An affogato is an Italian dessert made with two simple ingredients: hot espresso and cold gelato. It’s the perfect easy, delicious treat for a hot day!
Let’s make an affogato! This classic Italian dessert is a delicious marriage of two simple ingredients: espresso and gelato or ice cream.
You barely need a recipe to make one (it’s as easy as pouring hot espresso over cold ice cream). But because I think an affogato is the best way to enjoy coffee on a hot day, I couldn’t resist sharing this simple affogato recipe—my preferred ratios and variations included. I hope you’ll take it as an invitation to enjoy this delightful Italian treat for the rest of the summer, no trip to Italy required!
What is an affogato?
First, a little background! The word affogato means “drowned” in Italian, which is a fitting name for this dessert. After all, to make an affogato, you essentially drown ice cream in coffee!
The key thing to note about an affogato is that the espresso should be hot and the ice cream should be cold. The coffee melts the ice cream into a creamy foam, creating a delicious interplay of temperatures and textures.
Though I consider an affogato a dessert, I’ve also seen it on many coffee menus at cafés in Italy. Feel free to enjoy one any time a craving strikes!
How to Make an Affogato
This affogato recipe starts with two simple ingredients:
- Espresso – Brew it using an espresso machine or a stovetop moka pot. If you don’t have an espresso maker, you can simply use strong brewed coffee.
- Ice cream or gelato – Fior di latte gelato, which is essentially milk-flavored, is the traditional choice in Italy. At home, my go-to is vanilla. Any good-quality store-bought vanilla gelato or ice cream will be great here, but this homemade ice cream takes an affogato to another level.
The ratio of espresso to ice cream you use is up to you. I always use 1 shot of espresso and 1 or 2 scoops of ice cream depending on whether I’m in the mood for a sweeter or more coffee-forward treat.
To make an affogato, place the ice cream in a serving bowl or glass. Pour the hot espresso or strong brewed coffee on top, and serve immediately!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Serve an Affogato
Make sure to serve an affogato right away. The combination of hot and cold ingredients is a huge part of what makes one so delicious, so dig in while the ice cream is still somewhat firm and the espresso still has some warmth.
Small serving bowls or glasses are best for this recipe so that the mixture pools at the bottom. You’ll likely start by eating with a spoon and then switch to drinking partway through.
Kick things up a notch by pairing your affogato with biscotti. A crunchy cookie is the perfect partner for this creamy coffee dessert!
Variations
- Use a different ice cream flavor. The sky’s the limit! So many flavors would be excellent here. Try chocolate ice cream, coffee ice cream, caramel, cherry, or hazelnut.
- Add a liqueur. Make a boozy affogato by drizzling in a tablespoon of amaretto. If you like espresso martinis and have Kahlúa on hand, it would be good here too.
- Dress it up. I love a dusting of cocoa powder or sprinkle of chocolate shavings on top.
- Make it decaf. If you want to enjoy an affogato after dinner but don’t want to load up on caffeine, feel free to use decaf espresso or coffee in this recipe.
More Easy Summer Desserts
If you love this recipe, try one of these easy summer desserts next:
Affogato Recipe
Serves 1
Learn how to make an affogato! This Italian dessert is simply espresso poured over gelato or ice cream. If you don’t have an espresso maker, feel free to use hot, strong brewed coffee instead.
- 1 to 2 scoops vanilla ice cream or gelato
- 1 shot freshly brewed espresso, or 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) strong hot coffee
- Amaretto, optional
- Chocolate shavings, for garnish, optional
Prevent your screen from going dark
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Place the ice cream in a serving glass or bowl and pour the espresso on top. Add a splash of amaretto, if desired, and top with chocolate shavings, if using.
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Serve immediately.
