Page 5 | Coffee in baby chino

nousername2 · 2023-05-12T07:57:42+00:00

Long story short but I ordered a baby chino at a soft play place and before I gave it to her I tried abit- which I never usually do but luckily I did as it tasted like coffee! Asked the barista and she said yes there was 2 shots of coffee in there! She didn't seem to know a baby chino was just frothy milk. If I had given my almost 18 month old a double shot of espresso I dread to think what would have happened! Will be tasting them from now on but just thought I'd put the word out there that babychinos may contain coffee if the person making thinks it's literally a mini cappuccino. This woman was very young and I've emailed the place to suggest the staff have more training 😵&zwj;💫

MenoRageisReal · 12/05/2023 11:29

Lamelie · 12/05/2023 09:24

Reminds me of when I bought my primary school aged dcs a bottle of alcohol free Buck’s Fizz to celebrate the end of term. It wasn’t.
They were drunk as skunks 💃🎤🍾

That's not funny. Surely to god you'd check it properly?? That's really poor. And I'm not a "mummy basher", I'm just really shocked at this.

Sissynova · 12/05/2023 11:29

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:22

I've just asked three men (my dh, his brother, their friend), who have 10 children between them, and none of them knew what a babycino is. They guessed it was some kind of coffee. Two of them would frequent coffee shops a lot.

Riveting. What an educational poll.

The fact remains that they are on the menu of most coffee shops, including costa, Nero and even pret so hardly niche and obscure.

Annasgirl · 12/05/2023 11:29

Honestly, babychinos have been a thing for coffee lovers with kids in tow for about 20 years. I live in Dublin and bought them for DD who is 19 as a 1 year old - as mentioned by others, my frothy cappuccino looked so delicious to her that she wanted some - I asked for some additional frothy milk and the barista said “would you like a babychino’ - and so it went. It got me through 3 DC visiting coffee shops and gave me 15 minutes peace to drink my coffee.

I have had them in the M and S cafe, Costa, Cafe Nero, soft play centres all over Ireland, posh independents and in many local coffee shops in villages in the West of Ireland - there is nowhere less ‘middle class yummy mummy’ than those small coffee shops.

I think any shop that has a coffee frother offers them - or can make one if asked.

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:32

Sissynova · 12/05/2023 11:29

Riveting. What an educational poll.

The fact remains that they are on the menu of most coffee shops, including costa, Nero and even pret so hardly niche and obscure.

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They are not on any of the menus in coffee shops near me, although I'm sure any of them would make you one if asked.

I tend to go to independent coffee shops though, and neither nero or pret exist where I live.

(no need to sneer, btw. It was relevant to another comment, you may have missed it)

PuttingDownRoots · 12/05/2023 11:32

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:22

I've just asked three men (my dh, his brother, their friend), who have 10 children between them, and none of them knew what a babycino is. They guessed it was some kind of coffee. Two of them would frequent coffee shops a lot.

My DH, FIL and brother know what they are.
My dad... probably not but the only time he tends to enter coffee shops is at the airport. FIL, a retired Yorkshire bus driver has so far taken 4 grandchildren and 2 great nephews to a coffee shop for babychinos.

All of them, including my dad know what a freakshake is.

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:32

PuttingDownRoots · 12/05/2023 11:32

My DH, FIL and brother know what they are.
My dad... probably not but the only time he tends to enter coffee shops is at the airport. FIL, a retired Yorkshire bus driver has so far taken 4 grandchildren and 2 great nephews to a coffee shop for babychinos.

All of them, including my dad know what a freakshake is.

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Christ, is this another thing I should know but don't. Should I ask a teenager?

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:34

I'm also pondering the possibility that babychinos are (apparently) so common and around so long that they have now jumped the shark and are not the thing anymore?

Maybe the real #grammers are onto something else for their small hipsters?

Lamelie · 12/05/2023 11:37

@MenoRageisReal and @KittyAlfred
I had checked several times, I don’t drink so I’m normally very good at reading labels. They were 10/11 iirc and in their 20s now. But yes parenting fail not a funny story.

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:39

I just googled freakshakes. I'm glad I've never seen one, let alone tried one. Even if I wasn't severely lactose intolerant they look completely disgusting.
Are they a gimmick or do people actually regularly have them?

PurelyBelter · 12/05/2023 11:40

Lockheart · 12/05/2023 09:09

So they can charge yummy mummies a couple of quid for a few ml of milk, and so the yummy mummies have something to hashtag on Instagram.

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Crikey, you’re frothier than the milk.

Sissynova · 12/05/2023 11:41

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:32

They are not on any of the menus in coffee shops near me, although I'm sure any of them would make you one if asked.

I tend to go to independent coffee shops though, and neither nero or pret exist where I live.

(no need to sneer, btw. It was relevant to another comment, you may have missed it)

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I only have independent coffee shops near me and they all have them on the menu too. No doubt you would complain that it’s only area specific in that case.

I was pointing out the chains to illustrate how mainstream they are.

Oilyoilyoilgob · 12/05/2023 11:43

Lockheart · 12/05/2023 09:09

So they can charge yummy mummies a couple of quid for a few ml of milk, and so the yummy mummies have something to hashtag on Instagram.

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What a bitchy ott response! They’re normally pennies, my friends get them for their little ones when we nip for a hot drink with no instagram pictures taken! Although even if they did, what does it matter to you?

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:44

Sissynova · 12/05/2023 11:41

I only have independent coffee shops near me and they all have them on the menu too. No doubt you would complain that it’s only area specific in that case.

I was pointing out the chains to illustrate how mainstream they are.

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Nobody is complaining about anything. Are you quite alright?

SimonsCow · 12/05/2023 11:45

I had a similar experience- at a (chain) pub out for lunch with my daughter (3). Asked if they did babycinnos (she likes the Costa ones which are free) and they said yes. When it arrived it was a hot as my actual cappuccino 🤯 Good thing I always test they are not too hot or she could easily have scalded herself. I had to have a word and explain why it was so dangerous. I’ve also had waitresses (in other venues) bring over my 3 year olds food on a plate so hot they needed oven gloves to carry it 😳

Backtonormalatlast · 12/05/2023 11:46

My son who is now in his 20s drank Buck’s Fizz accidentally when he was three …he has never had orange juice since !

Tamrastarr · 12/05/2023 11:47

Bloody hell! I don't even have two shots in a large coffee! 😂Imagine two shots in a tiny one? No baby or toddler would be drinking that!

Freefall212 · 12/05/2023 11:48

Op needs to come back and clarify if the words babychino were on the menu at the soft play place. If so, the barista should know how to make it.

If not, no expectation that she knows what specialized lingo from another coffee shop chain is supposed to mean.

BiddyPop · 12/05/2023 11:49

To those who think they're a new thing, they were relatively common when strapping teen was small (now 17), she used to like to warm up in the mornings on the way to Creche after a 12 km ride on the back of DH's bike (from about 1 when she was big enough to 4.75 when she went to a school local to house), even on days it was down to -2 degrees. There were a few cafes near Creche that did them - some charged, some gave them free if she was having a scone or DH was having coffee.

Usernamen · 12/05/2023 11:51

Sissynova · 12/05/2023 09:16

They are free almost everywhere, the most I’ve seen them is 25p.
Is it really so outlandish to give your toddler a cup of hot milk while you are out in a cafe also having a drink?

Really bizarre mindset that some women’s immediate reaction so such a basic conversation topic is to ridicule mothers for literally nothing.

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I’m not a mother and even I’m appalled by the attitude towards “yummy mummies” on MN. Anyone who has nice things in their life has to be brought down, it seems.

I would much rather be the person frivolously spending in hipster coffee shops than the bitter person judging those who do.

Original poster

nousername2 · 12/05/2023 11:51

Haven't read all replies but

Baby chino was on the menu for £1. Not something I've made up or asked for to be awkward.

OP posts:

Silentmama · 12/05/2023 11:51

You have to be careful with frothy milk - it can be super hot and burn small children ( experienced this 10 years ago now!!)

Reugny · 12/05/2023 11:52

shammalammadingdong · 12/05/2023 11:22

I've just asked three men (my dh, his brother, their friend), who have 10 children between them, and none of them knew what a babycino is. They guessed it was some kind of coffee. Two of them would frequent coffee shops a lot.

My DD's single male cousins and our single male friends' know what they are only because DD will ask for one if she is in a cafe, and they have been in cafe's with her.

When she was old enough to hold a cup she was out with my DP and an old (male childless) friend in a Pret, and the server offered her one. So now she asks for one in coffee shops. (Plus another item that costs money.)

ScrambledSmegs · 12/05/2023 11:53

Babyccinos have been on the menu of most chain (and many indie) coffee shops for well over a decade, maybe two. One of my favourite memories from the baby years is of a proper Ray Winstone-esque dad at a playgroup growling over to his toddler "OI! DEXTER*! WANNA BABYCCINO?" In the same tones you might use ordering a round for your mates .

They used to be free in most places if you ordered a real coffee or tea. I wouldn't know now, those days are long gone.

ScrambledSmegs · 12/05/2023 11:54

*name changed, obviously.

ApplesandOrangesandPears · 12/05/2023 11:57

SimonsCow · 12/05/2023 11:45

I had a similar experience- at a (chain) pub out for lunch with my daughter (3). Asked if they did babycinnos (she likes the Costa ones which are free) and they said yes. When it arrived it was a hot as my actual cappuccino 🤯 Good thing I always test they are not too hot or she could easily have scalded herself. I had to have a word and explain why it was so dangerous. I’ve also had waitresses (in other venues) bring over my 3 year olds food on a plate so hot they needed oven gloves to carry it 😳

To be fair, I work as a waitress and while I do always ask to swap the plate if it's too hot - the kitchen staff can sometimes be quite stroppy about it. If its really busy in the kitchen then I'll out the plate down in front of a parent and get a cooler plate for them to swap the food themselves. Some of the younger servers don't have much interaction with children, or don't want to be moaned at by the kitchen staff. It depends on the chefs in the kitchen to keep children's plates away from the hot rack/in a cooler space on the shelf while they're cooking the food.