39% of Millennials in the US prefer plant-based lattes, making this variation a strong menu staple.
Iced Tahini Latte for Summer
Summer 2025 is seeing a rise in iced tahini lattes, especially in coastal cities like Miami and Los Angeles. Simply pour the prepared tahini mixture over ice, add cold milk, and top with espresso. The result is refreshing, photogenic, and Instagram-ready.
Spiced Tahini Latte with Cinnamon or Cardamom
Drawing from Middle Eastern influences, adding cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg transforms the tahini latte into a cultural bridge between East and West. These spices not only enhance flavor but also add digestive benefits, reinforcing the health appeal.
Expert Tips for Making Café-Quality Tahini Latte at Home
Making a good tahini latte is easy; making a great tahini latte requires precision, patience, and a touch of artistry. Baristas often say that coffee is both a science and an art, and this holds true for home brewers as well. Here are expert-backed tips to elevate your tahini latte experience.
Choosing the Right Coffee Beans
The base of every latte is the coffee itself. Opt for specialty-grade beans, preferably medium roast, which balance acidity and body. Ethiopian beans, with their floral notes, pair wonderfully with tahini’s nuttiness, while Colombian beans add a caramel sweetness.
Balancing Tahini’s Nutty Flavor
Tahini can be overpowering if used in excess. Baristas recommend starting with 1 tablespoon per drink and adjusting to taste. If the flavor feels too strong, pair it with oat milk, which softens the sesame’s bitterness.
Remember, the key is balance—just as life requires harmony between work and rest, a tahini latte requires equilibrium between bold espresso and rich sesame.
Using Professional Tools at Home
Investing in a milk frother, burr grinder, or even a simple French press can elevate your home café setup. The “Home Café Movement,” now viral on TikTok under hashtags like #CoffeeTok and #HomeCafe, shows millions of Americans upgrading their kitchens with café-style tools.
At Lyoncafe, we believe that with the right equipment, anyone can replicate café-quality beverages at home. Visit mtnlyoncafe.com to learn how our training and insights help both professionals and enthusiasts perfect their coffee craft.
Tahini Latte in Specialty Coffee Trends 2025 US
The rise of the tahini latte is not just about a single recipe—it reflects larger movements shaping the specialty coffee industry in the US.
Social Media Virality and Coffee Culture
The power of social media cannot be overstated. Just as dalgona coffee took the world by storm during the pandemic, tahini latte is enjoying its viral moment in 2025. On Instagram, food bloggers highlight its aesthetic appeal; on TikTok, Gen Z creators showcase quick tutorials.
This cultural shift shows that drinks no longer spread from café to café but from screen to kitchen counter, amplifying consumer demand.
Specialty Cafés Adding Tahini Lattes to Menus
In New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, independent roasters are adding tahini lattes to their seasonal menus. A recent report by Food & Wine noted that cafés offering tahini drinks see 20–30% higher engagement from customers posting their orders online.
Even larger chains are experimenting with sesame-based drinks, seeing it as part of the broader “functional coffee” category. Starbucks may not yet offer tahini lattes nationwide, but industry insiders predict it could join the lineup of seasonal launches, much like pumpkin spice once did.
“Coffee is not just about caffeine; it’s about culture, connection, and curiosity,” said Peter Giuliano of the Specialty Coffee Association. The tahini latte, with its blend of Middle Eastern tradition and Western trendiness, embodies all three.
The Business Side: Why Tahini Lattes Matter
From an industry perspective, the tahini latte symbolizes the next wave of innovation in specialty coffee. Consumers today don’t just want a drink; they want an experience, a story, and a product aligned with their lifestyle.
Functional health appeal → protein, calcium, minerals from sesame
Cultural authenticity → bridging Middle Eastern heritage with US specialty cafés
Viral marketing power → TikTok and Instagram as catalysts for trends
Revenue opportunity → cafés can charge premium prices for innovative, Instagrammable drinks
This positions tahini latte not just as a passing fad but as a long-term player in the evolution of US coffee culture.
Conclusion: Why You Should Try Tahini Latte at Home
The journey of learning how to make tahini latte at home is about more than mastering a recipe—it’s about embracing a trend that reflects wellness, creativity, and global culture. From its nutritional benefits to its role as a social media darling, the tahini latte captures everything modern consumers crave: health, beauty, taste, and novelty.
I’m Kara Chavez, and I love coffee. I like to create some of the best coffees around – espressos, lattes, macchiatos . I strive for perfection in my coffee-making skills, and I take great pride in providing a delicious cup of joe to my customers.
I’ve been working in the coffee industry for years now, and I know everything there is to know about making a perfect cup of coffee. My passion for coffee shines through in every cup that I make, and I hope that you’ll stop by soon so that I can share my love of coffee with you!