There’s a new coffee trend bubbling up on TikTok: egg coffee. The rich, frothy drink is gaining traction online as users share their own takes and tutorials on how to recreate it at home, often marveling at its creamy, dessert-like texture. The drink is believed to date back to 1946 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Known as cà phê trứng, which translates to “egg coffee,” it swaps traditional milk for raw egg yolk to create its signature thick, velvety consistency. To make it, a strong cup of hot coffee is topped with a whipped mixture of egg yolk and sweetened condensed milk, beaten until it becomes pale, airy and frothy. The result is a layered drink with a smooth, custard-like topping — one that many say feels more like a treat than a typical morning cup of coffee. Medical experts, however, are sounding the alarm about the potential health concerns associated with the popular drink. According to federal safety guidelines, chickens and other live poultry can carry Salmonella bacteria, which can spread from the birds to their eggs. If eggs are consumed raw or under-cooked, there is a risk of illness. According to the FDA, most people who get sick from Salmonella have diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually begin anywhere from 6 hours to 6 days after infection and last 4-7 days.
