9 months ago
Gen-Z Embraces 'Coffee-Core' Aesthetic: From Brew to Fashion
Imagine coffee used to be just a drink to help you wake up.
But now, for many young people, coffee is like a whole fashion style!
They wear clothes in coffee colors like brown, beige, and cream, and even do their nails and makeup to match.
It's called 'coffee-core.'
Cafes have also become trendy spots, not just for coffee, but for taking pictures and showing off your style.
People like this style because it feels cozy and calm, like a comforting cup of coffee.
Brands are even making clothes, makeup, and home items inspired by coffee colors and feelings.
It's like coffee has become a symbol for being cool, creative, and feeling good, even when things are busy.
Urban coffee consumption has increased by nearly 40% in the past five years.
'Coffee-core' is an emerging aesthetic influencing fashion, beauty, and lifestyle choices.
This trend uses shades of espresso, caramel, mocha, and latte in clothing and décor.
Fashion brands and retailers are incorporating 'roast-inspired hues' and 'latte looks' into their collections.
The 'coffee-core' aesthetic is seen as a response to burnout culture, offering comfort and a sense of identity.
- Who
- Gen-Z and young professionals in urban India.
- What
- Embracing a 'coffee-core' aesthetic where coffee influences fashion, beauty, home décor, and self-expression.
- Where
- Across urban Indian cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
- When
- As of 2025, with trends escalating in recent years.
- Why
- As a response to burnout culture, seeking comfort, control, and a way to project calm confidence and modern aspirations.
Traditional View of Coffee
'Coffee-Core' Aesthetic
Purpose of Coffee
Traditional View of Coffee
Coffee is primarily a beverage consumed for its stimulating effect to aid wakefulness or focus.
'Coffee-Core' Aesthetic
Coffee has evolved into a lifestyle and aesthetic, influencing fashion, interior design, and self-expression, often detached from its original function.
Expression
Traditional View of Coffee
Coffee consumption is a simple daily ritual.
'Coffee-Core' Aesthetic
The choice of coffee and the associated aesthetics are performative acts that signal identity, mood, and aspirations like productivity, creativity, and sophistication.
Consumption Trends
Traditional View of Coffee
Focus is on the taste and origin of coffee beans.
'Coffee-Core' Aesthetic
Many 'coffee-core' enthusiasts are more drawn to the feeling and idea of coffee, rather than the specifics of its origin or taste profile.
Key facts
- Urban Coffee Consumption Rise
- Nearly 40% increase over the last five years (Coffee Board of India 2024 Report).
- Emerging Aesthetic
- 'Coffee-core' is described as the moody, mature cousin to aesthetics like 'clean girl' and 'vanilla girl'.
- Fashion Influence
- Designers (Anavila, Lovebirds) and fast-fashion retailers are adopting 'roast-inspired hues,' 'latte looks,' and 'mocha monochromes.'
- Beauty Trends
- Includes brown lip liners, caramel blushes, and 'iced latte lips'.
- Retailer Engagement
- Nykaa's 'Caffeine Collection,' home décor brands (Chumbak, Nestasia) with coffee-toned crockery, and stationery companies.
- Café Strategy
- Cafés like Dope Coffee Roasters offer 'Mood Menus' categorized by personality.
Quotes
Mitali Jain
A 26-year-old individual who curates "espresso-inspired looks"
“Every outfit I wear somehow matches my coffee.”
deccanchronicle.com
“I realised I was subconsciously dressing like my drink — camel coats, beige nails, gold hoops, and creamy knits.”
deccanchronicle.com
Dr. Meera Iyer
Psychologist
“Coffee evokes warmth, reliability, and sophistication — all qualities people want to embody. When you wear coffee tones, you project calm confidence. It’s visual comfort, much like the drink itself.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Every generation needs its comfort prop. For the 2020s, it’s coffee — versatile, portable, and photographable. It’s both armour and escape.”
deccanchronicle.com
Ritu Bhatia
Sociologist
“Just as logos used to signify luxury, beverages have become a form of personal marketing. Ordering a pour-over signals patience and discernment; a frappé says fun and easygoing. Coffee rituals are new cultural codes.”
deccanchronicle.com
Niharika R
A Bangalore-based homemaker who calls her style "caffeine-coded"
“Cafés give you perfect lighting and a neutral background. Plus, holding a cup somehow makes you look more natural on camera.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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