Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Marocchino
A small, elegant coffee drink created in Alessandria. A shot of espresso over a dusting of cocoa powder, topped with frothed milk and more cocoa.
- Prep
- 2 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 7 min
- Servings
- 1
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 1 serving
- espresso
- whole milk (cold)
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- Nutella or melted chocolate (optional, for lining cup)
Equipment
- Small glass demitasse
- Espresso machine with steam wand
- Cocoa shaker
Instructions
- 1
Warm Glass
Warm a small glass espresso cup (so the layers are visible).
- 2
Optional Nutella
Some modern variations wipe a thin layer of Nutella or melted chocolate inside the rim of the glass.
- 3
First Cocoa Dusting
Heavily dust the bottom and inside walls of the glass with unsweetened cocoa powder.
- 4
Extract Espresso
Pull a standard or ristretto shot of espresso directly into the cocoa-dusted glass.
- 5
Second Cocoa Dusting
Dust the surface of the espresso crema lightly with more cocoa powder.
- 6
Froth Milk
Froth a small amount of milk to create a dense, velvety microfoam (like for a macchiato).
- 7
Pour Milk Foam
Spoon or pour the thick milk foam over the espresso until it fills the glass.
- 8
Final Cocoa Dusting
Finish with a generous dusting of cocoa powder over the white foam.
- 9
Clean Rim
Wipe the rim of the glass if necessary for a clean presentation.
- 10
Serve
Serve immediately. The cocoa powder binds with the coffee oils and milk fat to create a distinct, dry chocolate flavor.
Cooking Tips
- The glass must be small (espresso sized). It is essentially a richer, chocolatey macchiato.
- The cocoa powder must be unsweetened to balance the richness of the milk and coffee.
Variations
- Espressino: A similar drink from Southern Italy (Puglia) often made with slightly more milk.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- The name 'Marocchino' means Moroccan, named for its color, which resembled a type of light brown Moroccan leather popular in the 1930s.
Nutrition Estimate
60 calories · 2g protein · 5g carbs · 3g fat · 1g fiber per serving
