Could an iced coffee freeze you out of the job market?

Figure caption, Watch: Is it OK to take an iced coffee to a job interview?

Would you bring an iced coffee to a job interview?

The question on the internet's lips this week started life, as many do, in a TikTok video.

"Don't waltz into your interview all casual with an iced coffee, it just looks like you didn't have time to finish your coffee beforehand," said US recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen.

It's what her Gen Z job candidates are doing, she said, warning it makes it look like the interview is "just a stop on your list of errands for the day".

The post has started what Wehniainen calls the Great Iced Coffee Debate of 2026.

Some believe turning up with an iced matcha latte in hand is a cardinal sin. They say it's unprofessional, too informal, and a distraction.