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Caffè alla nocciola
Caffè alla nocciola: Neapolitan espresso over hazelnut cream, crowned with a whipped sugar-coffee foam
Naples takes its espresso seriously, and its bars along Via Toledo and the Lungomare also serve this richer cousin: a small glass cup smeared with hazelnut cream, a hot ristretto poured in, and a cap of cremina, the pale foam Neapolitans make by beating the first drops of coffee with sugar. It is drunk standing at the counter at mid-morning or after lunch as a little treat, and in summer the same flavours come as a cold crema al caffè. It tastes of roasted hazelnut and dark coffee, sweet and nutty, with a soft, airy foam that melts into the cup. The common mistake is whisking the cremina with too much coffee: it stays liquid and never turns pale. Use just a teaspoon of the first, thick drops and beat hard. It is ready when the foam is light beige, thick and falls from the spoon in ribbons. Espresso means a fair amount of caffeine, so keep this one for grown-ups. Chef's tip: warm the glass under hot water first and swirl the hazelnut cream up the sides; the hot coffee melts it into stripes as it goes in.
- Total time
- 6 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the coffee
- 2 tbsp hazelnut cream (spreadable)a smooth hazelnut and cocoa or plain hazelnut spread
- 3 tsp sugar
- ¼ cup freshly brewed espresso2 single shots, or strong moka-pot coffee
To finish
- 2 tbsp lightly whipped cream (optional)
- 1 tsp toasted hazelnuts, chopped (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Warm 2 small glass cups under hot water and dry them. Spoon the 2 tbsp hazelnut cream (spreadable) into them, 1 tbsp each, and swirl it up the sides with the back of the spoon.
2 minStep 2: Put the 3 tsp sugar in a small cup. Start brewing the ¼ cup freshly brewed espresso and catch the first 1–2 tsp of thick coffee over the sugar.
1 minStep 3: Beat the sugar and coffee hard with a teaspoon for 1–2 minutes until it turns into a pale, thick, glossy foam that ribbons off the spoon.
2 minStep 4: Divide the rest of the hot espresso between the cups, stir lightly so some of the hazelnut cream melts in, then spoon the foam on top.
1 minStep 5: Finish with 2 tbsp lightly whipped cream and 1 tsp toasted hazelnuts, chopped and serve straight away.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does caffè alla nocciola take?
- About 6 minutes in total: 4 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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