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Bone Dry Cappuccino
How to make and order a bone-dry cappuccino, a cappuccino with no milk and more foam.
Published December 14, 2021
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Johan Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
One of the most exciting things about the coffee industry is that it’s always changing, with more and more drinks being invented and becoming available for us to enjoy. With our palates becoming more sophisticated every day, this innovation in the coffee world means that although there are some ridiculous drinks that not many coffee lovers really want to touch, some changes are for the best, including the ability to customize the classic cappuccino to your personal taste.
Have you ever heard of a bone-dry cappuccino? This drink takes its inspiration from cocktails. From a cocktail menu, for example, you can order drinks like a bone-dry martini, which has little to no vermouth and is made with mostly vodka or gin.
When it comes to drinks, however, what does dryness refer to? It tends to depend on the drink that you’re consuming. In a martini, it refers to the amount of vermouth used in the cocktail, while a dry wine refers to a wine that isn’t very sweet. On the other hand, when it comes to coffee, it refers to something completely different.
What is a Bone Dry Cappuccino?
A traditional cappuccino is prepared using a shot of espresso that equal parts steamed milk and milk froth are then added to. This 1:1:1 ratio of the three ingredients is the perfect, classic cappuccino for many people. However, we all have different preferences when it comes to how we like our coffee, are there is actually quite a lot of room for customization when it comes to how you drink your cappuccino.
What is a dry cappuccino? Typically, a dry cappuccino includes less steamed milk and more milk froth in comparison to a regular one. As a result, the drink is more potent, and the coffee is not diluted as much. What is a bone-dry cappuccino? An extra dry cappuccino takes this idea even further. It is a cappuccino that includes an espresso shot, almost no steamed milk at all, and a huge amount of foam.
Why would you order a bone-dry cappuccino? Many people who do, say that it’s because the milk froth helps to keep the dry coffee warmer for longer, as well as the fact that less diluted coffee means more flavor. An extra dry cappuccino is more robust, stronger, and has that creaminess from the milk foam, so it’s easy to see why people like it.
What is a Wet Cappuccino?
If you can get a dry or extra-dry cappuccino, can you get a wet cappuccino? The answer is yes – and in fact, this drink is growing in popularity. For some people, espresso is a little too strong, and adding milk is just right for making it that little softer. What is a wet cappuccino? A wet cappuccino is made with an espresso that has less foam and extra streamed milk added. In fact, it’s quite a lot like a latte.
If this sounds like how you like your coffee, you might also be a fan of the flat white. This is two espresso shots made with mostly steamed milk and a thinner layer or foam.
Bone Dry Cappuccino History and Facts
A cappuccino is a popular milky coffee drink from Italy, and the bone-dry cappuccino is just one of the many ways that people enjoy drinking it. It is an ideal choice of drink for anybody who enjoys drinking robust, strong, and hot coffee.
Originally, the cappuccino was called a kapuziner and comes from old coffee houses in Vienna. It dates all the way back to the 1700s and was made with coffee, cream, and sugar. The name of the drink comes from its creamy top, which resembled the cap or hood worn by a monk. Interestingly, it wasn’t until the 1930s when this creamy coffee drink made its way to Italy, when coffee bars there began to offer Viennese-style coffee drinks.
In the early 1900s, coffee got even better thanks to the invention of the first espresso machines. And with a coffee shot that was as intense as the espresso, finishing it off with milk or cream was only natural. By the 1950s, cappuccinos had become popular worldwide, and many people began to ask for theirs slightly differently, since some people enjoy more milk foam while others like more milk.
How to Make a Bone-Dry Cappuccino
Making a very dry cappuccino can be more complicated than you think, although once you get the hang of it, it’s a great drink to make at home if you like preparing your own espresso drinks. You will first need lots of milk to make the milk foam that is needed for this type of cappuccino, usually up to 12oz of milk depending on your equipment and the size of the drink that you want to make.
Along with milk, you will need a way to heat and froth it. Whole milk is the ideal choice for an extra-dry cappuccino since the proteins in this milk capture air bubbles very well, allowing you to get a decent amount of froth from heating and whisking the milk. Once you have prepared the milk, brew the espresso, and make sure that it is served while it’s still hot. Top milk foam over the espresso and take care not to add any extra milk at all. Since there will usually be some milk below the froth in the pitcher, it’s a good idea to spoon the foam onto the espresso rather than pouring it.
Directions for Making
Whether you want to make a bone-dry cappuccino at home or are a barista looking to figure out how to customize the cappuccino in this way for your customers, here are the directions on how to make it.
You’ll need:
- One cup of fresh, cold, whole milk
- One shot of espresso
- Sweetener and ground cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
- Use hot water to preheat the cup or mug and set it aside.
- Pour milk into a pitcher and froth it for at least thirty seconds to achieve large amount of foam. To do this, begin with the wand just above the surface and slowly move further inside.
- Pull the espresso shot and pour it into the cup.
- Scoop the milk foam over the top.
- Add sweetener and ground cinnamon to garnish if desired.
Choosing the Right Milk
To get the best results from brewing a very dry cappuccino, it’s important to get the right milk. You will need cold, whole-fat cow’s milk to get the right results. While you can try using lighter types of milk or plant-based milk, bear in mind that these do not foam that well. If you want a dairy-free option because you have allergies or are vegan, the two best options for foaming when it comes to plant-based milks are oat milk and macadamia milk.
The milk temperature is also important. Cold milk will create more air bubbles compared to warm or hot milk. Make sure that the pitcher and milk frother you use are also cold before you begin the process of steaming the milk.
Choosing the Right Coffee
While there are many coffee types available from a range of different places around the world, for a creamy drink such as a cappuccino, it’s important to make yourself a proper espresso coffee. You can do this using an espresso machine that uses pressure to push steam through coffee grounds. However, these machines are expensive, so if you can’t afford one, there are some cheaper alternatives to consider including stovetop Moka pots and pod coffee makers. You should avoid using a French Press, percolator, or a drip coffee maker as although these methods can still make nice coffee, they are simply not strong or intense enough to make a good cappuccino.
When choosing the coffee beans themselves, a light or medium roast is the best option. Use Arabica rather than Robusta coffee beans. Ideally you are looking for a coffee that is less bitter with caramel and fruity tones that go well with milk.
Ordering a Bone-Dry Cappuccino
It’s important to be aware that not every coffee shop is going to offer different wetness and dryness levels of cappuccino as standard, and when you go to a coffee shop, not all baristas are going to be aware of this option to customize the cappuccino. If you try to order a bone-dry cappuccino and the barista doesn’t seem to know what you are talking about, don’t worry, as helping them understand what you mean is quite simple.
Most baristas will understand you perfectly if you simply ask for a cappuccino without any milk and extra foam, or if you order an espresso with milk froth in a tall cup.
Now that you know all that there is to know about the wet cappuccino, dry cappuccino and the bone-dry cappuccino, it’s time to figure out whether a wet or dry cappuccino is right for you. If you prefer classic coffee recipes, then chances are that the traditional cappuccino with a 1:1:1 ratio of espresso, milk, and milk froth is going to be perfect for you. On the other hand, if you prefer your coffee creamy and a little weaker, a wet cappuccino might be the ideal drink for you. If you like your coffee stronger, try a dry or a bone-dry cappuccino.
About the author
Johan Hedlund
I´m living in Karlstad, Sweden with my family. Been working the last 25 years with several start ups in the tech industry. Coffee has been an integral part, both professionally and privately. Eager to learn new things and happy to be a member of the era of we community.
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