This Bicerin Coffee Recipe From Turin Is An Amazing Treat!
You don’t need to travel all the way to Turin, Italy to enjoy this regional treat that is both easy to make and a special delicious weekend splurge at home!
The Bicerin Coffee Drink Charm
This past winter, we decided to head up to Turin (Torino) and enjoy the amazing local foods, coffee culture and even visit a museum dedicated to Lavazza Coffee. The morning after we arrived, it was cold outside and headed down to an amazing coffee bar, the Caffè Platti. We were amazed by the local specialty coffee, un Bicerìn. How well it warmed our cold bones as a respite from the cold, but not so sweet as to seem like a dessert. This is a regional specialty that is popular all around the world and should be next on your list of delicious breakfasts that you want to try and make at home.
The History Of This Bicerin Coffee Recipe
From Their Website:
Caffè al Bicerin is the home to the famous drink of the same name, the Bicerin. Their story began back in 1763, when Giuseppe Dentis opened a small shop in the building facing the entrance to the Sanctuary of the Consolata. At the time, the place was modestly furnished with wooden tables and benches. The current building was designed by the architect Carlo Promis and constructed in 1856.
The history of Caffè al Bicerin became closely interwoven with that of the drink. Indeed, the new mixture was the ideal pick-me-up for the faithful who, having fasted to prepare for Holy Communion, needed energy as soon as they came out of the church. Likewise, it was very popular during Lent because hot chocolate was not considered “food”, so it could be consumed with a clean conscience when fasting.
When In Torino, Where Should We Go?
Turin (Torino) is the home of the Bicerin coffee drink, so you will definitely want to give it a try if you ever visit this northern Italian destination. My recommendations are: the Caffè Al Bicerin, being the home of the drink, would be a great place to start if it isn’t too busy, and the Caffè Platti. We tried this a couple mornings and we loved our drinks, so if the original location is too full and you don’t feel like waiting, there are alternatives to try.
Don’t be afraid to try this at home. There are only three ingredients and you can swap a couple, like the chocolate and cream, if it is more convenient for you. To put it another way, Gianduja is the best chocolate to use because hazelnuts are also from that region, but dark or milk chocolate also works well. If you like heavy cream, certainly use it, but whole milk whips up nicely and is worth a try if that is easier for you.
The Bicerin Coffee Recipe
Making this Bicerin coffee recipe at home is easy, but you’ll need to save yourself some stress and not worry about appearances. As my pictures prove, making it look perfect isn’t easy, but I assure you that even the messy versions are delicious.
Bicerin Recipe Ingredients
- 3-4 Fl. Ounces (120 ml) Strong Espresso
- 4 Ounces (114 gr) Melted Chocolate (preferrably Gianduja)
- 4 Fl. Ounces (120 ml) Lightly Frothed Cream (or Whole Milk)
Bicerin Brewing Instructions
- Brew a very strong espresso. I used a 3 tazzina moka, but be sure you have enough coffee.
- Melt the chocolate. You can use a double-boiler if you prefer, but I just tossed it into the microwave in a PYREX cup, and it easily and quickly melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate into the serving glass.
- Pour the coffee into the glass over the chocolate, but don’t mix the layers. They need to remain separate.
- Froth the heated cream, or whole milk, and add the cream and foam to the glass, again keeping the layers separate.
- Serve with a nice pastry or biscotti.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicerin
What Is A Bicerin Coffee?
Bicerin coffee is a regional coffee drink that you will find in Turin (Torino) that is made of three layers: espresso, melted Gianduja chocolate and steamed and frothed cream. The Bicerin is different from a cappuccino or a macchiato in that it contains melted chocolate and shouldn’t be mixed. Enjoying the layers is part of the process and using a spoon to get to the chocolate is the only reason for a spoon.
The drink is not served in a cappuccino mug because the aesthetics of the drink are part of the experience. Seeing the layers and the anticipation of the different flavors definitely add to the enjoyment.
Is This Bicerin Coffee Recipe Worth The Time?
This special treat can be a part of a special occasion breakfast that pairs well with typical breakfast pastries, like cornetti or biscotti. For me, it is a little too sweet as an everyday drink, and I prefer an easier way to drink coffee in the morning. However, if a happy celebration is in the works, this is a great place to start.
The other occasion on which to enjoy a Bicerin would be as a substitute for Hot Cocoa. Imagine sitting around a fireplace on a winter morning, maybe Christmas morning, and warming up with this delicious chocolate drink. In this case, I would also look to make sure the chocolate has hazelnuts, like Gianduja.
Is Bicerin Coffee An Indulgence?
The Bicerin coffee is definitely worth trying, both at home and at a Torino bar. It is no more difficult than making a cappuccino at home and it isn’t too sweet as compared to the sugar bombs you will find at Starbucks. It will warm your body on cool mornings in the way that only coffee and chocolate can.
What Is The Difference Between Mocha And Bicerin?
Here are a few differences between a Bicerin and a Mocha:
- The Bicerin uses melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder and sugar.
- The layers of a Bicerin are not mixed, they are enjoyed separately.
- The Bicerin is topped with frothed, hot milk or cream, but not mixed in.
- The Mocha doesn’t necessarily use proper Italian espresso.
How Do You Pronounce Bicerin In English?
Here is an attempt at phonetically spelling out Bicerìn: Bee-Chair-Een – with the stress on the last syllable. Good luck, but I’m sure once you hear it pronounced in Italy, you won’t forget how to pronounce this amazing drink.
What Does Bicerin Taste Like?
Layers! In fact, enjoying the individual layers of cream, coffee and hazelnut chocolate is really the point. You aren’t supposed to mix the drink, but you will want a spoon to dig out all of that delicious chocolate from the bottom of the glass.
More Italian Coffee Culture Articles
If you enjoyed this article on the delicious Italian Bicerin coffee, you might also want to check out some of these other articles that celebrate the amazing coffee and the culture that you can find all over Italy:
- A Suspended Coffee For Your Fellow Coffee Drinker.
- Italian Coffee Culture: Tradition, Taste And Community.
- The Best Italian Coffee Drinks That You Will Love.
- How To Order Coffee In Italy – Our Helpful Guide.
- These Are The Best Italian Coffee Cities For Culture.
- Italian Coffee Roasting Profiles Are As Diverse As Italy.
- How Can Italian Coffee Culture Influence The Globe?
- How Do Italian Values Influence Italian Coffee Culture?
- What Does Coffee Say About Social Class In Italy?
- The Influence Of Tourism On Coffee Culture In Italy.
