Espresso Banana Bread with Crumb Topping

Banana bread is amazing on its own, but when you add bold espresso flavor and a sweet, buttery crumb topping, it becomes next-level good. It’s moist, full of rich coffee notes, and has the perfect crunch on top.

If you love coffee and banana bread, this recipe is going to be your new favorite!

a freshly baked espresso banana bread with crumb topping, sliced to reveal its soft, moist texture with visible coffee specks inside. The top has a golden, crispy crumb topping with a dusting of cinnamon

What You’ll Need

For the Banana Bread:

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
¼ cup melted butter
¼ cup strong brewed espresso
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Crumb Topping:

½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp melted butter

Pro Tips

Use overripe bananas for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
Brew strong espresso to make sure the coffee flavor shines through.
Don’t overmix the batter—a few lumps are okay!
Chill the crumb topping before baking for extra crunch.
Let the bread cool before slicing so the crumb topping stays intact.

Tools You’ll Need

Mixing bowls
Whisk
Spatula
9×5-inch loaf pan
Cooling rack

Instructions

Step 1: Mash the Bananas

In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth.

a mixing bowl filled with mashed bananas, slightly chunky with a creamy texture

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.

a mixing bowl with all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, and granulated sugar being whisked together

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

To the mashed bananas, add eggs, melted butter, espresso, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.

mixing bowl with mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, brewed espresso, and vanilla extract being mixed together into a smooth batter

Step 4: Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients

Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.

a spatula folding the flour mixture into the banana batter, creating a thick, slightly lumpy texture

Step 5: Make the Crumb Topping

In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until crumbly.

a small mixing bowl filled with crumb topping mixture, showing a golden, coarse texture with small buttery clumps

Step 6: Assemble the Bread

Pour the batter into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan and sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the top.

a loaf pan filled with banana bread batter, topped with a thick layer of crumb topping

Step 7: Bake the Bread

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

golden espresso banana bread with crumb topping baking inside a modern stainless steel double oven, its surface slightly domed with a crisp, golden crust

Step 8: Cool & Serve

Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!

a freshly baked loaf of espresso banana bread with crumb topping resting on a cooling rack, with a knife cutting into the golden, moist texture

Leftovers & Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week or freeze slices for up to 3 months.

Wrap-Up

This Espresso Banana Bread with Crumb Topping is rich, nutty, and full of bold coffee flavor with a buttery crunch. Give it a try and let me know how you like it! Enjoy! 🍌☕🍞