The Affogato is a classic Italian dessert consisting of sweet vanilla ice cream topped, or “drowned” with hot espresso coffee. A sweet mid-afternoon treat or after dinner pick-me-up, this espresso ice cream is just what you need to survive the hot summer months (thank you, Italy).
When thinking about my favorite things (aside from family and travel and giant, over-sized, walk-in pantries, of course) I usually think about fresh strong espresso and dessert. Given this love for caffeine and sugar, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered the Affogato while traveling through Italy.
What is the Affogato?
Italian for “drowned”, the Affogato is a coffee-based Italian dessert slash post-dinner caffeine pick-me-up. This fusion of sugar and caffeine makes this espresso ice cream Affogato the perfect solution for anyone struggling to make it through the afternoon or survive beyond dinnertime.
Or maybe that’s just me?
No matter how you interpret the Affogato, it is one more brilliant Italian creation that I would not want to live my life without.
Seriously, though, those Italians know how to do food- from the fresh pasta noodles to the multitude of fresh, homemade pasta sauces, then there’s the pizza. Have you ever had real Italian pizza? It will literally blow your mind. My only regret while traveling in Italy is not eating more. More pizza, more gelato (oh my, the gelato!), more fresh and homemade pasta noodles. The difference is real.
Ingredients in Affogato
- Ice cream, or gelato
- Espresso (or strong coffee)
- Flavored liqueur or Port wine (optional)
The list is long, I know. But I think we can do it.
Traditionally, this espresso ice cream treat was served with just ice cream and espresso. However, at some point in time, someone decided it would be fun to spike these delicious coffee desserts with some booze. Of course, this is totally optional. But, probably not recommended at 3 pm or anytime where your bed is not in your immediate future.
Additional modifications to this Espresso Ice Cream recipe include the use of different ice cream flavors. Why not try chocolate? Caramel? Coffee-flavored ice cream? Some people have even ditched the coffee espresso altogether and poured hot matcha tea over ice cream instead.
Personally, you’ll find me enjoying the classic. Maybe with some chopped hazelnuts or shaved dark chocolate on top if I really want to go crazy.
How to make an Affogato (Espresso Ice Cream)
- Place the desired number of glasses in the freezer to chill- if you remember (I did not). This will help keep the ice cream cold. That said, it is not a required or necessary step. Only if you want to be really fancy.
- Add 1-2 tightly packed scoops of ice cream to each glass.
- Pour 2 ounces (double shot) of freshly brewed espresso directly over the ice cream.
- Best enjoyed immediately.
My favorite espresso makers
There are several ways to make fresh espresso. Budget and space have always been the ultimate determining factors when making my final decision…
- The Breville Barista Express– I have used this machine every single day, 2-3 times a day, for over two years and it is still both my husband and my favorite. You can read my review here.
- Nespresso Essenza Mini Machine– Another awesome option, especially if your kitchen footprint is smaller or you’re looking for a machine that is less hands-on. The only down-side is that it does require the mini pods which you will have to continually purchase (plus the unnecessary waste), BUT, Nespresso has really stepped up their game when it comes to making their products as earth-friendly as possible. Read my review here.
- Moka Pot– You can never go wrong with a Moka pot. Inexpensive, compact, easy.
Check out these other delicious dessert recipes!
- Cherry Coffee Cake Recipe
- Two Coffee Cocktail Recipes
- Big Crumb Rhubarb Coffee Cake
- Raspberry Banana White Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Espresso Overnight Oats with Almond Butter
- Best Ever Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites
RECIPE CARD
Affogato Recipe (Espresso Ice Cream)
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream - (2 scoops)
- 2 fl oz hot espresso
Instructions
- Brew the hot espresso just before serving. Add 1-2 large scoops of ice cream to a glass cup or bowl and carefully pour the espresso over the ice cream. Garnish with shaved chocolate or chopped hazelnuts, if desired (not shown).
- Best served immediately. Enjoy!
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
really love you attention to detail
However, tiny rant. It’s really considerate of you to add a metric conversion for those of us who don’t use cups (or sticks?). But they are insane. 1 cup ice cream, which sounds quite vague to me, is 132g. I’ve got digital scales and I would struggle with that, 125 or 150 would be easier and the type of measurement I’m used to
and there was no conversion for the drink. We use ml
It’s really no big deal with ice cream, but how on earth do you cope with baking where precision is necessary?
Rant over. Your site is a fabulous
Hi Flo,
Thanks for your detailed feedback.
You were right, I accidentally put oz, instead of fl oz which converts to ml – sorry about that. Now it should convert with the metric button.
Having a science background, I love the metric system, but most of my readers and following are US based 🙂