A new fad has hit the internet, but is it really a fad or has it been a favorite for a while?

Much like the Dalgona coffee craze that hit TikTok a couple of years ago at the beginning of the pandemic, a new coffee fad seems to have graced us recently.

Espresso in orange juice.

Now, this might not be something that you're interested in trying. Or maybe it is! But the real question is... Is putting a shot of espresso in your orange juice actually something new?

Fad... Trend... Fave...

Again, like the Dalgona, adding coffee to orange juice is not new. Orange and coffee have long been a pairing that has been enjoyed by countless people the world over. It has gone by many names and sometimes even has extra ingredients thrown in for good measure. Let's take a look.

What's Old Is New Again

It's not really surprising that adding espresso to your glass of orange juice has come up again. It's extremely rare to find anything that hasn't already been tried and shared (sometimes extensively). And, we may never know when this combination was actually derived. Just like most recipes, there are typically multiple stories purporting the "discovery of something new."

Though we may not know exactly who the first person was to add a shot of espresso to their orange juice--heck, it might have just been a sleepy person who stumbled upon it accidentally. We do know there has been mention of orange juice mixed with espresso as far back as 2004.

But, really, that's okay. I think we can all agree that discovering something doesn't necessarily mean inventing it. Right? Let's just move on to the deliciousness.

Espresso In Orange Juice

Okay, now that we've addressed the fact that adding your espresso to your orange juice is nothing new, it's time to move on to whether or not this is something you should try.

If you like espresso and you like orange juice, the real question is, why not just give it a go? We're constantly adding things to our coffee and espresso depending on the whim of our taste buds that day. Milk (and milk substitutes), sugar (and other sweeteners), chocolate, vanilla, all sorts of syrups... It's the veritable Wild West out here in Coffeeland. What do you really have to lose

How To Enjoy It

Okay, it's time to get on with it. How do you enjoy this "new" fad? Well, you just do it. Add your espresso to your orange juice. Of course, you might want to let your espresso shot cool to room temperature first, but that's pretty much all there is to it.

Depending on how you want your drink to look will determine how fast you pour your espresso into your glass of juice. To keep it aesthetically pleasing, try floating the espresso on top of the orange juice. This keeps the two mostly separate with a nice gradient where they meet and blend into one another.

If you just want to get it over with, dump the espresso into the OJ and give it a stir. Whichever version you decide on is totally up to you. When choosing the first method, you can either leave the drink as it is and allow the two ingredients to slowly mix as you drink, or you can stir it up and get to it.

Other Versions

You had to know there would be more than just this one version of espresso and orange juice, right? Here are a few options you can try with this basic combo.

Make It A Spritzer

Known as the Spritzy Americano, simply adding seltzer water to your espresso/OJ makes a super refreshing take on this trend. Be sure to add a little orange peel for that extra bit of brightness. Trust us! For those who need specific quantities for their drinks:

Spritzy Americano

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces espresso
2 ounces fresh orange juice
5 ounces seltzer water, room temperature
orange peel, garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Add your seltzer to a glass of ice then add your espresso and your orange juice, in that order. Yes, the temperature of the seltzer does make a difference. Room temperature seltzer keeps the espresso from becoming overly bitter tasting. Don't forget to add the orange peel. Squeeze the peel over the glass and rub the rim before adding the orange peel to your drink. Then, enjoy!

Another version of coffee and orange is the Cafe Borgia. Though CoffeeAM has a version of this coffee in our flavored coffees section, you can always make your own.

Cafe Borgia

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces dark chocolate chips
8 ounces milk
2 ounces espresso
1/4 tsp orange peel, finely zested
orange peel, coarsely zested, garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Melt your dark chocolate chips (either in the microwave or over a double boiler) and add to your cup. Add the finely zested orange peel to the melted chocolate and stir to combine. Pour your shot of espresso over the melted chocolate. If you have a steam wand, steam your milk until you have a frothy foam. If you don't have a steam wand, scald the milk and whip it slightly to create your foam. Float the foamy milk on top of the espresso/chocolate mixture. Garnish with the coarsely zested orange peel.

Sweeten It Up

You may have noticed that none of these drinks has included sugar or sweetener. Making your drink sweeter is a personal choice and if you want something a little (or a lot) sweeter, feel free to add the sweetener of your choice. Because we are primarily working with cold beverages (except the Cafe Borgia, of course), the best way to add sweetness to your espresso and orange juice or to your Spritzy Americano, is to add simple syrup to taste. That's it!

So, are you planning on trying this newly resurfaced coffee trend? Let us know!