What is Caffe Affogato?

It’s no secret we have a lot to thank the Italians for in terms of cuisine: pasta, pizza, prosciutto, espresso...the list is endless. As coffee lovers, it should come as no surprise that we are especially grateful for espresso in all its forms. And as dessert lovers, we’re hooked on a delicious Italian dessert referred to as caffe affogato. 

Haven’t heard of caffe affogato? No worries. We’re here to walk you through it. 

Caffe affogato, popularly referred to as just “affogato,” is a coffee-based Italian dessert mainly consisting of two ingredients: a scoop of vanilla gelato (or ice cream) and a shot of hot espresso. 

Though restaurants and cafes in Italy categorize the affogato as a dessert, some restaurants and cafes outside Italy categorize it as a beverage.

It’s simple. A shot (or two!) of espresso is poured over the scoop of ice cream/gelato, leaving you with the delicious dessert-beverage hybrid. In fact, the word “affogato” literally translates to “drowned” in Italian, referring to the cold ice cream/gelato that is drowned by the piping hot espresso. 

At its core, the affogato is meant to be an easy, yet delicious treat to make. 

But, before we get started, here’s a pro tip: To make the perfect affogato, we suggest you chill a glass or bowl beforehand. By chilling your glass or bowl, you avoid the scoop of ice cream or gelato immediately melting when the espresso is introduced. 

Now, we’re ready to get started. Simply scoop one or two scoops of your vanilla ice cream or gelato into the chilled container, add any toppings (we suggest you look at this recipe for fun options), and pour over two shots of hot espresso. 

Once the espresso shots are poured over, be sure to serve the affogato and/or enjoy immediately!