Have you heard of the Aerocano yet?

One of the newest coffee drinks to arrive in the UK, Aerocano is a coffee that is aerated to create a fine, velvety foam before being poured over ice, producing a cascading drink that looks a little like a tiny glass of stout.

The idea first took off in South Korea, where iced Americanos are enormously popular, and it has now landed in UK coffee shops.

Naturally, we immediately wondered: can you make something similar at home?

The answer is…yes! And it’s a surprisingly good coffee experiment.

What is an Aerocano?
The drink first appeared in South Korea earlier in 2026 and has now arrived in UK coffee shops. It is essentially a modern, aerated take on an iced Americano, with espresso whipped into a fine foam that creates a creamy texture and a distinctive cascading appearance. Visually, it can look remarkably like a tiny glass of dark beer.

What makes the Aerocano particularly interesting is that it is made without the addition of milk or syrups.

Why does aerating coffee change the experience?
Taste isn’t experienced by the tongue alone - aroma, temperature and texture all affect how we perceive a drink.

Adding tiny bubbles changes the mouthfeel, so that instead of an ordinary thin black coffee, aeration can make the liquid seem lighter, softer and creamier. The ingredients may be almost identical to an iced Americano, but the sensory experience can be noticeably different.

Can you make an Aerocano at home?
You can certainly experiment with the principle.

While the exact commercial technique employed to create an Aerocano has been developed around professional equipment and consistency, the basic idea is straightforward.

Brew two fresh shots of espresso and allow them to cool very slightly. Add a small amount of cold water and ice, then aerate the coffee vigorously before pouring it over fresh ice.

A handheld milk frother is probably the easiest way to aerate the coffee. Put the coffee in a container with enough spare room for the foam to expand and froth it until you create a dense layer of very small bubbles. You can also experiment with a cocktail shaker, although the result will be different.

If you’re making an Aerocano at home, a coffee with enough body to remain distinctive when chilled is useful. Something such as our Golden Crema coffee is ideal.