Piccolo Coffee
Look no further if you’re looking for a concentrated espresso shot without the ounces! In this article, I’ll introduce piccolo coffee, the varieties, and details on making the perfect cup at home listed below!
What Is Piccolo Coffee?
A piccolo coffee is a single shot of ristretto pulled and poured into an 85 – 114ml glass, topped with two parts of steamed milk, creating a thin layer of silky foam on top. This makes a small coffee beverage with more coffee than dairy.
The word Piccolo means “small” in Italian, which fits perfectly as it’s served in a small glass. Furthermore, three common ways of ordering are “Piccolo Coffee,” “Piccolo Latte,” or “Piccolo.”
Is A Piccolo Latte Different?
No, a piccolo latte is made precisely the same way. It’s just another term used to describe a regular piccolo coffee and, in Italian, translates to “Small Latte.”
Bit Of A History
Its rumored piccolo coffee became known in Australia over ten years ago and originated in Sydney. Without consuming too much dairy and caffeine throughout the day, a barista invented the drink to continually taste their coffee and cleanse their palate.
To prevent bloating from dairy, the barista added only a tiny amount of milk, allowing him to try various flavors. Over time, Australia has adopted this specialty coffee culture over other origins, becoming a must-order coffee!
Why Is It Difficult To Find?
The main reason would be the lack of popularity, making it difficult to find; overall, coffee shop owners avoid putting it on their menu. Most people are familiar with lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites.
Coffee shops serve cortados instead of Piccolo, and most people stick to the most common drinks instead of the unknown. Often, the description between Cortado and Piccolo is overwhelming with similarities. People get confused and don’t know what to expect!
A Piccolo coffee uses less water, giving it a more robust flavor, resulting in a strong-tasting coffee. This, for some people, isn’t a drink of choice, and they prefer a weaker cup.
Piccolo Latte Vs Other Milk Based Drinks?
Here we will describe the difference between the Piccolo latte and 4 of the most common milk-based drinks people get confused about.
Latte
A latte is simply espresso with steamed milk and is significantly larger than a Piccolo Latte. The standard mixture is 1/3 espresso with 2/3 steamed milk and a thin foam layer. Both have similar milk consistency. However, a classic latte is served in a 230ml cup compared to a small 114ml Piccolo cup.
Cappuccino
One of the most popular drinks and the largest. It’s served in a 170ml cup with a standard mixture of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 milk foam. The main difference from a piccolo is when steaming the milk, the air is used, creating a frothier texture.
Flat White
Compared to a piccolo, the flat white contains a double shot of espresso and less milk. She served in a 170ml cup with similar milk consistency. The standard mixture is 1/3 espresso, and 2/3 milk is heated, creating a more robust flavor.
Macchiato
Both macchiato and piccolo are served with a single shot of espresso, typically smaller drinks. Simply by mixing espresso with frothed milk. The name macchiato comes from an Italian term meaning “marked” or “spotted,” describing how the frothed milk marks the rich espresso when added.
Overall, the frothed milk is similar to a cappuccino than a piccolo and the blended milk is smoother.
How To Make Piccolo Coffee?
Piccolo is a smaller version of a latte, the overall best way to extract the flavors and strength it has to offer without having to much acidity longer extractions give. Here’s how to make it!
1. Place the 3oz/90ml glass – directly underneath the espresso machine, these glasses are half the size of a regular latte
2. Extract one ristretto shot- pull the ristretto between 18 – 22 seconds, or 15 – 20ml of liquid, into the glass. Always use fine grind, whether its your own coffee beans or buying espresso at a store. Never use coarse grinds
3. Start steaming your milk – traditionally, dairy milk is used, and steam up to 60°C/140°F. Enough air should be introduced, creating micro foam. Remember, smaller glasses are used, so not much is needed
4. Pour 40 – 60ml of steamed milk onto the espresso – be sure to pour at an angle, and slightly above the glass. This will help you with better control and consistency
5.Next, add micro foam – easiest way to do this is with a spoon, leaving room for a small layer of micro foam ontop
Tips: If your planning on latte art, fill the glass 2/3 before starting. This will help the design
Final Thoughts
Now might be a good time to try Piccolo coffee. Not only are they tiny, but they are perfect if you want a caffeine hit after a meal for someone who likes many coffee drinks throughout the day!
Next time you’re at the local coffee shop, ask the barista to suggest their version of the piccolo coffee recipe and see what all the fuss is about!