What is affogato?
Affogato al caffè means "drowned in coffee." A scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream sits in a small bowl or glass, and a freshly pulled shot of espresso is poured directly over the top — the ice cream melts on contact, creating a hot-cold contrast of bitter espresso and sweet vanilla. The most elegant Italian dessert that takes 30 seconds to make.
You'll need
- Espresso machine
- Small glass or bowl (rocks glass works)
- Spoon
- 1 generous scoop high-quality vanilla gelato or ice cream
- 18 g fresh Seelaz espresso — Shop espresso roasts
Step by step
Pre-chill glass
Place a small glass in the freezer for 5 minutes. Cold glass keeps the gelato firmer longer.
Add a generous scoop of gelato
One full scoop of vanilla gelato or fior di latte. Skip cheap ice cream — the dessert is two ingredients, both must shine.
Pull a fresh single shot
Brew a 30 g espresso shot. The espresso must be served immediately. Time is critical — a cooled shot makes a sad affogato.
Pour espresso directly over the gelato
Pour the shot in a steady stream onto the center of the gelato scoop. Watch it begin to melt into a marbled, caramel-colored sauce.
Serve with a long spoon
Serve immediately. Eat with a spoon. As you eat, the espresso continues melting into the gelato, evolving with every bite.
Pro tips
- Variations: substitute hazelnut gelato, add a splash of amaretto or Frangelico, dust with sea salt.
- Use a dark, chocolatey espresso — the bitter contrast against sweet vanilla is the whole point.
- Serve in a glass instead of a bowl — watching the espresso cascade into ice cream is part of the joy.
Best coffee for affogato:
Shop espresso roastsالخلاصة بالعربي
الأفوجاتو إسبريسو ساخن يسكب فوق كرة جيلاتو فانيلا. تجربة حارة-باردة في 30 ثانية. أبسط تحلية إيطالية وأجملها.
