Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
The Matte Black Latte Bucks The Unicorn Trend
By
Nell Casey
Published Aug 14, 2017
Modified Aug 14, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Round K
By
Nell Casey
Published Aug 14, 2017
Modified Aug 14, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Cutesy coffee trends evoking unicorns and rainbows and flowers have thrust us into a Lisa Frank-inspired feedback loop. If you too fear that the neon leopard latte is the logical next step, check out a Lower East Side coffee shop that's choosing to peer into the dark abyss of your soul with an espresso drink that's completely black, not a single speck of edible glitter in sight.
Round K owner Ockhyeon Byeon created the Matte Black Latte ($6.50) earlier this year, a well-timed antithesis to the colorful creations popping up all over social media. The latte, which won the Hester Street Fair's Iced Coffee Competition, is a bit like a mocha, and Byeon even claims that it has health benefits from the coconut ash that gives it that black color.
The cafe combines espresso—lots of those other "coffee" creations don't actually contain coffee—with 98% Dutch process cacao, coconut ash and almond milk. The creamy topping is made from coconut cream and marzipan, which helps sweeten the drink. "Using coconut ash helps teeth whitening, detoxes the body—cleanses the system," according to Byeon. "Dutch process 98% cacao reduces body fat," he says.
I don't know that this latte will give you whiter teeth, but it will definitely spend the afternoon listening to Morrissey with you in a darkened room.
99 Allen Street, (917) 475-1423; roundk.com
Tagged
black latte
coffee
goth latte
LES
Lower East Side
matte black latte
round k
original
Nell Casey
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .