Lay's Cappuccino
Gone. The four 'Do Us a Flavor' finalists reached shelves in July 2014; Wasabi Ginger won that October and only the winner stayed. Lay's said other finalists might return for a limited time, but Cappuccino never has.
Last verified Nov 1, 2026
A potato chip that tasted like a coffeehouse drink, sweet and creamy and deeply confusing. It made the final four of a million-dollar flavor contest, lost to Wasabi Ginger, and vanished when the voting closed.
Filed under: Snacks & Chips · the ’00s & later
📅 Timeline
- 2014On July 17, Lay's named Cappuccino one of four Do Us a Flavor finalists, alongside Wasabi Ginger, Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese and Mango Salsa.
- 2014The finalists reached stores nationwide later in July, and fans could vote once a day from July 28 to October 18, including with the hashtag #SaveCappuccino or by texting the flavor name.
- 2014On October 21, Lay's declared Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger the winner; Cappuccino's creator, Chad Scott, received the $50,000 runner-up prize.
❓ People also ask
Did Lay's Cappuccino chips have coffee in them?
No. Lay's finalist announcement stated that the chips contained neither coffee nor caffeine; the flavor was meant to evoke the drink.
Who came up with Lay's Cappuccino?
Chad Scott of Las Vegas, a visiting lecturer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who was working toward a Ph.D. from Texas A&M. Lay's said his local baristas' drinks gave him the idea.
Will Lay's Cappuccino come back?
In October 2014 Lay's said it would look for chances to bring runner-up flavors back for limited runs, but no Cappuccino return has been announced since. Frito-Lay would not say how many votes the flavor received, and some Facebook commenters called it gross.
🧾 Sources
- PepsiCo, Lay's Potato Chips Reveals the Four Finalists Competing for a $1 Million Grand Prize in the Lay's Do Us a Flavor Contest (2014)
- PepsiCo, Lay's Potato Chips Announces Lay's Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger Flavored Chips as 2014 Do Us a Flavor Contest Winner (2014)
- MPR News, Cappuccino potato chips? For some reason, that just never caught on (2014)