This Espresso Con Panna is a delicious, creamy coffee drink that is small in volume, big in flavor, and bold in strength.
Espresso Con Panna Recipe
One night in Bahrain, while waiting in the terminal for a late night pick up, I discovered Espresso Con Panna. Which is simply espresso topped with whipped cream. From first sip, I was stuck! For months, whether it be swinging by the corner café before early morning movements or waiting in the cool air terminal at random hours, this sure shot of life became my new go-to and remains in my top rankings of coffee drinks today.
The reason I am sharing this easy concept is because, as one of my go-to drinks, you wouldn’t believe some of the faces I get when trying to order one. It typically goes like this:
Me: “Espresso Con Panna, please.”
Employee: Stares at my face as if it’s changing like Pinnocchio.
Me: “Do you have whipped cream?”
Employee: “Yes” – if no, obviously my order changes. This has happened a few times, too.
Me: “can you just put some on top of a double espresso for me?”
Employee: “Oh!! Yea I can do that!”
Me: “Thank you!!”
This has happened way more often than not. I’ve honestly been kind of shocked that it’s so unknown in some of the places I’ve been. Vice versa, there has been a time or two where I tried to head this off and just asked for a double shot with whipped cream. The response was, “so espresso con panna?” 🙃
Side note: I once got made fun of by a guy for ordering such a tiny little cup. He was ragging on me like, “Pshhht, I can’t believe you’re drinking such a tiny little cup of coffee.” FYI, your average Grande latte has a double shot in it; with the rest being steamed milk and possibly flavoring. This was the exact case for his snickerdoodle latte! 🤨
What is Espresso Con Panna?
Espresso Con Panna literally means “espresso with cream”. So, in a nutshell, it’s your desired amount of espresso topped with whipped cream. The amount of espresso used is totally up to you and can range from single to quadruple shots………yes, I’ve ordered a quadruple espresso before……..although single to double is the standard. Double is my preference for this drink, though.
Ingredients needed for Espresso Con Panna
You only need two simple ingredients to make this easy Espresso Con Panna. As with most simple recipes, quality really matters so be sure to use fresh, flavorful ingredients for the best results. To make this espresso drink you will need:
- Espresso: freshly ground coffee beans make the best espresso. Typically, you want to go with a dark or espresso roast. Black Rifle Coffee Company’s AK-47 Espresso Blend is my favorite blend for this recipe.
- Whipped Cream: you can use freshly whipped heavy cream, or store-bought cream if you prefer.
How to make Espresso Con Panna:
In terms of espresso drinks, this is the simplest to make. All you have to do is:
- Brew the espresso.
- Pour the espresso into your favorite cup.
- Top with whipped cream
That’s it! But, the deliciousness is in the details.
Tips for the Best Homemade Espresso
If you have ground coffee, that will technically “work”. However, it will likely be too coarse and make a weaker shot. If you want the best, freshly ground espresso beans are the way to go.
Grinding the beans is a very important step. As mentioned above, too coarse of a grind can lead to a weaker, watered-down shot. A grind too fine, though, could result in a bitter shot. So, you want to dial to somewhere in the middle for your perfect grind.
Once you’ve ground your beans, add them to the portafilter basket, and tamp. Tamping is another important step. You want to apply 25-30 pounds of pressure. A calibrated tamper is super helpful, here. The key is consistency. So, if you brew (or cook) with soul rather than science, just apply the same amount of pressure each time. Remember to give the tamper a slight twist as you pull off. Check out this video for some quick tips!
Brew the espresso following your machine’s settings.
Flavored coffee is a great way to switch things up!! Community Coffee has a new Irish Coffee Blend that works great with this recipe!! With cream (con panna) and a little sugar, it’s a perfect mini version of Irish Coffee….minus the whiskey. 
Con Panna: Tips for the Best Homemade Whipped Cream
What you need to make your own whipped cream:
- Heavy Whipping Cream or alternative
- 2 tbsp sweetener
- ½-1 tsp vanilla extract (not artificial!)
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
Make sure everything is cold! I typically chill the mixing bowl and blending attachments prior to starting the process. Add all ingredients to the chilled bowl and blend until peaks form.
If you are dairy free, use coconut milk or coconut whipping cream in place of the heavy whipping cream. My wife actually prefers coconut milk in her lattes. You can also sub your favorite syrup for the vanilla if you have a special flavor that you enjoy.
Other Coffee Drinks:
Keto Hot Cocoa with Espresso Whipped Cream (keto + low carb)
Recipes with Espresso:
Espresso Con Panna
Ingredients
- Espresso (double shot)
- Whipped Cream
Instructions
Now, I’m no barista and there is a plethora of information on brewing espresso out there. You can start here. Also, the steps you take to make this caffeine packed hotshot are going to vary depending on your machine and I only have experience on Delonghi machines. In terms of espresso, the only other brewing experience I have is with the Aeropress and that thing is one of the best accessories that I own for backpacking/backcountry trips!!! So, this is more of a generalized concept of how to go about it with some attached links that are very helpful and
informative.
Grind your beans. Typically, you want to go with a dark or espresso roast but, you do you. Grind matters! Too fine and you will see an increase in bitterness (over extraction), but too coarse and it’ll be watered down (under extraction).
Fill the portafilter basket with your desired amount of ground coffee.
Tamp. Ensure you have an even and consistent tamp.
Brew the espresso.
How you do this depends on your machine (assuming you are using an espresso machine; if not, click here), but I simply push a button or turn a knob.
Top your freshly brewed espresso with whipped cream.