What is affogato and how to make it at home?

Coffee and dessert are the two after-dinner staples when hosting guests. So why not combine the two at your next dinner party with an affogato recipe? What is affogato you may ask? This coffee-based dessert is one part ice cream, one part espresso, and entirely sweet. 

If you’re wondering ‘what does affogato mean?’ and you have no idea how to make this coffee dessert, you’ve come to the right place. Learning how to make affogato has never been easier. In this guide, we’ll walk you through an easy-to-follow affogato recipe so that you can make this drink at home. Once you see how easy it is, you’ll want to serve this rich, creamy coffee dessert every time you host. 

What is affogato

So, what is affogato and what does ‘affogato’ mean in the first place? The affogato meaning translates to “drowned” in Italian, which refers to the concept of “drowning” a scoop of ice cream in a shot of espresso. The most traditional form of affogato includes one scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream topped off with a shot of hot espresso. There are variations of the affogato, with various toppings and ice cream flavors depending on where you go. 

But in general, this dish is all about the sweetness of simplicity: one scoop of ice cream, one shot of espresso. In other words, you don’t need to fuss over making affogato. It is an ideal post-dinner dessert that requires far less hassle and just as much – if not more – sweetness than any other dessert.

Affogato recipe

If you want to know how to make affogato the traditional way, you only need ice cream and freshly brewed espresso. Sweet vanilla ice cream or gelato is ideal for balancing out the rich shot of espresso. Follow these steps for a delicious and simple affogato recipe:

1. Brew the espresso.

2. Add the ice cream.

Once you have your ingredients ready, add one scoop of ice cream into each serving glass.

3. Combine the espresso and ice cream.

Slowly pour the espresso over the vanilla ice cream. The vanilla ice cream will melt from the hot shot of espresso, creating a scrumptious, creamy combination. 

4. Dig in!

All that’s left to do is stick a spoon in each glass and invite your guests to dig in. 

Once you know how to make affogato, you can add your own spin on this coffee-based dessert. Top your affogato off with some chopped hazelnuts, dark chocolate shavings, biscotti crumbles, or dried berries. The possibilities to indulge your sweet cravings are endless with this ice cream-espresso treat.