Babyccinos — Cappuccinos For Babies!

Introducing the babyccino, cappuccinos made for children so they can drink while you drink! Sounds like a sick joke, doesn’t it? The newest trend that’s slowly creeping its way through Brooklyn coffee shops actually had its origins in Australia about ten years ago and are essentially “mini decaf cappuccinos or frothy cups of steamed milk and foam.”

According to an article from the Brooklyn Paper, coffee shop regulars who order the miniature-sized drink say that their kids love the drink! Apparently a decaf shot of espresso has less caffeine than a soda, which may give some parents the ol’, “Hey! Less caffeine? Sounds great!” to justify buying a babyccino. Dr. Deena Blanchard from the same article, who remains skeptical on the drink, states that “a small percentage of caffeine on a non-regular basis is probably okay.”

While some places now serve regularly kiddy coffee, baristas from other shops are getting frustrated with requests to create the off-menu drink. The owner of one shop, who sells a coffee-free version of the drink, finds it weird and doesn’t even allow her own kids to drink it.

Peter Caligiore, an Australian coffee expert, says that the drink is the bane of a barista’s existence.  According to Caligiore, “they interrupt workflow, create milk wastage and can be served at a dangerous temperature to a vulnerable consumer.” He also notes that the drink has “become so popular in Australia it would be difficult to find a cafe that doesn’t have them on their menu.”

Caffeine is definitely something you can become addicted to, and even though there’s supposedly only a small amount of it in the drink, would you let your kids have a babyccino?