Gen Z coffee lovers discover new way to combat insane java prices with new ‘home café’ trend
It’s out with overpriced oat milk lattes — and in with DIY coffee culture.
Gen Z TikTokkers are ditching the expensive morning coffee runs and instead transforming their kitchens into cozy, custom coffee shops — complete with menus, pastries, and even barista uniforms in an attempt to save money.
TikTokker @marlenerodriguezoficial filmed her hands filling a to-go cup with a custom iced coffee, captioning her video, “reminder to make your coffee at home tomorrow morning and save those $7.”
Meanwhile, @abigailorfino declared, “In 2025 we WILL be saving money,” as she and a friend staged a “café night in” — complete with laptops, snacks, and the ambiance of a coffeehouse, minus the markup.
Older generations have been brewing their java at home for years, so while it might not sound like anything new to some, this trend isn’t just about frugality — it’s also about creativity, fun, and bringing people together.
Once an ASMR aesthetic known for soothing latte art videos, the “home café” trend has evolved into an actual at-home hosting movement.
TikTok creator @natebakedthis, for instance, recently shared a clip of their “cozy cafe” set up in their Chicago apartment — complete with to-go cups, a countertop pastry spread and matching aprons.
“Once a month, my partner Jay and I turn our Chicagoland apartment into a cozy cafe for our friends, and this is everything that goes into it,” they explained in their video.
Unlike some other home cafes seen on the app, they boasted that “everything” on their menu was made from scratch.
Viewers headed to the comment section to share their thoughts — with one writing that the idea is “so beautiful and wholesome.”
Another praised the creator’s intricate menu and “execution” of it.
As seen in another recent video, TikTok user @_lesign designed a menu last month using Canva for her “Café Lil,” featuring bagels, croissants, and mini pancakes — plus drink options that spanned both espresso and espresso martinis.
Gen Z often gets a bad rap for being careless with their money — considering they have a ton of personal debt and many are being handed money from their parents.
However, based on this trend — they’re also quite creative when it comes to finding unique ways to save money.
There you have it Boomers: Gen Z is making at-home coffee officially cool again.
