Espresso con Panna: What Is It & How to Make It at Home?

Are you wondering what an espresso con panna is? You're not alone!

What if I asked you which one you prefer: coffee or dessert? If that's a hard question to answer, then this article will be great for you.

I will show you how you can combine these two with the espresso con panna.

However, that's not all; below, you will learn about its origins and how to make an espresso con panna at home.

Hint? It isn't as hard as you might think!

What is an Espresso con Panna?

The espresso con panna is a shot of espresso topped with a generous amount of whipped cream.

If you want to make it at home, I recommend using 20% heavy cream (or a non-dairy whipping alternative if you prefer).

Homemade whipped cream allows you more control over the texture and sweetness than a can of whipped cream spray.

You can sweeten this espresso as well, but it's optional.

If you're craving something sweet around the afternoon (or whenever the mood strikes), an espresso con panna is a fun little coffee-dessert combo to make.

There are only two ingredients in this drink, so make sure that you like the espresso's taste and that it's of good quality. The same goes for whipped cream.

Of course, this is all your choice, but as long as it's espresso and whipped cream, then you're good to go!

In this recipe, I will use a double espresso, also known as a doppio espresso.

For more information about the doppio espresso, please visit this link.

What do you need to make an Espresso con Panna at home?

Here's everything you need to make an espresso con panna at home:

1. Espresso. The next thing you will need is an espresso machine or a method to create espresso, such as a Moka pot (a stove-top espresso maker). You will also need ground coffee beans.
2. Heavy cream. It's best to use heavy cream and mix it at home instead of whipped cream in a can (the spray one). The best one to use is 20% (or more) heavy cream from cow's milk, but if you're vegan, then you can also go for a cashew-based cream.

One thing to note here is that it's better to purchase whole beans and grind the coffee yourself before making the espresso.

The drink will often taste better, and grinding fresh also makes it easier to dial in the grind size for your espresso machine.

To make the best espresso at home, you need good coffee beans. You can check out this article for my recommendations.

You'll also need to grind it fine enough to use in an espresso machine, which looks like this:

If you want to make this drink from scratch as best as you can, you'll also need the following equipment:

• A whisk and a clean bowl. You will need these to make the espresso con panna at home.
• An espresso cup, a small glass, or a demitasse cup. Don't forget to prepare a cup where you can put the drink!

Where does the Espresso con Panna come from?

Now that you know what the espresso con panna is, you might be wondering where it came from, right?

Well, no one's really sure exactly where or how the espresso con panna started, but the name is an Italian term that roughly translates to “espresso with cream.”

Another fun note is that you might sometimes see it listed with “Viennese” or “Viennois” style wording, depending on the cafe.

This could be confusing, as a Viennese is a distinct espresso drink.

Depending on the cafe, the name can vary, so it helps to describe the drink (espresso topped with whipped cream) if you want to be extra clear.

Just remember this: If the drink only contains espresso (either a single or a double shot) and whipped cream, then it's an espresso con panna.

To ensure you get what you're after, order a single or double espresso topped with whipped cream (and mention “con panna” if they recognize the term).

Another great thing to know is that an espresso con panna is traditionally served in a demitasse.

You might be wondering now how hard it is to make an espresso con panna at home, right?

Well, don't worry! I'll cover everything you need to know below.

You can follow me step-by-step:

Espresso con Panna: Extra Information

If you need more information about this espresso, such as the number of calories it contains or the amount of caffeine, then don't worry.

I've got you covered below:

How many calories does the Espresso con Panna have?

Typically, an espresso con panna with 20% heavy cream from cow's milk, one espresso shot, and no added sweetener contains approximately 35 calories.

The definite number of calories does depend on a few factors:

• How much whipped cream do you use?
• Do you use any sweeteners?
• What kind of heavy cream do you use? Or, in case you don't use it, what do you use for the whipped cream? Check the label if you use it from a spray can.

Knowing these factors allows you to easily calculate the number of calories in your espresso con panna.

How much caffeine does the Espresso con Panna have?

You now know that it contains either one or two espresso shots. Now you can easily calculate the caffeine inside your espresso con panna.

One ounce (approximately 30ml) of espresso contains around 63mg of caffeine per shot. (Source)

So now it depends on how many shots of espresso you use:

• An espresso con panna with one espresso shot has around 63mg of caffeine.
• An espresso con panna with two espresso shots has around 126mg of caffeine.

Tip: If you want to get to know the difference between an espresso and a doppio espresso, you can check out this in-depth guide.

How to drink Espresso con Panna

The best way to drink espresso con panna is by stirring the whipped cream through the coffee.

By combining the whipped cream and espresso, you get a richer, dessert-like sip.

You can also drink the coffee straight away after making it, letting the whipped cream sit on your espresso.

This way, you have a bit of leftover whipped cream to scoop out with a small spoon after you've finished drinking your coffee.

Conclusion

Do I see a smile there or not?

Coffee and dessert together; how awesome is that?

I hope you now see that you can easily make this espresso at home and enjoy it whenever you're in the mood for a coffee and dessert combo.

It's usually made without any sweeteners, flavorings, or added sugar. I recommend trying it the first time you drink this special combination of coffee and dessert.

And if you're on the go, many coffee shops can make this for you if they have whipped cream available.

Also, please let me know if you plan to try the espresso con panna. If you do, then enjoy!

More coffee recipes

If you're interested in exploring more coffee recipes, I've listed a few below that may be of interest to you:

• Café Con Miel Recipe: Make Spanish Coffee With Honey at Home
• Spanish Latte: What Is It & How to Make This Latte at Home?
• Proffee (Protein Coffee): What Is It & How to Make It (2026)

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