I am definately of the view that a macchiatto is "coffee defiled" (definition thanks to a fantastic apron my g/f gave me with sketch pictures of all the different coffee types, their Italian names, and translations) and a latte is even more so
I occasionally go for one of these defiled coffees, short (literally just a dollop of foam) if I wake up, headache from overwork the day/night before, and apart from that, go all out for espresso/ristretto. Nothing longer than 60 ml for a double shot, usually between 30 and 40 ml at home, for a double ristretto.
just my two well informed (born ,raised, been a barista and drank lots of coffee in Italy) cents.
A "piccolo" (literally "small" as someone correctly said already) is an anglo-american-australian coffee invention and virtually unknown in Italy. It is (Danes barista manual) a small latte in a slightly bigger than average coffeecup (no definition in cc for the container but imagine one of those espresso glasses containing an espresso or ristretto shot and filled to the brim with milk and a bit of froth, again, has been correctly said, a miniature latte). Is often misspelled as "picollo" "picolo" or "piccollo".
In Italy if you try to order a "piccolo" they would have no clue on what you actually want, because the name of the subject is missing (you want a small..... what?), here in Australia is virtually an unknown drink outside the hardcore coffeegeek places, so it would be worth telling the barista (And only him because if the order passes through a waiter it might get distorted by his/her fantasy) what you exactly want.
Just because i need to take this one off my chest as well, if you order a "Latte" in Italy they would serve you a glass of plain milk (and would ask: "caldo o freddo?" transl:"hot or cold?") while if you want something like an Australian "Latte" (A shot of espresso in a glass with milk and about 1to 1.5cms of froth on top) you have to ask a "Caffelatte". And PLEASE bar owners and baristas (and fellow coffeegeeks) do not put an accent on the "E" like they do in many places "latte' " because it may sound exotic, but is TOTALLY incorrect.
Enough for today, next quest will be about changing that damn "Foccacia" instead of the correct "Focaccia" (and on friday i'll work on "Frittata" but that's completely off topic i guess)
Damon: read again on your apron, because if is spelled "Macchiatto" with two T's is wrong. correct spelling is "Macchiato" with just one T.
I'm not an english native speaker and make obviously errors in both writing and speaking, but before putting an english name for a recipe in a book or on a board in my bar i would do some research. Maybe food would be awesome in the imaginary place i'm about to describe, but wouldn't be funny ordering from a menu containing stuff like: "meet pie" "sawsiege" "masstard" or "poached pairs"?
You were weaned though :) and it's completely different now...
Those voices in your head, they are saying "espresso, espresso, espresso...."
I hope those voices in my head don't bother you? It is a gradual process cutting back the milk as when i do sometimes have an espresso i am looking for more as it is such a small drink. I'll just have to sip and saviour or do espresso drinkers just gulp it down?
just my two well informed (born ,raised, been a barista and drank lots of coffee in Italy) cents.
A "piccolo" (literally "small" as someone correctly said already) is an anglo-american-australian coffee invention and virtually unknown in Italy. It is (Danes barista manual) a small latte in a slightly bigger than average coffeecup (no definition in cc for the container but imagine one of those espresso glasses containing an espresso or ristretto shot and filled to the brim with milk and a bit of froth, again, has been correctly said, a miniature latte). Is often misspelled as "picollo" "picolo" or "piccollo".
Thanks for that explanation llWoggo. All is clear now.
Iconiq Senior Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Australia, QLD Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Sunbeam EM6910 Grinder: Gaggia MDF Roaster: Pop Corn Popper
Posted Sun Aug 5, 2007, 8:15pm Subject: Re: What's a Piccolo?
Okay, so that all sounds good, but where does a cortado fit in? I got a Piccolo from Starbucks (I needed coffee, don't judge me!!!), and it seemed to be a macchiato, but I guess it could have been a bad pour...
santunoo Senior Member Joined: 5 Mar 2008 Posts: 23 Location: New York Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Hario Mini Mill Slim Drip: Hario V60 pour-over,...
Posted Fri Jun 26, 2009, 1:16am Subject: Re: What's a Piccolo?
Hi Iconiq. Seeing as this is an old thread from 2007, you've probably already figured out where a cortado fits in. I had the same question and found the answer in the last paragraph of this wikipedia entry:
Posted Tue Aug 25, 2009, 6:14am Subject: Re: What's a Piccolo?
At our cafe we've been serving (Our piccollo) as a double ristretto with milk into a 120ml glass. 40mls ristretto+40mls milk+ 40mls foam=120mls. We figured that's actually the correct serving of a classic cappuccino!
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