Affogato
A scoop of vanilla gelato drowned in a shot of hot espresso.
Ingredients
- 80 ml Espresso
- 200 ml Heavy cream (optional)
- 30 g Sugar (optional)
Method
- Chill two small glasses or coupes in the freezer so the cold cream and ice cream hold their shape.
- Whip the cream with the sugar in a bowl until it thickens to soft, billowy mounds that just hold their shape when the whisk is lifted.
- Brew a fresh, strong shot of hot espresso for each serving.
- Spoon the whipped cream into the chilled glasses.
- Pour the hot espresso over the cold cream at the table so it melts on contact, and serve immediately.
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About Affogato
Affogato is Italy's most elegant sleight of hand: technically a dessert, arguably a coffee, and ready in the time it takes to pull a shot of espresso. The name means "drowned," and that is exactly the drama of it — a cold scoop is submerged under hot, bitter espresso so the two meet at the table rather than in the kitchen. It belongs to the same after-dinner tradition as the digestivo, a small jolt to close a meal, and it turns up in gelaterie and trattorie across the country as the answer when you want coffee and something sweet in a single glass.
What makes affogato worth the two-minute effort is the temperature contrast and the way the pour transforms it in real time. This version leans on softly whipped, lightly sweetened cream rather than a firm gelato, so the espresso doesn't just melt a scoop but marbles into billowy folds, thinning the coffee's edge into something silky and just barely sweet. Chilling the glasses first keeps the cold side holding its shape a beat longer against the heat, which is the whole point — you want the melt to happen in your spoon, not before you've sat down. Serve it the instant the espresso hits, ideally to finish a dinner or alongside a plate of biscotti for dunking.
Affogato: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Affogato?
A serving has about 347 calories — 2.1g protein, 4.5g carbs, 35.7g fat, 0g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Affogato gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Affogato has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Affogato dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Heavy cream. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Affogato?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out heavy cream, sugar — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Affogato make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.