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Loopy Lattes

What: Lattes — you know, the large, steaming, milky cups of frothy coffee we’ve all got so fond of in the last few years — but not as you know them. Now, lattes have pimped themselves out, and have gone extreme. Mostly, they seem to contain everything except coffee and milk. In no particular order, get ready to see blue algae lattes, made from what is basically pond weed (along with ginger, lemon, coconut milk and agave); matcha lattes made from green tea; mushroom lattes, where coffee is combined with shrooms; charcoal lattes, which are essentially made with a coal by-product; and roasted garlic lattes, with — you guessed it…

Why: Because we like large, steaming cups of stuff, and there is only so much coffee anyone can drink. And there are only so many reinventions of coffee itself; once we’ve done the cold brew and the nitrogen-infused, it’s time to look farther afield.

Why Now: “Because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things they do…” All the aforementioned have ‘health’ benefits, and the latte seems to be our current favoured medium through which to ingest said benefits.

How: Not as easy as you might think. Unless you are a whizz at steaming, frothing and percolating stuff, you might want to leave this to the pros. In which case, find a very hipsterish cafe near you.

Who: Those already hooked into extreme lifestyles, whether of the sporting, eating or simply early adopting variety; those who don’t drink coffee but still love the ritual; those looking to establish themselves as very niche indeed, and the usual-suspect celebrities, including Jessica Alba, Miley Cyrus, and, obvs, Gywnnie.