Vienna had me at the first sip of a mélange—an airy, delicate coffee made with lightly roasted beans and a blend of frothed and steamed milk (a nod to its name). This cappuccino-like creation has a quiet magic to it– It’s the kind of drink that invites you to linger in a place that truly understands the art of drinking coffee.

Then, Milan threw a new obsession my way: the small yet mighty Marocchino. The name might throw you off—it’s not Moroccan at all. This intense drink was born in Piedmont and slowly spread across Italy. Made with just three essential ingredients—coffee, cocoa powder, and milk—layered in perfect balance and served in a warm shot glass, it delivers a rich experience that stays with you. It’s the kind of discovery that makes you fall for a place in a way no guidebook ever could.

I longingly try to recreate this magic at home and search for it in local coffee shops.  I recently discovered that Eataly offers something similar—the Bicerin. Their version features whipped cream, giving it a much sweeter, heavier twist, so I asked for frothed milk instead. It is good, but not exactly how I remember it. You won’t get that see-through warm shot glass here either, which I believe helps keep the layers in place.

I will keep looking.