What is espresso con panna? The name of this coffee drink translates to espresso with cream in Italian and if you aren’t familiar with it yet, it might just become your new favorite.
It’s a coffee you can have any time of day, and we think it’s especially best enjoyed as a sweet, decadent midday pick me up.
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Let’s get into a little more detail about espresso con panna and how you can make it at home.
- What is espresso con panna?
- How much caffeine is in an espresso con panna?
- Is espresso con panna healthy?
- How do you drink espresso con panna?
- Espresso con panna recipe
What is espresso con panna?
The name espresso con panna sounds fancy but it’s simply a shot of espresso with a dollop of whipped cream served hot. It originated in Italy and traditionally, it’s served in a demitasse cup. Apparently you’ll sometimes hear it referred to as a cafe Vienne but not much else is known about the history of this coffee drink.
But what we do know for sure is that it’s delicious.
The creaminess of the whipped cream pairs nicely with any bitterness the shot of espresso may have. There’s the perfect amount of each – not too much cream and not too much coffee. It serves as a quick to consume midday pick me up treat providing caffeine in the shot of espresso and a little sweetness that you can add in the whipped cream.
An espresso is one ounce but you may come across a doppio con panna, which is larger. It contains two ounces of espresso (called doppio) and topped with whipped cream. And you could even put more shots of espresso, triple or quad (Starbucks and my local independent cafe have these options for their espresso con panna!)
How much caffeine is in an espresso con panna?
Espresso con panna may look small but it has approximately 64 milligrams of caffeine, according to Mayo Clinic. If you have a double shot of espresso con panna, you’re looking at consuming approximately 128 milligrams of caffeine, which is more than a standard 8 ounce serving of black coffee, which has approximately 96 milligrams.
Is espresso con panna healthy?
An espresso con panna at Starbucks is 30 calories with 2.5 grams of fat, 75 milligrams of caffeine and 1 gram of sugar (their whipped cream contains sugar.) You could customize the type of whipped cream to their light option to reduce the fat content. Or you can make your own at home to be in full control of the amount of sugar and fat that goes into your espresso con panna.
How do you drink espresso con panna?
Drink an espresso con panna with the whipped cream on top or stir it in. You can also make it a quick dessert beverage by adding in a drizzle of sauce like Torani’s dark chocolate or caramel flavors or sprinkle a little cinnamon. It’s all up to what you prefer to give an espresso a decadent update. Try making it at home today to find your preference.
If you have a Nespresso machine, you can make an espresso con panna by brewing espresso with a Nespresso machine then pouring heavy cream into a Nespresso Aeroccino to make the cream.
And if you don’t have a Nespresso machine, here’s another easy way to make an espresso con panna at home:
How to Make Espresso con Panna at Home
The taste of your espresso con panna will come down to the two ingredients: the coffee beans you use for the espresso (we recommend using high quality whole beans and grinding it just before brewing) and the heavy cream you use for the whipped cream (we prefer homemade.)
Espresso con Panna Ingredients
- 1 ounce espresso
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Demitasse cup
- Powdered sugar, vanilla extract (optional)
You can use either heavy cream or whipping cream. Heavy cream has slightly more fat than whipping cream. Both are suitable to make whipped cream but note because of the greater fat content in heavy cream, the shape will hold longer.
Espresso con Panna Directions
Step 1
Brew the espresso and pour into a demitasse cup.
If you don’t have an espresso machine at home, there are other methods you can use to brew espresso. The result is not the same as an espresso machine but they will get the job done.
One of the closest ways you can make an espresso without an espresso machine is with a moka pot (which is what we used) and you could also use an Aeropress, or a French press if you have neither.
Step 2
Make the whipped cream. Use an electric mixer on medium speed for about 5 minutes until stiff peaks form.
Optional: Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract to make a sweet whipped cream. You can use a store bought whipped cream, but we prefer making our own for control over the sweetness and fat content.
Step 3
Scoop about a tablespoon (or more) of whipped cream to the espresso.
For an extra treat, add cinnamon, cocoa powder, syrup or any sweetener or topping of choice.
Espresso con Panna
Materials
- 1 ounce espresso
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Demitasse cup
- Powdered sugar, vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
1. Brew the espresso and pour into a demitasse cup. (We used a moka pot.)
2. Make the whipped cream. Use an electric mixer on medium speed for about 5 minutes until stiff peaks form.
Optional: Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract to make a sweetened whipped cream.
3. Scoop about a tablespoon (or more) of whipped cream to the espresso.
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