Piccolo Latte: What Is It & How to Make This Piccolo Coffee?

Piccolo latte is a fun and delicious way to start your day or take a break from your busy schedule. Try it, and I bet you’ll be surprised.

But what exactly is a piccolo latte?

A piccolo latte is a coffee drink that is made with espresso, steamed, and foamed milk. The drink gets its name from the Italian word for “small” because it’s a smaller version of the latte.

This drink has a rich, creamy taste that you won’t be able to resist! Here are some instructions on how to make this drink at home.

I’ve also answered some questions you might have about this drink.

What is a piccolo latte?

A piccolo latte is a small espresso-based drink that typically contains one shot of espresso, steamed milk, and a little bit of foam.

The word “piccolo” in the name comes from the Italian word for “small”. It’s more potent in flavor than your average latte or cappuccino.

It’s the perfect drink if you want the same texture that a latte has but in a smaller and more potent serving.

Below, you’ll find more information about the ingredients you’ll need, which coffee beans are best used, and so much more!

What ingredients are needed to make a piccolo latte at home?

To make a piccolo latte at home, you will need:

• 1 shot of espresso
• Steamed milk
• Frothed milk
• Sweetener (optional). Add sugar, honey, or another sweetener to taste if you like your coffee sweet

I like to collect the milk and espresso coffee beforehand, so I know I can brew my coffee without needing to run to the store because I’m missing something.

You can use a stovetop espresso maker or an espresso machine for the espresso.

Both options will make great-tasting coffee, but the espresso machine is the best option, as it’ll give the best taste.

However, a stovetop Moka pot or AeroPress will make espresso-like coffee that tastes almost as strong, without the price tag that some espresso machines come with.

If you want to learn more about these coffee brewers, like how to brew coffee with them, you can check out my beginner’s guide to brewing coffee.

Which coffee beans are best used for this recipe?

A piccolo latte is quite strong in taste, and to make it the best you can at home, I suggest using dark roasted coffee beans.

These coffee beans will have the best flavor notes for milk-based coffees as they’re not fruity.

Fruity and sweeter coffee beans are better used to brew pour over coffee, as this is where you can taste all those delicious flavors.

You can try using some espresso coffee beans, which are great for this coffee. They differ from regular coffee beans significantly. You can check out the difference between them here.

If you’re interested in learning more about the coffee beans that go well with milk-based drinks, you can check out this complete guide.

Questions you may have about a piccolo latte

You may have some additional questions about the piccolo latte. Have a look below for some more information about this drink so that you can make the best version at home!

How many shots are in a piccolo?

A piccolo latte uses a single espresso shot. The espresso to milk ratio is higher, creating a stronger drink than a regular latte.

If you’d rather use an additional espresso shot, I recommend making a cortado or macchiato instead.

Both coffees use a double espresso shot as the basis and use steamed and foamed milk. You can check out the recipes by clicking on their name.

How do you froth milk for a piccolo latte?

You can make steamed milk and frothed milk for a piccolo latte with a handheld milk frother or an automatic milk frother.

There are actually many ways to make milk foam at home, and if you want to learn about six ways to froth milk at home, you can check out this interesting article.

What is the ratio of a piccolo?

To make a piccolo latte at home, you can best use a 1:2 ratio of espresso to steamed and frothed milk.

One part espresso (1 oz or 30 ml) and two parts (2 oz or 60 ml) of milk are used to create a strong piccolo coffee.

You can also use a 1:3 ratio of espresso to milk. This will create a more milk-forward piccolo latte, perfect for people who don’t like a strong coffee.

Piccolo latte cup size

A piccolo latte is usually served in a 3 to 4 oz (88 to 118 ml) cup made of glass. A demitasse glass is most often used to serve a piccolo latte.

My favorite glass to use are these small glasses:

You’ll see them in most cafes around the world and can also be used to serve a cortado or macchiato.

It’s a versatile cup that I’ve been using for a while now. If you’re interested, you can check out the glass on Amazon.com.

How many calories does a piccolo latte have?

A piccolo has between 15 and 54 calories. The calories in your piccolo latte can change depending on the milk you want to use.

You can have a look at the table below for the number of calories in a piccolo latte with some of the most popular milk and milk alternatives:

Milk used:	The number of calories:
Whole milk	54 calories
2% fat milk	45 calories
Non-fat milk	39 calories
Oat milk	45 calories
Almond milk	15 calories
Soy milk	36 calories

I often like to use whole milk for my milk-based coffees as this will give the coffee a creamy and full flavor.

The best part about brewing coffee at home is that you can use any ingredients you want to prepare your coffee and make it as strong as you like.

Do you have a favorite milk alternative? Try using it to make this piccolo latte recipe!

Conclusion

So, there you have it—my guide to making a piccolo latte at home. I hope you’ve found it helpful and will give this delicious coffee drink a try!

Which do you prefer, the full-sized or mini version of a latte?

I like both coffees equally as much. Sometimes a smaller and stronger coffee is perfect for a busy morning.

If you like these kinds of recipes, you can have a look below for some more espresso-based recipes that are also easy to make!

More espresso-based recipes

• Café Bombon: What Is It and How to Make This Espresso Drink?
• Cinnamon Mocha: What Is It and How to Make It at Home?
• Nutella Latte: What Is It and How to Make It at Home?