A coffee drink made with raw egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, and sugar is gaining traction on TikTok, and nutrition experts are raising food safety concerns about how it is typically prepared.
The drink, often called egg coffee, is made by whisking egg yolks with sugar and condensed milk into a thick, custard-like foam, which is then layered over strong coffee or espresso. It is not a new creation. Versions of the beverage have existed for decades in Vietnamese cuisine as cà phê trứng, in Swedish coffee culture, and in Italian egg-based drinks like zabaglione al caffè. But social media exposure has pushed it to a much wider audience.
The core safety problem is that most recipes call for raw or only lightly heated egg yolks. Salmonella bacteria, which can be present in raw eggs, is not reliably killed just because the yolk is poured into or over a hot liquid.
"Hot coffee does not typically reach a safe temperature to cook the egg and reduce the potential risk of salmonella contamination," said Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian at Entirely Nourished. "Consuming egg coffee using raw or undercooked yolk does carry a salmonella risk that shouldn't be ignored."
Salmonella infection typically causes gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most healthy adults recover without medical treatment, but the infection can become serious for older adults, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems. Food safety guidance generally recommends against consuming raw or undercooked eggs.
Beyond contamination risk, the drink poses nutritional concerns. Condensed milk and added sugar push the calorie and sugar content significantly higher than a standard cup of coffee. The egg yolks and condensed milk together contribute a notable amount of saturated fat, which is relevant for anyone monitoring their cardiovascular health.
"Egg yolks and condensed milk can carry several grams of saturated fat, and depending on what else you are eating, this can raise apoB and LDL cholesterol levels," Routhenstein said. Elevated LDL cholesterol is associated with increased cardiovascular risk over time.
Routhenstein and other experts note that occasional consumption is unlikely to cause lasting harm for most healthy people. But drinking the beverage regularly could add up in ways that matter, particularly for those with existing heart disease risk factors.
For people who want to try the drink, safer options exist. Pasteurized eggs reduce the salmonella risk without changing the flavor profile significantly. Reducing the amount of condensed milk or substituting lower-sugar alternatives can bring down the sugar and saturated fat load. A smaller portion size, treating the drink more as an occasional dessert than a daily coffee habit, is another option dietitians suggest.
