- Disney’s Cold Brew Black Caf combines cold brew, sweet cold foam, and chocolate cereal.
- The layered drink is a popular social media and park highlight.
- A homemade version uses protein-boosted milk and sugar-free syrup to lighten the drink.
Since the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area opened at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 2019, I’ve fallen hard for a must-grab coffee drink that fuels my Disney day. It’s a sip that’s strong, not too heavy on dairy or sugary syrups and unusual enough to feel like a special treat.
The Cold Brew Black Caf is a visually stunning, perfectly Instagram-worthy iced coffee drink sold inside Galaxy’s Edge at both Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It starts with strong, black cold brew coffee, which gets topped with a slightly sweet cream cheese cold foam and a handful of chocolate cereal puffs. It’s a drink I’ve loved since I first tried it several years ago, and I’m not alone.
In addition to lots of TikToks with the #coldbrewblackcaf hashtag, celebs like Sarah Michelle Gellar have posted the coffee treat on social media. The I Know What You Did Last Summer star recently visited Disneyland, and the coffee was such a hit, it made it into her post highlighting her day in the park. (As did a photo of her sporting some seriously cute plaid Minnie Mouse ears.)
As someone who rarely enters Disneyland or Hollywood Studios without stopping for this coffee treat, I totally get it. In fact, I love the coffee so much I’ve discovered how to make it at home, with a bit more protein than the original.
Making a Copycat Cold Brew Black Caf at Home
- 1 1/2 cups cold brew coffee (I buy Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company’s Cold Brew Blend because that’s what Disney uses)
- 3 tablespoons vanilla syrup (I prefer sugar-free vanilla when I make this at home)
- 3 tablespoons whipped cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon whole milk (I use protein-boosted milk for extra protein)
- A handful of chocolate cereal like Cocoa Puffs (I use Magic Spoon cocoa-flavored cereal for extra protein)
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, pour the cold brew coffee into a cup over ice. Stir in a tablespoon of vanilla syrup. In a small bowl, whip together the remaining vanilla syrup, cream cheese, milk and whipping cream with a hand frother until it forms into a cold foam. (Of note: be sure to use whipped cream cheese here, as it’s lighter and blends with the liquids more smoothly.) Pour the cream cheese cold foam atop the coffee, then top with a handful of chocolate cereal.
Be sure to serve this coffee drink in a clear cup, as it’s as much about the visual appearance as it is the taste. If you’ve done it right, you’ll have a smooth, slightly sweetened black coffee drink that tastes even better as the cream-cheesy cold foam makes its way down into the drink. The best part? Snacking on those pieces of chocolate cereal as you go for a truly out-of-this-world flavor experience.
Making this iced coffee treat at home is a lot easier than hopping on a flight to Florida or California, but there’s definitely something to be said for the magic of walking through Galaxy’s Edge, posing for a photo with the Mandalorian and Grogu, and seeing the Millennium Falcon close up. Still, the at-home version is a super fun (and delicious) way to infuse a bit of Disney magic into your morning coffee time.
If you want to enjoy more coffeehouse-style mornings at home, consider trying other copycat recipes like our High-Protein Whipped Iced Coffee or Lavender Latte. (We even love making a glass of Hibiscus-Pomegranate Iced Tea for some afternoon refreshment.) Even if you prefer to take your coffee plain and black, it’s nice to be able to bring a little touch of pixie dust into your own kitchen every once in a while—just trust me.
