QUESTION: When asked for a recommended beverage for a baby, it’s somewhat common for the barista to suggest that enigmatic-sounding name “babyccino”. What is this strange drink, and how did it even get on the menu of popular coffee shops?
DARREN OLIVER AT CLEARLY COFFEE REPLIES: It’s a well-known fact that children like to feel like adults. For the youngest, there is something appealing about the serious adult aesthetic. And what’s more adult than coffee? Of course, due to the caffeine content, many parents refrain from offering “real” coffee to their children. So, looking for some alternative, the coffee industry created… babyccino. Today I will tell you what this drink is, how it was made, and how to prepare it yourself at home to please your kids.
What Is Babyccino?
It is not difficult to guess that the word “babyccino” is a combination of two other words: “baby” and “cappuccino”. It is in these two words that the solution to our riddle lies. Babyccino can be described as a cappuccino adapted for little ones. It is simply… milk foam sprinkled with cinnamon or cocoa.
Children tend to love the creamy, light, and aerated texture of the froth, and by getting it in a café they can feel somewhat admitted into the adult world. Some cafes also add flavored syrups to the frothed milk to add a little more flavor to the whole thing.
The drink prepared in this way is completely caffeine-free, so there are no worries that it will negatively affect the baby.
The History of Babyccino
It is surprising how many coffee inventions were invented in Australia. Flat white, piccolo coffee and… babyccino! According to some sources, the first use of this name was on the menu of a coffee shop in one of the most important cities on the coffee map of the world – Sydney back in the 1990s!
Since then, it has spread around the world, and more and more cafes (especially those that value inclusivity) are choosing to incorporate it into their menus.
How You Can Make It at Home
Babyccino is child’s play (no pun intended) to make. All you have to do is whip up the milk froth, sprinkle some cocoa or cinnamon, and… done! Alternatively, you can decorate the whole thing with marshmallows, or add flavored syrup.
However, the question remains, how to perfectly whip the foam for babyccino? Well, every baby is different: some prefer a creamy, velvety mousse, others a thick and stiff one, like a meringue. However, there are a few rules to follow when whipping up a milk froth.
First, it’s a good idea to choose milk with a higher fat content. Typically, the higher the fat content, the higher the protein content, which facilitates the frothing process.
The milk should also be heated to a maximum temperature of 65 degrees Celsius. Above this temperature, the proteins break down, which takes away the milk’s natural sweetness.
Final Thoughts
So you already know how to prepare a babyccino at home. Treat your child with it and let your child feel like a serious adult with that cup of coffee. Let’s raise a new generation of coffee lovers from an early age!