What is a Babyccino and How to Make It

This beverage with a peculiar name has been becoming an essential part of the coffee shop culture.

You may have already heard about it, as it’s gaining popularity around the globe, but do you actually know what a babyccino is?

This drink’s name sounds a bit like cappuccino, but it has no coffee whatsoever.

At some coffee shops, its name is spelled “babycino” – with only one ‘c’, but that’s not quite important.

What’s worth our attention is the first part of the drink’s name.

A babyccino is actually targeted to kids. To be fair, I consider this beverage a great invention for two reasons.

If you often go to a cafè with your kids, they may get a bit bored and crave your attention when you’re simply trying to enjoy your coffee.

Ordering a delicious babyccino will keep your toddlers quiet and satisfied while you’re calmly taking a sip after sip.

Meanwhile, they’d love the whole experience as they’ll get to pretend play as grown-ups who have their morning babyccino “coffee”.

So let’s dive in and see the drink’s definition and ingredients.

What is a Babyccino: The Definition

There’s an argument over whether the Babyccino was invented in Australia or New Zealand.

It seems like these two countries often argue over the invention of drinks, as they also haven’t agreed on the origins of the flat white.

Anyway, here’s the Babyccino definition:

A Babyccino is a coffee-free beverage, offered at coffee shops and cafes.

It’s made of steamed and textured milk that’s sprinkled with cocoa powder.

A Babyccino is served in a cappuccino cup (usually 5 fl. oz. (150 ml.)).

At some coffee shops, the Babyccino also contains 0.5 oz. (15 g) of chocolate sauce.

To make this drink, the barista uses the espresso machine’s steam wand to warm up and froth the milk.

The ideal Babyccino temperature is 104°F to 113°F (40°C to 45°C).

I call it “ideal” as the natural milk sweetness is best pronounced at this temperature.

At the same time – the Babyccino isn’t too hot and won’t burn your kid’s tongue.

Babyccino Variations and Price

This drink has actually been reinterpreted in different ways and its ingredients vary from one location to another.

At some coffee shops, a Babyccino contains chocolate sauce or another flavored syrup that adds more sweetness.

Serving it with a marshmallow or a biscuit on the side is also a common practice.

At other places, the Babyccino is sprinkled with cinnamon and contains no sweeteners whatsoever.

If this drink is listed on the menu, ask the barista about its ingredients.

Many parents are trying to limit their toddler’s sugar intake.

If you’re one of them, it’s best to ask for a sauce- or syrup-free beverage when you’re ordering.

At other cafes, there are no Babyccinos on the menu.

Nevertheless, you can order a cup of steamed and frothed milk, that’s topped off with cocoa powder.

For example, at some Starbucks locations, the baristas don’t really know what a Babyccino is.

If you happen to be in such a location, you should put a bit of effort to explain what you’re looking for – a demi (3 oz., 90 ml.) or a short (8 oz., 240 ml) cup of steamed and frothed milk, sprinkled with cocoa powder.

Still, there are quite a few Starbucks coffee shops that offer the Babyccino.

At some cafes around the world (such as Costa) the barista would even hand you one for free.

The price of a Babyccino varies, but as a general rule of thumb, I would say that it’s never more than $2.

With that being said, at most cafes, it’s free of charge as long as it contains no syrups and sauces.

Author’s Note: Not everyone in the world of coffee is familiar with the Babyccino and what it’s all about.

That’s the reason why some baristas may get a bit confused when you order one.

At the same time, at other coffee shops and cafes, the Babyccino order is so common that there are dedicated Babyccino cups exclusively for the little ones and their cute “grown-up” drinks.

How to make a Babyccino at Home

You can easily make a homemade Babyccino for your kid.

I’ve included a few recipe options so that you can choose the one that suits your requirements and desires best.
So here’s how to make a Babyccino at home:

  1. Pour 4 fl. oz. (120 ml.) of milk into a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Allow it to heat up gently for about 2 to 3 minutes. If you have a thermometer (Amazon link) let the milk warm up until 104°F to 113°F (40°C to 45°C) is reached.
    Recommended product: Digital Thermometer by Polder
  3. Froth the milk with a drink mixer/milk frother. These devices are great for homemade coffee drinks, as they mix the coffee syrups well and froth the milk nicely.

    If you don’t own one, you can check out this drink mixer by FoodVille on Amazon.
  4. Pour the frothed milk into a cup and sprinkle with cocoa powder.

    Topping off your Babyccino with cinnamon instead of cocoa is also an option.

    Another option would be to add a 0.5 oz. (15 g) of chocolate sauce to the cup before pouring the milk.

    If you do so, your kid will need to stir the drink to combine the ingredients.

    You can use homemade chocolate sauce or get one, such as this gourmet sauce by Monin.

    The latter is truly delicious, 100% vegan, and is perfect for making homemade coffee drinks, such as marocchino or dark chocolate mocha.

    Frothing the milk with cocoa, chocolate sauce or some sort of flavored syrup is also a great idea if you don’t mind the addition of sugar to the Babyccino.

For your convenience, a printable Marocchino recipe card is available at the bottom of this page.

Final Words

I hope that you learned something new from this drink guide.

If you have any questions regarding the Babyccino or other coffee shop drinks, leave me a comment below!

Yield: 1 serving

Babyccino

Babyccino

The Babyccino is a coffee shop beverage that's targeted at kids and contains no coffee whatsoever. It's a simple drink, made of steamed milk, frothed milk, cocoa dusting, and chocolate sauce (optional). The temperature of the steamed milk should be within the range of 104°F to 113°F (40°C to 45°C).

Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 fl. oz. (120 ml.) milk
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 0.5 fl. oz. (15 ml.) chocolate sauce (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pour milk into a saucepan and place over medium heat.
  2. Allow the milk to heat up gently for 2 minutes. If you have a thermometer - aim for 104°F to 113°F (40°C to 45°C) milk temperature.
  3. Froth the milk with a drink mixer.
  4. Add chocolate sauce to a cup. (optional).
  5. Pour the milk into a cup.
  6. Sprinkle with cocoa powder.

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