Miso-Spiked Coffee Lattes: Origin, Taste, Health Benefits, And More

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Miso-Spiked Coffee Lattes: Origin, Taste, Health Benefits, And More

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Miso-Spiked Coffee Lattes: Origin, Taste, Health Benefits, And More

12 min read AUG 18, 2025

Miso-spiked coffee? This is likely something our grandparents would find highly suspect.

I mean, for generations, coffee has been enjoyed with mere additions of cream and sugar.

Then, we began including flavored syrups and creamers.

Of course, before long, these additions were also available in plant-based milks/creamers, and this transformed our coffee sipping experiences even greater.

Then, do you remember when floral notes were first added to coffee?

Items such as lavender and rose truly turned some heads initially, but now these are commonly enjoyed brews.

And, what about incorporating a little heat in your coffee? The coffee scene has even evolved to include additions like cayenne and paprika, especially when combining coffee and chocolate.

Or, what about butter coffee? How many of you still enjoy a frothy brew made complete with the addition of a pad of butter?

We’ve become far more adventurous when it comes to crafting incredibly decadent, extremely delicious, ‘outside the box’ brews, and that’s exactly where our coffee-themed exploration is taking us today…to another unique coffee trend…this one adding a savory taste which actually serves to balance out your brew.

What savory goodness are we referring to?

Miso!

Miso-spiked coffee lattes are trending, and we’re here for it. So today, we’ll be answering the following miso-coffee themed questions and more:

What is miso-spiked coffee?
What does miso-spiked coffee taste like?
How do you use miso in coffee?
Are there any health benefits to adding miso to your brew?
And, how do you make miso-spiked coffee?

What Is Miso-Spiked Coffee?

Before we make a miso-spiked brew, let’s do a deep dive into this unique flavor.

First, what is miso?

While miso is primarily associated with Japanese cuisine, many recognize this to be an ingredient which dates back to ancient Chinese traditions.

So, while the practice of adding miso to coffee is a relatively new flavor fusion, miso is a centuries old ingredient used in both China and Japan.

While the makings of miso have oftentimes changed, originally being made with animal protein and taking on unique names and forms depending on location, it is now widely known and used as a paste made from fermented soybeans.

Japanese history depicts miso as a highly nutritional food, once considered to be the best source of dense nutrition for elite Samurai warriors.

One Japanese proverb even says, “eat miso daily and you’ll never need to see a doctor.”

Pretty powerful, right?

The most common type of miso is rice miso. Here, rice is added to the mold culture used to ferment the soybeans.

Fermented foods are commonly known for their health benefits, as these often bring great balance to the gut microbiome due to their probiotic content.

But, miso actually contains more healthy rewards than probiotics alone…

Miso is thought to provide protection against cancer as some animal studies have concluded that eating miso may reduce the risk of lung, colon, stomach, and breast cancers.
Due to its gut-health boosting properties, miso may boost immune responses. As the probiotics in miso improve the balance of bacteria in your gut, this not only keeps the growth of bad bacteria at bay, but it improves how your body responds to illness as well.
Some animal studies have found miso to be effective at reducing bad (LDL) cholesterol levels.
While the results over multiple studies are conflicting, there are many researchers who’ve found miso (and other fermented soy products) to “delay the progression of type 2 diabetes.”
Since miso is made from fermented soybeans, this product may also aid in relieving menopausal symptoms. *However, overall, the jury is still out on this one as phytoestrogens (like soy) seem to land on opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to hormonal health.
In some women, phytoestrogens, like soy and therefore miso, aid in relieving symptoms such as mood swings and hot flashes. But, in some women, these estrogen mimickers seem to offer no aid whatsoever, even potentially causing harm. This is why it is generally advised that you consult your physician prior to incorporating phytoestrogens for the purpose of aiding these symptoms.
Generally accepted as true of all probiotic-rich foods, miso may be beneficial in improving memory while reducing symptoms of OCD, anxiety, depression, and stress.
Most notably, the probiotic benefits of this fermented food include improvements in digestion. And, the specific probiotic strain found in miso is A. oryzae, a strain most commonly noted for its ability to reduce symptoms of inflammatory gut diseases such as irritable bowel, etc.
While not a benefit, we felt it most appropriate to list this warning here as it pertains to health - if you are allergic to soy proteins, you should avoid miso as it is made from soy.

Now for taste…what does this healthy probiotic-rich ingredient taste like?

Since salt is used in the fermentation process, miso generally has a savory taste, or rather a combination of salty and umami.

As for adding this unique ingredient to your cup of joe?

Miso-spiked coffee is simply coffee with miso added to it.

When added to coffee, the savory nature of miso combines with the bitter notes of coffee to yield a surprising balance.

In fact, this ingredient can also add a touch of depth, body, and even a hint of creaminess to your brew.

In general, salt is said to enhance the natural sweetness of coffee, so of course the addition of miso brings this same enhancement.

But, not all miso is the same.

Generally, miso is categorized as light or white miso, dark or yellow miso, and red miso, each with differing levels of fermentation and therefore differing flavor profiles.

White or light miso, also sometimes called Shiro miso, is the mildest of these three options.

White miso is the option most commonly used as a coffee ingredient, and it has a mild, creamy, and slightly nutty taste.

The saltiness of white miso is very subtle, making it a great option for lattes, pairing well with a variety of milks.

Some even find white miso to be sweet enough to use as a mildly flavored spread for toast.

Dark miso is sometimes dubbed yellow miso, the middle of the road miso, or an option which has a deeper and more pungent flavor.

When adding this type of miso to coffee, it is generally recommended to use espresso or a very dark roasted coffee.

While white miso also works well in darker roasts, dark miso seems to necessitate or even require this type of bold brew.

Then, there’s also red miso, and while some do choose to use red miso in coffee, it wouldn’t be a typical go-to without a few other ingredients added to the mix.
Generally, red miso is made using much longer fermentation times which results in a red hue and a flavor profile often described as ‘funky.’

This classically rich and robust flavor may not be your preferred ingredient selection for a typical latte, but some find the addition of chocolate (to a coffee and miso mixture) is uniquely delicious!

(Spoiler alert - there’s a yummy red miso mocha recipe included in the section below!)

Miso-Spiked Coffee Recipes

We detailed three types of miso above, and now it’s time to use these selections to make some uniquely delicious coffee drinks.

However, before we begin, there’s a few distinctions we need to make:

As stated in the section above, white miso has the mildest (compared to dark and red miso) flavor, and most consider this to be the best coffee companion. Of course, you can still use red and dark miso in coffee, but if you’ve ever thought of using miso interchangeably, you’ll want to back off on the amounts when opting for red or dark miso in place of white miso.
Since red and dark miso are fermented for longer periods of time, they do have a saltier and more noticeable flavor. If you’re new to this coffee addition, you might want to err on the side of caution and add less than you’d think to your drink.
Each recipe below highlights a single type of miso. While you could likely use the white miso in any one of the following recipes, should you decide to swap the white for a red or dark miso, you’ll probably enjoy your latte more by scaling back any red or dark miso amount.

For instance, you’ll notice the recipe using white miso calls for 1 tablespoon of white miso, while the recipes incorporating red or dark miso call for 1-2 teaspoons of miso. Should you decide to try red or dark miso in a recipe calling for white miso, scale that back to a single teaspoon to start, then you can opt for adding a touch more if you’d like.

And, since white miso has a milder flavor, you can opt for adding roughly a tablespoon (or less) when swapping this selection into a recipe which calls for red or dark miso.

Typically, red miso works best with additions of chocolate in your brew. The recipe we’ve included here makes use of this ingredient in such a way, as most agree that red miso is less likely to please your palate when using it in other brews. In other words, those who enjoy miso-spiked brews generally stick to white miso, leaving the red for mochas and hot cocoa beverages.

1- Red Miso Mocha

This one’s bold. This one’s unique. And this one’s delicious…espeically if you love a good, salted mocha!

While red miso does pack a punch, most find that the addition of chocolate serves to balance this out.

But, if you want to start subtly, you can try this recipe using white miso paste first, then opt for red if you’d like to venture out a little more.

Of course, you could also go for the red miso and simply dial back the amount you use, starting small then building up to a greater amount if you’d like.

Ingredients

2 shots Lifeboost Espresso Coffee (or 2 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee)
1-2 tablespoons chocolate sauce
6 ounces milk
1-2 teaspoons real maple syrup
1-2 teaspoons red miso paste
1 tablespoon hot water
Cocoa powder, optional for topping

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix red miso and hot water until a paste forms, then set aside.
Add chocolate sauce to the red miso paste, stirring to combine.
Pour espresso into a mug, then stir in maple syrup and chocolate-miso mixture.
Steam milk using an espresso steaming wand or add milk to an electric frother and froth on the heated setting.
Pour the warm milk foam over the coffee mixture, top with a dusting of cocoa powder if desired, and enjoy!

2- Brown Sugar White Miso Latte

White miso is the mildest of those we’ve discussed today, and due to this quality, it is most commonly used when adding to coffee.

The flavor of white miso also makes this option an easy addition to a variety of coffee drinks, including lattes, hot brews, cold brews, smoothies, and more.
Here, we’ve opted for a delicious brown sugar latte, perfect for adding miso to bring a touch of savory flavor to an otherwise sweet brew, resulting in a balanced blend that’s sure to please!

*This calls for two shots of espresso, but if you don’t have an espresso machine, you could also use 2 ounces of strongly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee or 4 ounces of Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee here.

Ingredients

2 shots Lifeboost Espresso Coffee
2 tablespoons brown sugar miso coffee syrup (see recipe below)
4 ounces milk
Ice

Instructions

Add ice to a tall glass, then top with milk.
Combine brown sugar miso syrup and espresso, then pour into the iced milk. Stir, and enjoy!

Brown Sugar Miso Syrup

1 tablespoon white miso
1 tablespoon hot water (just hot, not boiling)
½ cup packed dark brown sugar
½ cup water

Whisk together the miso and hot water in a small bowl until a smooth paste forms, then set aside.

Add brown sugar and ½ cup water to a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir frequently until the sugar has dissolved.

Bring to a simmer.

Once simmering, turn off the heat and whisk in the miso paste until it dissolves. (There may be a few small chunks in the mixture, and that’s okay.)

Strain into an airtight container using a fine mesher strainer. Cool completely prior to using and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

3- Dark Miso Latte

While most folks who enjoy miso-spiked coffee opt for white miso, the mildest miso of the mix, some prefer a more pronounced flavor when drinking strongly brewed coffee, espresso, or even cold brew (concentrate).

With this bold sect of sippers in mind, we wanted to provide you with a simple option that incorporates this deeper, slightly more pungent miso flavor.

Here the combination of savory miso and the inherent bitterness of coffee results in a balanced, full-bodied flavor, one that some insist pleasantly lingers on the palate.

Ingredients

4 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee or Lifeboost Midnight Roast Coffee
1 teaspoon dark miso paste
1 tablespoon honey
6 ounces milk
Cinnamon, optional for topping

Instructions

Whisk together miso and honey in a large mug until smooth.
Add freshly brewed coffee to the miso-honey mixture and stir to combine.
Steam the milk, or add to an electric frother and froth on the heated setting.
Top miso coffee with steamed or frothed milk, then add a dusting of cinnamon, if desired, and enjoy!

4- Miso Caramel Coffee Syrup

Now, how about a miso-infused option you can add to any brew?

This miso caramel coffee syrup balances out the sweetness of caramel to bring you subtle salted caramel vibes that make a great addition to your latte or cup of tea!

If you ask me, this one’s perfect for fall and winter, bringing a similar, albeit slightly unique, flavor for these seasons.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups cane sugar
2 cups water, divided
1 ½ teaspoons white miso paste
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Combine sugar and one cup of water in a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to ensure the sugar dissolves.
Bring this mixture to a gentle boil, then continue to boil for 18-20 minutes until the caramel reaches a light golden or amber color. *Keep a close eye on the mixture while boiling to avoid burning.
After the time has elapsed and the syrup has reached the desired color, remove from heat.
Dissolve the miso paste in the remaining cup of warm water. Pour the miso mixture through a strainer into the caramel syrup. *Exercise great caution here (wear oven mitts if you’d like) as this will cause some spattering. If any of the mixture seems to harden when combining the two, you can simply whisk the mixture while heated until it dissolves again.
Add vanilla to the mixture, and allow it to cool prior to storing in an airtight container. This will keep in the refrigerator for approximately 2-3 weeks.
Most enjoy roughly 1 tablespoon of this syrup in a cup of coffee, hot or iced.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.