Affogato is an Italian dessert prepared by pouring a shot of freshly brewed hot espresso over a scoop of vanilla gelato (ice cream). The result is a delicious, smooth drink. The Italian name of this coffee drink, or dessert, is affogato al caffè.
The magic of an affogato is that you mix two pleasures in one. You have a dessert that you can serve with a spoon, and the coffee drink to balance it. The sweet ice cream enhances the bitter coffee and not overtake it.
In this article, we share some interesting facts about the history and origin of this popular dessert. We also describe how to make it at home.
What Is an Affogato Coffee?
An affogato is an espresso-based drink prepared with on shot of espresso and on scoop of fior di latte gelato or vanilla ice cream. Affogato is traditionally made with espresso. There are a few reasons why is espresso better than other coffees and why we use it instead of other coffees.
The word affogato means “drowned” in Italian. The name refers to the ice cream being drowned by the coffee. The recipe we are dicussing here on this page is “Affogato al caffè“, however, there are a lot of other “drowned ice-cream beverages”, but they are drowned in different drinks. Some of these drinks are hot chocolate, cherry syrup, or Marsala.
Affogato is considered a dessert in Italy, the country of origin of this interesting recipe. However, in many places is considered a beverage. I have a hard time myself deciding whether it’s a coffee drink or a dessert, but since so many see it as an espresso drink, I will too.
Often times affogato is confused by customers with espresso. While technically affogato contains an espresso shot, an affogato style espresso is more of a dessert than a coffee drink.
Regardless of the categorization, affogato is often served at the end of the meal in restaurants, and it serves as a digestif, especially when is made a bit boozy, as you will see in a moment.
Some people like to get it as a caffeine delivery system, for a boost of energy in times of need. Erik Kim describes affogato as his essential concoction for long stretches of boring road.
An interesting take on the recipe is cold brew affogato. The recipe calls for a scoop of chocolate ice cream floating on a condensed milk and cold brew mix. While the coffee might not be hot, you add ice cream into coffee, so it is an affogato.
How To Make an Affogato al Caffè at Home?
Step 1: Add on scoop of vanilla ice cream or fior di latte.
Choose the right ice cream: Choose the best vanilla gelato. Vanilla gelato is the perfect ice cream for anyone looking for the classic flavor. For those with milk allergies, you will have to choose a non-dairy ice-cream, or a lactose free one.
Step 2: Prepare a shot of espresso and pour it over the ice cream.
Choose the right espresso: The classic inimitable taste of espresso prepared with a pump driven espresso machine. If you don’t own an espresso machine, espresso alternatives are a decent option. Here are the instructions on how to make espresso, if you need them.
Step 3: Optional – for a boozy experience, add a bit of Metaxa, or Frangelico liqueur.
If you add a digestif drink, such as Drambuie, Sambuca or Amaro, your affogato will be the perfect meal end, as a combo between a coffee, a digestif, and a dessert.
Step 4: Serve your affogato fast.
The espresso shot will melt some of the ice cream, but if you are fast enough, you can use a teaspoon.
Affogato Coffee
Equipment
- 1 burr coffee grinder
- 1 espresso machine
- 1 tamper
- 1 Ice cream scoop
- 1 Small drinking glass The best are the narrowing glasses
Ingredients
- 1 fluid ounces Espresso Espresso made with an espresso machine
- 1 scoop Fior di latte gelato you can also use a good vanilla ice cream without eggs
- 1 tsp Ammaretto. or Sambuca Optional for a boozy flavor
- 1 square Dark chocolate shavings Optional
Instructions
- Pull an espresso shot – instructions to pull an espresso shot.
- If you are adding a digestif to your affogato, mix it with the espresso now.
- Drop one scoop of ice cream or gelato in a small narowing glass.
- Pour the espresso shot over the ice cream.
- Optionally shave some dark chocolate on top and serve with a long spoon or straw.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks for The Best Affogato Recipe
I love creativity in the kitchen and in the bar, but when it comes to affogato, less is more. There is nothing wrong to get creative and test various additions to the recipe, but in my experience the less ingredients you add the more you will enjoy your affogato. The list of ingredients is: ice cream, espresso, boozy agent, (optional), some chocolate shavings, (optional).
The best ice cream to use is Fior di latte, an Italian gelato, however, vanilla bean ice cream is a great replacement. Buy ice cream without eggs, for a perfect cream flavor. Italian gelato is the best because is more dense. If the ice cream is too airy it will melt as soon as you pour the hot espresso.
If you go for the boozy recipe, show restraint when adding the Sambuca. Sambuca is there for flavor and not for the buzz.
You can serve the dessert with a biscotto or a cookie on the side, as you would serve a regular espresso.
Serve in a tall narrowing clear glass with a long spoon. A clear glass allows you to watch the ice cream melt. You can also use a straw, if you want.
If you are adding Sambuca, or Amaretto, you can add it to the espresso, then pour it over the ice cream.
You can keep the glasses with the ice cream in the freezer during the preparation. This prevents the ice cream from melting.
Be warned, espresso alternatives are not going to taste like a real espresso shot. This recipe contains 50% coffee, so coffee flavor will be predominant. Whatever coffee you use will determine the flavor of your affogato.
We would rank the espresso powder and brewed coffee on the last spots as espresso alternatives, with AeroPress, and Moka pot coffee on the first two spots. A stronger French press is also acceptable.
Pull your espresso shot perfectly first, and only then scoop your gelato. This mitigates the melting ice cream issue, and it let’s the espresso cool down just a bit, so when you pour it over the ice cream is just the right temperature.
If you want your affogato less sweet, and more caffeinated, use a triple espresso shot. If you are curious about the caffeine in your affogato, this article about the Amount of Caffeine in Espresso will be great for you.
We recommend a medium-dark roast, in order to get that classic syrupy espresso taste, that goes perfect in dessert recipes.
Other Questions about Affogato
What does an affogato taste like?
An affogato is a great coffee dessert. It is sweet but not sugar-rush sweet, and the bitterness in coffee balances the ice cream sugar. European style ice creams are less sweet than North American ice creams, so there will be a difference in taste, but not an important one.
Conclusion
Affogato is an espresso-based dessert that can be a great meal ending If you’re looking for a delicious dessert that won’t break the bank, give an affogato a try! This espresso-based dessert is ideal for a post-meal treat, and can be made with just a few simple ingredients.
You can also get it as an energy boosting option, to get you back up to speed, during a quarter end crunch, or during long trips that drain you out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is affogato al caffè?
Affogato al caffè is an Italian dessert created by pouring a shot of freshly brewed hot espresso over a scoop of vanilla gelato or fior di latte ice cream. The term affogato means drowned in Italian, referring to the ice cream being submerged by the coffee. This espresso-based preparation combines the bitterness of coffee with the sweetness of ice cream into a single treat.
Is affogato a dessert or a coffee drink?
Affogato is considered a dessert in Italy, its country of origin, though many places view it as a beverage. The classification remains ambiguous, as the preparation contains both espresso and ice cream components. Affogato is often served at the end of a meal in restaurants, functioning as a digestif, particularly when alcohol is added to the recipe.
What type of ice cream is used in affogato?
Traditional affogato is prepared with fior di latte gelato or vanilla ice cream. High-quality vanilla gelato is considered ideal for those seeking a classic preparation. Variations exist, including cold brew affogato made with chocolate ice cream floating on a mixture of condensed milk and cold brew coffee, though this version uses cold rather than hot coffee.
Can espresso be replaced with other coffee in affogato?
Affogato is traditionally made with espresso extracted at the SCA-standard 9-bar pressure, and there are specific reasons why espresso is preferred over other coffee preparation methods. While variations such as cold brew affogato exist, the classic affogato al caffè recipe specifically calls for a shot of freshly brewed hot espresso poured over the ice cream.
What does affogato mean in Italian?
The word affogato means drowned in Italian, referring to the ice cream being submerged by the poured coffee. The full Italian name for this dessert is affogato al caffè. Other drowned ice-cream beverages exist using different liquids such as hot chocolate, cherry syrup, or Marsala, but the coffee version remains the most recognized preparation internationally.