For Jackson McAdoo, the Elote Flat White at Nashville’s Dawn Café is inspired by nostalgia.
This unique seasonal coffee drink is built around the distinct flavor of sweet roasted corn, like what he grew up eating at local fairs. Prioritizing balance, McAdoo crafted this drink to ensure “the gentle sweetness was balanced by a subtle fruitiness, rich smokiness from guajillo peppers, and a slow burn thanks to cayenne without any sharpness.” The Elote Flat White is finished with fresh lime zest and has been a hit since its debut in March.
What are guests saying about this drink? “A perfectly balanced and unexpected combination of flavors,” says McAdoo. Nailed it!
We spoke with Jackson McAdoo to learn more.
How did you work to balance the flavors and create the perfect taste profile?
With the Elote Flat White, I wanted to capture not just the flavor, but the balance of gentle sweetness, a subtle fruitiness, and a rich smokiness from guajillo peppers. They lean more sweet and smoky than spicy, so while the drink has a kick, it shows up as a slow, warming heat rather than anything sharp. Milk softens and rounds everything out, while the espresso enhances the corn’s natural sweetness and plays alongside a light lift of lime zest acidity.
To build that profile, I used the entire corn cob. The cobs are roasted, the kernels are blended, and the husks are steeped with the pepper mixture, each part contributing something different. Toasting the guajillo peppers briefly helps release their oils and deepen the smoke without overpowering the corn (though it will absolutely clear a room if you’re not careful). The goal was always to keep corn as the focal point, with spice and citrus adding depth. After a lot of trial and error, and a brief need to stop thinking about corn altogether, it landed as a balance of sweet, creamy, lightly smoky, and just bright enough to keep it lifted.
That balance really comes through in how the drink is experienced. The elote crema foam, corn-forward milk, and espresso are meant to work together, allowing the flavors to develop across the palate. The foam itself, made with lime zest, cinnamon, cayenne, and Mexican crema, adds a tangy richness and a warm, rounded heat that mirrors eating elote. On its own, it’s bright and savory; mixed in, it ties the entire drink together.
Does this drink work as both hot and iced? Did that influence the recipe?
Yes, it works both hot and iced, and that was taken into account during the creative process.
Would you recommend any food pairings to go along with it?
At home, you can take the savory or sweet route when choosing a food pairing for this drink. A pastry with a warming spice like cinnamon, a square of dark chocolate, or a dish with prominent lime or corn flavors would complement the drink nicely.
At Dawn, the quiche with a grit crust and Manchego would perfectly echo the drink’s savory, smoky notes.
We’ll also take the quiche, please. Thanks, Jackson!
Get your hands on the Elote Flat White at Dawn Café in East Nashville until July 15, 2026.
Photos by Josh Cunliffe courtesy Dawn Café.
