It’s barely a week into 2026, and a trending signature drink that was gathering steam towards the end of 2025 really making waves in Melbourne’s coffee scene to open the new year.
The Shanghai -85C, otherwise known as a Shanghai Dirty Coffee, is made by pouring hot espresso over super-cold milk poured into a frosted cup pulled out of a freezer set to -85ºC.
The milk, which can be substituted with a flavour base like pistachio or walnut, combines with the espresso to create a textured layer, with the beverage designed to be consumed in large sips to mix the temperatures and the flavours.
Melbourne café Regulars, located on Little La Trobe Street in the city’s CBD, first opened in December 2025 and has brought Shanghai Dirty Coffee to its local market, much to the delight of local consumers with the café consistently selling out of the beverage.
