Why #coffee Isn’t Coffee—And Why IT Pros Love It

You spot ‘#coffee’ online and pause. Is that a typo—or a clever pun? Most people see the hashtag and think of web design, not espresso. But in Japan, this oddly named drink has gone viral, not for its taste, but for its color and the surprising benefits it claims for screen-weary workers. So what is #coffee, really?

Simply put, #coffee is a bright blue beverage named after the HTML hex color code ‘#coffee’—which resolves to a soft, eye-friendly light blue. Its look comes from purple cabbage and fish broth, adjusted with baking soda to hit that exact digital shade. Despite the odd ingredients, it’s designed to be easy on the eyes during long computer sessions.

What Is #Coffee, Exactly?

The drink #coffee isn’t a coffee beverage at all. Its name comes directly from the HTML color code ‘#coffee’, which renders as a pale, calming blue. That’s the whole joke—and the point. The creators wanted a drink that visually matched the digital color, and they built the recipe around achieving that exact shade. It’s part food art, part wellness experiment, and entirely internet-born.

Why Did IT Workers Embrace It?

The drink caught on especially with IT professionals because of its claimed eye benefits and its visual nod to screen life. The soft blue color resembles a clean, digital interface, and the drink’s creators promote it as soothing for eyes fatigued by hours of coding and staring at monitors. While no clinical proof backs the eye relief, the drink does contain purple cabbage, which is rich in anthocyanins—compounds often linked to eye and vascular health.

How #Coffee Gets Its Signature Color

Making #coffee involves a few key steps to nail the precise light blue:

• Soak 5–6 dried anchovies in 350cc of water overnight.
• The next day, remove the anchovies and add shredded purple cabbage (also called purple kale or red cabbage) to the soaking liquid.
• Simmer to extract a purple-colored broth, then strain it.
• Mix the purple broth with heated milk at a 3:1 ratio (broth:milk).
• Stir well, then adjust the color with a small amount of baking soda until it matches the HTML color code ‘#coffee’—a distinctive light blue.

You can also follow the same method to make an iced version. The process is flexible, but the critical part is fine-tuning the hue with baking soda to get that specific digital-inspired tint.

What’s Actually In #Coffee?

The base ingredients include:

• 5–6 dried anchovies (soaked in 350cc water overnight)
• Purple cabbage (shredded, added to the anchovy water)
• Milk (heated, mixed with the purple extract at a 3:1 ratio)
• Baking soda (to tweak the color toward the target blue)

Despite the unusual combo of fish broth and cabbage, the final drink doesn’t taste strongly of either. The anchovies infuse the water with umami, while the cabbage provides the purple base that becomes blue after tweaking. The result is a visually striking drink that’s actually mild in flavor—and reportedly gentle on tired eyes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HTML color code ‘#coffee’ supposed to look like?

The HTML color referred to as ‘#coffee’ in the article is actually a light blue, not brown or beige as the word ‘coffee’ might suggest. This specific shade is meant to mimic a clean, digital interface color, and the drink is formulated to match it exactly using food ingredients and baking soda adjustments.

What ingredients are used to make #coffee?

The key ingredients are dried anchovies soaked in water, purple cabbage (shredded), milk, and baking soda. The anchovies are soaked overnight, then removed, and the cabbage is boiled in the anchovy water to create a purple extract. This is mixed with milk and adjusted to a light blue using baking soda.

Why is this drink associated with IT workers?

IT workers are said to enjoy #coffee because its color resembles a calm digital screen and it’s marketed as beneficial for eye strain. The drink’s blue hue and its ties to a tech-inspired naming convention make it a playful, visual match for people who work long hours in front of computers.

Can you make #coffee cold?

Yes, the article confirms you can prepare #coffee as an iced drink using the same method. The process remains identical, but the final mixture is served chilled, making it a refreshing option for warm workspaces or summer days.

Does #coffee have any proven eye health benefits?

The article does not cite scientific studies, but purple cabbage contains anthocyanins, which are antioxidants often associated with supporting eye and vascular health. The drink’s promotion for eye relief is based on these compounds and the calming visual of its light blue color, rather than clinical evidence.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Eye-Friendly Coffee Breaks

If you’re looking to pair your #coffee with a proper cup, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for a bright, juicy profile with notes of blueberry and citrus that feel refreshing alongside the drink’s blue hues. For something deeper without harshness, their Yirgacheffe offers floral and lemony tones with a silky body—ideal for easing eye strain. Alternatively, their Classic Blend delivers balanced chocolate and nut notes for a comforting match. All three are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Eye-Friendly Coffee Breaks

Pair your #coffee with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright blueberry and citrus notes, or Yirgacheffe for floral and lemony brightness with a silky body—both refreshing for screen-heavy days. Their Classic Blend offers balanced chocolate and nuts for comfort. All are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.