Introduction:While coffee shops around the world compete to offer plant-based milk options like oat and almond milk, one café in Melbourne actually listed "breast milk" on its menu for $5 AUD—ten times the price of oat milk. Was this a creative marketing stunt or an absurd joke? This article takes a deep dive into the controversial "breast milk coffee" incident, explores a real-life case from Russia, and examines Taiwan's regulatory restrictions to uncover the full story behind this unusual beverage.

In recent years, to meet the diverse dietary needs of customers, many cafés have introduced various alternative dairy products such as oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk, allowing those who don't drink cow's milk to still enjoy coffee. However, one café in Melbourne stunned customers with an unexpected menu item—"breast milk," priced at a whopping $5 AUD (approximately 23.46 RMB), more than ten times the cost of regular oat milk, sparking immediate discussion among patrons.

According to news reports, Sergy Boy, a café located on Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands district, typically serves a variety of coffee drinks along with common plant-based milk options like almond milk, oat milk, and lactose-free milk. But one customer visiting from Sydney for work was surprised to spot a handwritten note on a small blackboard near the counter that read: "Next week: Breast Milk $5." The line immediately caught his attention.

The customer said that the café was crowded at the time, and as he approached the counter to place his order, he noticed a small blackboard displayed above the pastry case listing various non-dairy milk alternatives. The last item on the list—"breast milk"—stood out prominently. From photos he took, it’s clear that adding almond milk would only cost 50 cents AUD, while "breast milk" was priced at $5 AUD, significantly more expensive than the other alternatives.

The customer was so shocked that he immediately asked the staff about this special option. At first, the baristas thought he was genuinely interested in ordering a "breast milk coffee," but another barista later explained that it was "just a joke." The out-of-town visitor said he understood, remarking, "Melbourne is known for being trendy and avant-garde, so I’m not surprised they’d have an idea like this!"

Although we can’t be certain whether this Melbourne café’s "breast milk coffee" was a genuine innovation or simply a publicity stunt, there have indeed been instances globally where cafés have offered real "breast milk coffee."

Last year, media outlets reported that a small café in Russia had introduced a cappuccino featuring "breast milk," replacing regular milk with what was described as "specially fresh breast milk." Each cup was sold for 650 rubles (approximately 56 RMB), four times the price of a regular coffee at the shop. According to the owner, this unique coffee drink successfully sold over 50 cups and became a hot topic in the café.

However, it’s worth noting that in Taiwan, human breast milk is explicitly prohibited from being sold as a commercial product. As early as the year 2000, the Department of Health issued a directive clearly stating that breast milk is not a food resource and cannot be sold as a commodity. Therefore, such "breast milk coffee" is effectively illegal to produce and sell in our country and may even involve issues of unlicensed operation.

Although the "breast milk coffee" controversy may seem absurd, it has sparked public discussion about café innovation in beverages and marketing strategies. Whether it’s a creative idea to attract customers or simply a joke, it reminds us that when encountering novel drinks, we should still approach them rationally and be aware of relevant regulations and hygiene safety concerns.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.