A Minnesota college town coffee shop's viral Raspberry Danish Latte recipe was given away for free, leading to its adoption by hundreds of shops globally and spreading to nearly every continent.
Little Joy Coffee in Northfield, Minnesota, achieved global recognition after its seasonal Raspberry Danish Latte went viral in March. Instead of monopolizing their success, the shop's owners made the unprecedented decision to release the recipe for free, encouraging other coffee shops worldwide to 'steal' it and add it to their menus. This initiative quickly led to hundreds of shops signing up to be featured on a global map, which now shows the latte served across every continent except Antarctica and has amassed nearly 2 million views. The decision was born from their 'DIY or buy' video series, which educates consumers on the true cost of specialty drinks, and the realization that most of their 132,000+ Instagram followers couldn't visit their small-town location. Owner Cody Larson initially feared no one would participate, but saw it as a way for small shops to collaborate against big chains. The $8 latte, featuring house-made raspberry syrup, espresso, milk, and vanilla cream cheese foam, costs an estimated $2.46 to make at home. Although a seasonal item, it became Little Joy's top seller. The shop does not vet participating cafes, acknowledging that variations in preparation are inevitable. Inspired by dessert flavors and cocktail culture, Little Joy Coffee is now contemplating future recipes to share, leveraging its unexpected global reach.
