No matter how old you feel today, you’ll never be this young again.
Does that realization sting? Does it make you grasp for a fleeting sense of youth, as if trying to catch smoke with your hands? Many long to feel 21 again—the age of boundless energy and hope.
This yearning fuels entire industries. Plastic surgeons, fitness coaches, advertisers, and cosmetics companies all build their empires on our desire to turn back the clock.
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If you can’t afford costly procedures, makeup and healthy habits are your best bet. If you can, there are injections and surgeries to create what some call an Elizabethan Mask of Youth. But as time marches on, those results can sometimes feel uncanny or even unsettling.
Some people turn to collagen. This vital protein keeps our skin firm and elastic, but our bodies produce less of it as we age, making collagen increasingly precious.
Recently, collagen-infused coffee has become a trendy drink. Move over, pumpkin spice lattes and matcha—collagen coffee is here.
Brands claim collagen coffee offers anti-aging benefits and restores skin, hair, nails, and joints. But experts like dermatologist Anjali Mahto warn there’s “little solid proof” that collagen survives digestion, enters the bloodstream, and reaches the skin.
Despite the hype, I had never actually seen collagen coffee available—until I visited The Cheeky Bean in Shepton Mallet. This pastel-toned, cozy café with quirky art serves a flat white for £3.80—and for an extra £1.50, you can add collagen, pushing your brew beyond £5 a cup.
Tasting the coffee, I noticed a more bitter and acidic flavor than usual. According to British Vogue, collagen shouldn’t affect the taste, so perhaps it was just a darker coffee roast.
Even if collagen powder truly works wonders, I suspect you’d need daily scoops for months to notice changes. So paying an extra £1.50 for a single collagen coffee doesn’t seem cost-effective.
As I sipped this supposed “fountain of youth,” I found myself reflecting: even if anti-aging treatments worked, is growing older really so bad? Just as leaves change color with the seasons, it feels natural — even right — that we age gracefully.
While I remained skeptical about collagen coffee, the food was a delight. The chef personally served me a bowl of shakshuka (£12), a comforting blend of poached egg, vibrant bell peppers, feta, and tomatoes, accompanied by toast.
That warming meal was perfect for a chilly day. While I may not fully buy into the magic of collagen coffee, I wholeheartedly believe in the power of a good, satisfying meal.
The Cheeky Bean is open every day: 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday; Fridays 9am to 4pm and 6pm to 4pm; Saturdays 9am to 4pm; and Sundays 9:30am to 3pm.