What is the difference between Marocchino and Macchiato?

The key difference between Marocchino and Macchiato is the use of chocolate. The Marocchino has a layer of cocoa powder and an extra sprinkling of cocoa on top. The Marocchino also uses more milk foam - a layer equal to the amount of espresso, and on a Macchiato, there is only a tiny dollop of foam.

How many calories are in a Marocchino?

A Marocchino coffee contains approximately 41 calories when prepared with a single shot of espresso, whole milk, and unsweetened cocoa powder. If you use hot chocolate powder instead of cocoa powder, the drink contains approximately 56 calories but will depend on the brand you use. Prepare it with a teaspoon of Nutella, and the calorie count will jump to around 100.

What is a Cafe Bombon?

The Cafe Bombon is a coffee drink made with espresso and sweetened condensed milk. It's a layered drink usually served with the condensed milk on the bottom and the espresso on the top, which is then stirred together before drinking. The Bombon originated in Valencia, Spain, but there are similar drinks in Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore which use strong coffee instead of espresso.

Marocchino Coffee Recipe: A Glorious Italian Coffee Drink

Name: Marocchino Coffee: What Is It + Recipe
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 18 g coffee beans; 2 tbsp cocoa powder; 3-4 oz milk

The Marocchino is a tasty Italian coffee drink you’re unlikely to find at the local café. So let’s learn how to make it!

Marocchino coffee is a layered drink featuring espresso, cocoa powder, and milk foam. While there are many variations, the key concept is always the delicious pairing of chocolate and coffee.

I’ll start with a little background on the Marocchino, followed by a simple recipe to make it at home – plus some fun variations to try!

What Is Marocchino Coffee?

A Marocchino coffee – also known as a caffè Marocchino – is a traditional Italian espresso drink served in a small glass. It’s made by pulling a shot of espresso, dusting it with a layer of cocoa powder, and topping it off with frothed milk. A final sprinkle of cocoa powder may be added on top.

The drink’s creation can be traced back to Bar Carpano in the Italian town of Alessandria, sometime after the Second World War. It was inspired by the bicerin coffee, a similar drink popular in nearby Turin (1).

Marocchino (pronounced ma-roh-KEE-no) means “Moroccan” in Italian and usually refers to a light brown type of leather. Alessandria was famous for its custom-made fedoras, which featured a strip of marocchino leather – represented by the layer of cocoa in the drink.

How Do You Make A Marocchino Coffee?

Making an authentic Italian Marocchino is simple, provided you have an espresso machine and the skills to use it. I don’t recommend substituting brewed coffee in this drink as it lacks the body to support the cocoa.

No espresso machine? Check out this list of coffee drinks for some great alternatives!

Marocchino Ingredients

18 – 20 g coffee beans
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3 – 4 oz whole milk
Coffee grinder
Espresso machine
Two demitasses for serving

AT A GLANCE

Brew time:

5-7 minutes

Yield:

Two 2-ounce drinks

Step-By-Step Marocchino Recipe

Here’s how to make Marocchino coffee at home in three easy steps. This recipe makes two servings. You can halve it for a single serving, but beware that it is challenging to froth such a small quantity of milk.

1. Pull The Espresso Shots

Grind your coffee beans to a fine espresso grind. Using a double-spouted portafilter, pull two single shots simultaneously into two pre-warmed serving glasses.

Pro tip: I like to do as the Italians do and use a bittersweet dark roast blend for this coffee beverage.

2. Froth the milk

Froth the milk using the steam wand on your espresso machine. Aim for frothy milk that’s lighter than the silky microfoam in a latte but not quite as airy as a cappuccino.

Pro tip: This drink benefits from milk with a higher fat content to balance the texture and taste of cocoa powder. I recommend whole milk – or even half-and-half if you’re feeling indulgent!

3. Assemble the drink

Marocchino is served as a layered drink.

Sprinkle the cocoa powder over the espresso until you have a thick layer, reserving a little for the top. Spoon on the foamed milk to match the amount of espresso. Top with a final dusting of cocoa.

Marocchino Coffee Variations

The recipe above is the most traditional Italian Marocchino, but there are plenty of regional variations.

The most common is to adjust the chocolate. The cocoa powder can be swapped with hot chocolate powder, melted chocolate, chocolate sauce, or chocolate syrup – all of which increase the sweetness and lower the bitterness of the drink. In Alba, Piedmont, home of Ferraro, the famous Nutella chocolate spread is often used, adding a hint of hazelnut.

A more subtle way to increase the sweetness is to use a ristretto shot in place of espresso which also adds a more concentrated coffee flavor.

Looking for more variations? Try these other drinks featuring the combination of coffee and chocolate:

Final Thoughts

The Marocchino is a coffee drink made from layers of espresso, chocolate, and foamy milk. It’s hard to go wrong with that. Follow the recipe above to enjoy a delicious Marocchino at home. It’s a small but mighty espresso coffee, so make sure you savor every sip!

FAQs

You can drink your Marocchino however you like. Typically, it is stirred to mix the layers and then consumed quickly in a few sips because it is such a small drink.

The main difference between a mocha and a Marocchino is the size. Though both drinks are made with espresso, chocolate, and milk, ordering a mocha in a coffee shop generally yields a much larger and milkier drink – more like a chocolate latte. It is also more common for a mocha drink to be made with chocolate syrup or sauce rather than cocoa powder.

The main difference between a macchiato and a Marocchino is that the macchiato doesn’t include chocolate. It is simply a shot or two of espresso with a spoonful of steamed milk, so it has a much stronger coffee flavor.

References

Lebovitz, D. (2006, December 2). Bicerin Recipe. Retrieved from https://www.davidlebovitz.com/il-bicerin-1

Marocchino Coffee Recipe: A Glorious Italian Coffee Drink

What Is Marocchino Coffee?