Have you ever wondered what a Piccolo latte is? First and foremost, you have to know what a Piccolo is first. A Piccolo is a small flute-like musical instrument. Thus, a Piccolo latte is simply a small latte.
I personally enjoy my coffee in small servings instead of having to finish a huge cup in one sitting. I believe that I’m not alone and it is the very reason why they came up with Piccolo latte. This is especially useful too if you want lesser calories too!
Piccolo coffee
About a decade ago, Piccolo made its first appearance in Sydney. It is a latte simply served in a small 100 ml glass. A lot of workaholics actually enjoyed this serving because it’s easier for them to enjoy fresh cups the whole day. Take note that a Piccolo is typically prepared with a Ristretto shot rather than the usual Espresso.
Basically, it’s a Ristretto shot with silky warm milk poured in a miniature glass.
Ristretto shot
A Ristretto and an Espresso utilize the same amount of coffee. The difference is that the water amount is cut into half to prepare the Ristretto. Thus, a Ristretto is definitely stronger than an Espresso as it’s less diluted.
Piccolo vs. Cortado
Piccolo has always been mistaken as the Cortado because they are both fun-sized with milk and foam on top. According to Grant Gamble, the events director of the Toronto Coffee Festival (Allegra Group), stated, “After spending time in Australia, I discovered that a Piccolo is a single shot of espresso in a 3-4 oz (85-114 ml) cup with latte-texture milk, whereas the Cortado is a double shot.”
Since a Cortado is twice the shot, this means that it is more robust and intense than a Piccolo. It is also less sweet because it has less milk to make room for the extra shot. This main difference should be emphasized because a lot of people order a Cortado and find the experience unpleasant because they did not expect its strength.
Piccolo vs. Latte
The key difference between the two is that a regular latte is not prepared with a Ristretto and that a Piccolo is a lot smaller. Because a Piccolo is typically served in a small glass, customers consume them in house while a regular latte is easy to order to take out.
Piccolo vs. Macchiato
A Macchiato, on the other hand, is a small coffee with a little milk. The coffee to milk ratio is 1:0.5 which means a 25 ml Espresso is added to just 10 ml of milk. There are times too that the milk content can even be lesser.
Here’s a quick guide on the milk contents of your favorite drinks:
- Macchiato: 10 ml steamed milk
- Cortado: 25-30 ml steamed milk with a thin foamy layer
- Piccolo: 100 ml milk with a thin foamy layer
- Flat White: 125 ml steamed milk with a thin foamy layer
- Cafe Latte: 210 ml steamed milk with a thin foamy layer
Where to find Piccolo?
Piccolo is actually quite difficult to access. Do you personally know a coffee shop that serves this drink? If yes, I bet you can only name one or two.
According to Ceiran, this is largely due to the drink’s lack of popularity. Consumers are almost always confused on what it really is. Additionally, a lot of people have their own favorites in the forms of Lattes and Cappuccinos which stop them from trying out this tiny coffee. In fact, serve someone with a Piccolo and they’d think that it’s a Cortado.
Ultimately, the dilemma does not lie on the beverage as it is actually a great drink. It’s just that a lot of people do not know what it is and what it’s made of.
DIY Piccolo Latte
Things you’ll need
- Espresso machine
- Your favorite coffee ground
- Your favorite milk
- Milk Frother / steamer
How to:
- Brew a 15 g Ristretto shot. Traditional fine grind works best for this beverage. Do not use a coarse grind.
- Steam your favorite milk. You may also froth but take note that the glass is really small so you won’t need a lot of foam. A traditional Piccolo uses cow’s milk but any alternative you prefer should work fine too.
- Secure a 90 ml glass you want to use.
- Pour in the Espresso into the glass.
- Pour steamed milk over the Espresso until the glass is filled.
- Enjoy every sip!
Final say
Piccolo may not be the most popular nor the most in demand, but it truly has its charms. We hope that when you find yourself in a place that offers Piccolo, we hope that you’d jump in and try!
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Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
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