This simple but elegant Affogato, an Italian coffee dessert, is a showstopper! And now you can easily learn how to make an affogato coffee at home and customize it how you wish! An easy 2-ingredient dessert made with espresso and gelato or ice cream.
It's so easy to learn how to make an affogato coffee ice cream that it hardly needs a recipe. It's so amazingly delicious, however, that I just have to share it with you!
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❓What is an affogato?
An affogato is an Italian coffee dessert often called café affogato. While Italians have enjoyed it for years at the end of a meal, it became more popular in North America as a beverage when Starbucks put Affogato-style Frappuccino blended beverages on their menu.
Hot espresso poured over an icy frappuccino made beautiful pockets of rich coffee as it mingled with icy coffee and cream. No wonder Starbucks sold so many!
Can you imagine just how delicious this coffee dessert is?
🛒 A simple 2-ingredient dessert!
All you need is good-quality gelato or vanilla ice cream and some freshly brewed espresso to make this recipe. If you can't find gelato, I'd suggest using a high-quality vanilla bean ice cream.
Affogato translates to "drowned" in Italian. Drown a scoop or two of very cold vanilla gelato or ice cream in a shot of hot espresso, watch the swirls as it melts, and enjoy every spoonful of the simple but spectacular flavours for which Italians are known.
🥄 Instructions and tips
While it's the easiest dessert you'll ever make, I have a few tips to make this impressive dessert extra special.
How to make an affogato, step-by-step:
- Chill the dessert glass or mug.
- Make sure the gelato or ice cream is very cold.
- Brew the espresso just before serving.
- Either pour the espresso over the ice cream and serve immediately, or serve the espresso on the side and let your guests pour it on themselves.
- Cool the coffee first if you don't want your dessert to melt too quickly.
- Garnish is optional, but try sliced almonds or other nuts, chocolate curls, or a shot of liqueur like Frangelico, Amaretto, or other coffee liqueur.
❓If you're wondering . . .
No, you don't! Of course, if you have one, brew yourself a shot. However, you can substitute strong brewed coffee (even decaffeinated). Instant espresso powder works perfectly, too.
I like to serve the gelato in a glass with the espresso on the side. In that way, your friends can pour the espresso over the gelato (or ice cream) themselves. Dive in with a spoon and try to finish it before it completely melts!
Italians enjoy this easy coffee dessert after lunch or dinner. The short answer is anytime! If caffeine keeps you awake at night, use decaffeinated coffee. This ice cream and coffee dessert will be as welcome on a chilly winter night as it is on a warm summer evening!
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🔁 Affogato ice cream topping ideas
Of course, you can always customize this espresso ice cream dessert any way you wish. Add your own special touches!
- Top with a few rich dark chocolate shavings.
- Try it with a swirl of chocolate sauce and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
- Add a swirl of homemade caramel sauce and a few chopped pecans or pistachios!
- Add a little whipped cream on top and garnish with a few flaked almonds or other chopped nuts.
- This easy affogato coffee dessert is delicious with a shot of Frangelico, a hazelnut-flavoured liqueur or Amaretto.
The bittersweet flavours in this dessert stand on their own, however, and its simplicity is what makes it so appealing.
A delicious dessert for coffee lovers! And if you love coffee desserts, check this luscious recipe for Creamy Ricotta Coffee Mousse.
Enjoy, everyone! Let me know in the comments section below how you added your own variation to this Italian affogato!
This post was originally published in 2018. It has been updated with extra information to make it more helpful.
📖 Recipe Card
How to Make an Affogato Coffee Dessert
Ingredients
- ½ cup vanilla ice cream or gelato
- 1 shot espresso or 3 tablespoon strong brewed coffee
Instructions
- Use an ice cream scoop or a cookie scoop to put a few small scoops of vanilla ice cream or gelato in a chilled glass, bowl, or mug.
- Pour a freshly brewed shot of espresso or strong brewed coffee over and serve immediately.
- Garnish with nuts or shaved chocolate, if desired.
Notes
- Chill the dessert glass or mug.
- Make sure the gelato or ice cream is very cold.
- Brew the espresso just before serving.
- Either pour the espresso over the ice cream and serve immediately, or serve the espresso on the side and let your guests pour it on themselves.
- Cool the coffee first if you don't want your dessert to melt too quickly.
- Garnish is optional, but try sliced almonds or other nuts, chocolate curls, or a shot of liqueur such as Frangelico, Amaretto, or other coffee liqueur. See the blog post for more garnish ideas.
Bree
I made this for friends on the weekend. So delicious! Easiest dessert ever. Thanks for making me look good lol.
Elaine
Hi Bree, Thanks for the 5 stars! I'm happy to hear your affogatos were a hit!
Ella
OMG. Amazing. So simple, but so delicious!
Elaine
Thanks!
Ty
Love your idea of serving these in a margarita glass instead of a coffee cup. It made it even more elegant! Lots of oohs and aahs around the table!!!
Elaine
Thanks Ty! I've served it both ways, but I agree, it looks spectacular in a stemmed glass. Thanks for the 5 stars!
Lily
Incredible! So easy, so delicious. Super helpful tips, too. Thank you.
Elaine
So glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to let me know!
Elise
So incredibly easy, but amazingly delicious!
Flavour & Savour
I know--only two ingredients, but heavenly!
Dierdre
Oh my! SOOOOO good! We had this dessert after work on Friday. A great way to start the weekend!
Flavour & Savour
Isn't it delicious? I like your way of kicking off the weekend!
Chef Markus Mueller
Um icecream with espresso poured overtop? Why has no one told me this was an actual dessert! I had no idea i was making a traditional Italian dessert all this time. But your right what's not to like! We used to put a double shot of espresso in a rocks glass with coffee gelato and some Baileys as an after work treat on a busy night!
Flavour & Savour
Sounds like an ideal after-work treat to me!
MDIVADOMESTICA
Love affogato as a summer coffee ending to a meal. Dessert & coffee all in one! Great photos & instruction.
Cathy
It may be simple, but often the simple things are the best!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
This looks so elegant Elaine, not to mention delicious! What a great after supper dessert for summer! Love that it's fancy but no-fuss at the same time!
Lisa
I love coffee ice cream...my go-to favorite flavor, and this looks amazing. I love how simple it is and yet it looks so fancy. I can't wait to try it!L
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Lisa, Sometimes it's hard to believe something so simple and easy can be SO good!!
Jessica
This dessert has my two favourite things - coffee & gelato! I love how easy this is to make and you've given some really great tips too!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Jessica!
Nicoletta Sugarlovespices
Needless to say, we love affogato and had quite a few memorable ones. Your pictures are beautiful and your affogato looks fantastic. Great tips, as well! I like mine in a cappuccino cup, with just one scoop of the best gelato, so when it melts it creates a little 'foam' on top like a real cappuccino 🙂 .
Flavour & Savour
That sounds heavenly, and coming from the Italian “experts” I know it would be divine!