Coffee in your pocket? It's simpler than it may sound.
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I spend a lot of time scrolling through social media to see what people are cooking, eating and talking about in the food world. It’s something I would do even if I wasn’t a food writer, to be quite honest, because I just love learning about new recipes and products. Given the amount of screen time I’m clocking each day (the number is between me and my phone, thank you very much!), it’s hard to be surprised by any single trend.
But recently, I ran into a phrase so utterly bizarre and unique that I couldn’t begin to fathom what it meant. The phrase? “Pocket coffee.” Sure, I know what the words mean on their own, but put together? I needed to investigate immediately.
What is pocket coffee?
Here are all of the things I thought pocket coffee could be before I looked it up:
- A Starbucks coffee size that’s smaller than tall but larger than a pup cup
- A tube-like pouch of coffee, similar to Go-Gurt
- A teeny tiny portable coffee mug, like an espresso cup–sized Yeti tumbler
Somehow, it is none of these things. Pocket Coffee is actually a chocolate candy made by Ferrero Rocher! Initially, I assumed that it was just a bite-sized coffee-flavored chocolate. But apparently, it’s even better than that. Inside the hard chocolate shell is actual liquid espresso—approximately one shot’s worth. This genius invention comes courtesy of Italy.
Ferrero Rocher introduced Pocket Coffee to its lineup in 1968. According to lore, it was conceived of by Michele Ferrero’s assistant, William Salice. As new rest stops sprung up along Italian roadways to refuel both cars and guests, he noticed a lack of coffee bars. Thus, the concept of a truly “on-the-go” espresso shot was created. In true internet parlance: RIP William Salice, you would have loved to-go cups.
Is Pocket Coffee available in the U.S.?
A lot of the coverage I’ve seen on social media is about fans lamenting how difficult it is to buy Pocket Coffee outside Europe, and even outside of Italy. This is kind of true. While it’s mostly produced seasonally for sale in Italy, you can order it on Amazon. It’s a bit pricey, since it costs $12 for a pack of 18 candies. But considering that it works out to $1.50 per Pocket Coffee, you could say it’s a reasonable price for a shot of espresso.
Maybe one day I will make it back to Italy and try to find some at the store. In the meantime, I think my favorite Trader Joe’s chocolate-covered espresso beans can give me the buzz I need to keep scrolling through social media.
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