Dessert history
There is no confirmed information about who and when first came up with the idea of combining ice cream and strong espresso in one container. But absolutely everyone agrees that this dessert first saw the light of day in sunny Italy. The fact is that the afternoon heat of southern countries and the frequent drop in blood sugar levels by the middle of the day become an undeniable reason to consume something sweet and invigorating at the same time. It is Affrogato that copes with this task perfectly, replenishing the body’s energy.
In Italy, it is customary to enjoy a fragrant and invigorating dessert after dinner or instead of it.
The Italian word Affogato translated means “to drown” or “drowned”. And no matter how unpleasant it may sound, a ball of ice cream, immersed in a noble drink, really sinks, dissolving in a delicious sauce. Some connoisseurs additionally add liqueur to this delicious combination.
We will prepare the best affogato in our own kitchen
With a huge variety of cooking options, let's start the path to personal perfection with a classic recipe. If you try, there will be no difference from Italian affogato.
Basic recipe
Ingredients:
- 60 ml strong espresso or Turkish coffee, strained;
- 4 tablespoons vanilla ice cream or ice cream;
- 1 teaspoon grated chocolate.
Manufacturing:
First, remove the ice cream from the freezer. Use a deep tablespoon or a special shaped spoon to scoop it up and place it in a bowl or large glass. Let it melt a little so that after meeting with hot coffee, a delicate mousse will form that melts in your mouth. Fill the ice cream balls with freshly brewed hot coffee. Sprinkle the duo with chocolate shavings and start tasting.
For your information. If children are not enjoying affogato with you, do not deny yourself a spoonful of liqueur. It can be added to coffee before pouring it over ice cream. Baileys or Amaretto are perfect for this purpose; good cognac will not spoil the picture.
Chocolate rum affogato
This recipe contains alcohol, but you can also prepare it in a non-alcoholic version by replacing the alcoholic drink with rum-flavored syrup.
Ingredients:
- 50 ml espresso or strong strained coffee;
- 100 g chocolate ice cream;
- 1 tablespoon grated dark chocolate;
- 2 tablespoons of dark rum or syrup of the same name.
Manufacturing:
While the ice cream you took out of the freezer is melting, brew coffee on the stove or prepare a strong espresso in the coffee machine. Use a spoon to form balls of ice cream and place in a bowl. Pour coffee and rum over them and decorate with chocolate. Crushed nuts and pieces of cookies are suitable as decoration.
Сiliegina, in Russian “cherry”
For this recipe we will make our own ice cream. A real fruity Italian affogato!
Ingredients:
- 200 ml cherry syrup, it will replace coffee, but you can reduce the amount of syrup by 50 ml by replacing this part with espresso;
- 300 ml milk, fat content 3.2%;
- 300 ml cream, fat content 15 - 20%;
- 70 g sugar;
- 1 egg;
- 1 tablespoon flour;
- ¼ teaspoon salt;
- ¼ teaspoon vanillin;
- fresh or frozen pitted cherries for decoration.
Manufacturing:
We make our own ice cream, i.e. gelato. Gradually pour flour into a saucepan with milk and stir over low heat, add vanillin there. When you get a homogeneous mass, remove the pan from the heat and wait until the contents cool to room temperature. Beat the egg until foamy, slowly add sugar and salt. Combine the mixture with cooled milk and flour. Place on the stove and, stirring slowly, bring to a boil. Let cool.
Whip the cream into a thick foam. Combine with cooled milk soufflé. Place the finished product in the freezer for at least 3 hours. We get real, delicious ice cream. Form balls with a spoon and place in a bowl. Drizzle with cherry syrup and decorate with cherries.
Matcha affogato
In the matcha affogato recipe, the role of coffee will be played by its worthy substitute - matcha green tea powder. It goes well with milk and ice cream, making the dessert tender and healthy.
Information: A wonderful matcha latte is prepared using Japanese powdered tea - whipped green powder is added to the frothed milk. Matcha has many advantages that are comparable to coffee benefits. It perfectly invigorates, stimulates the body, increases the level of immune defense, and normalizes metabolism. The product is widely used as a food additive in cooking.
Ingredients:
- 2 g matcha powder is about 1 full teaspoon;
- ½ cup hot water;
- 2 scoops (2 tablespoons) of vanilla ice cream, can be replaced with ice cream.
Manufacturing:
In a small bowl, pour matcha powder with hot water and whisk until smooth and foamy. Place the ice cream in a bowl and pour some cooled green tea over it. Very simple, fast, beautiful, useful.
Selection of components
One of the main components of affogato is strong espresso, which must be prepared in one or two servings. Double dosage is used to create Macaffogato. If you prepare dessert at home, any type of natural aromatic drink brewed in a geyser coffee maker, French press or pour over will do.
It is necessary to strictly ensure that even grains of ground product do not get into the liquid part of the dessert, so it is better to further purify the Turkish composition by filtration.
You should not select single-origin coffee for preparation, the cost of which is often unreasonably high, since toppings and ice cream will hide all their flavor nuances. But an affogato made from 100% Arabica coffee will turn out extremely tender and soft. For lovers of strength, it is recommended to use mixtures containing the addition of Robusta varieties (not higher than 50%).
The degree of grinding of the raw materials is adjusted depending on the preparation method, but you should not bring the coffee beans to dust.
When creating this amazing dessert, you should give preference to coffee beans with a light (medium) degree of heat treatment. If the stage is too light, the dessert will lose its special coffee taste. But strong roasting will not sound in unison with ice cream. It is better to use bottled water to brew coffee.
For you:
Preparing the perfect espresso: barista secrets
What it is
Affogato is not a type of coffee with ice cream, as many people outside of Italy believe - it is a separate, independent dessert. The classic version is a scoop of usually vanilla ice cream that floats in hot espresso. Hence the name of the delicacy, which literally means “drowned.”
This unusual dessert is often served as an alternative to gelato during the cold season. It can be decorated with coffee beans, chocolate chips, berries, whipped cream or cookies. Depending on the season, the taste of affogato is enriched with fresh fruits or alcoholic beverages.
This variation of ice cream with cocoa is ideal for those who love the combination of the rich taste of chocolate with the tenderness of milk cream. For this combination, choose vanilla, chocolate or coffee gelato. It is topped with whipped cream, dusted with cocoa or sprinkled with white or dark chocolate chips.
There are also absolutely amazing versions of affogato. For example, whiskey ice cream. “Drowned” in an alcoholic drink is generally considered a bestseller in Italian restaurants. High degrees are perfectly complemented by the creamy aroma of real ice cream. This delicacy is decorated with cream and served in a cup with cookies.
For those who pay great attention to their health and follow the principles of a healthy diet, affogato with fruits or berries is suitable. The desired ingredients (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, etc.) are mixed in a blender
Instead of a fresh base, you can choose fruit yogurt. A ball of gelato is drowned in a perfect “sea” and decorated with fruits or syrups. Those with a sweet tooth order dessert with whipped cream or waffles.
How to cook
For preparation you can use:
- Ice cream for 100-120 g and freshly brewed doppio.
- Tequila 60 ml.
- Kahlua coffee liqueur 60 ml.
- Espresso 125 ml.
- Vanilla ice cream 125 g.
Take 100-120 grams of ice cream and put it in a cup. After this, pour freshly made double or triple doppio and serve until the ice cream has melted. This dessert is consumed with a spoon. The combination of cool ice cream and hot coffee is invigorating and refreshing.
There is also one recipe with the addition of liqueur and tequila. Top 125 grams of ice cream with a mixture of tequila and Kahlua coffee liqueur. This alcoholic affogato is very popular in Europe and North America. Alcohol is necessary to highlight the taste of the dessert. You can also change the alcohol depending on the ice cream you choose. Baileys liqueur goes well with vanilla, Amaretto goes well with nut, and cognac or rum goes well with chocolate.
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Characteristics of affogato
Coffee bean type | Arabica, addition of Robusta is acceptable (no more than 50%) |
Roasting | Medium, light, Viennese, urban |
Grinding | Small, but not dusty |
Coffee base temperature | Not higher than +80 °C |
Cooking time | 10 minutes |
Output weight | From 80 to 110 g |
Fortress | Not higher than 135 mg |
Recommended rate | 1 per day |
Maximum permissible norm | 2 per day (due to high calorie content) |
Calorie content per serving with 50 g of ice cream | 120 kcal |
Calories per serving with liquor | 224 kcal |
How to cook
Below we explain step by step how to create the two most popular options:
Traditional recipe:
- Leave the ice cream out of the freezer for a few minutes to soften.
- Place a scoop of ice cream in each cup (or glass cup).
- If you want to add liqueur, do so now.
- Prepare the coffee and pour it while still hot into cups.
- Ready! You already have the perfect affogato dessert to delight your clients or guests.
Affogato with cream:
- Add chocolate chips to the bottom of the previously cooled cup.
- Place a scoop of ice cream on top of the chips.
- Add espresso.
- Finish the preparation by spooning the whipped cream over the coffee. If you want, you can also add cocoa powder to the cream.
The affogato recipe is simple and delicious at the same time. The result of either of the two previous recipes is a creamy drink with a contrast of cold and hot, which, together with the sweet taste of ice cream and the bitterness of coffee, offers us an amazing combination.
Dessert video recipe
Dessert preparation methods
First of all, you need to take care of cooling the container in which the amazing dessert will be placed. And the filling of the sweet dish itself usually occurs as follows:
- Place one portion of ice cream in a container and pour a hot aromatic drink over it. The bowl or glass must be resistant to elevated temperatures. With this method, it is permissible to leave the ice cream both hard and soft. But the second option is still preferable.
- The second method involves creating a small indentation inside the ice cream. Next, black coffee is carefully poured into it. A small part of the drink will definitely splash out into the container, flowing down the outer surface of the ball. This method creates a spectacular flavor tandem of creamy coffee sauce and melted ice cream. In addition, a peculiar variation of the look inside it will be obtained. This method does not involve the use of heat-resistant cookware.
Tips for making a good affogato
Now that you know how to make a good affogato, here are some tips to help you achieve the best results:
- Keep in mind that if you serve the coffee too hot, the ice cream will melt very quickly and it will no longer be a real "drowned" ice cream. Experts recommend submitting everything separately.
- Use a chilled bowl, this helps the ice cream not melt as quickly and maintains contrast.
- Spice up your dessert. Add cream, cocoa or cinnamon to make the recipe more colorful. Alternatively, you can also accompany it with sesame cookies or waffles, which pair perfectly with the flavor of the affogato.
Classic affogato recipe
When preparing a classic version of dessert, there is no room for experimentation. Therefore, all components are selected strictly and in precise dosages.
Ingredients:
- 50 g ice cream;
- 50 ml strong coffee;
- chocolate topping or grated dark chocolate.
Cooking method:
- The first step is brewing coffee, which, if necessary, is carefully filtered to remove the resulting suspension.
- Next, place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the bottom of the cooled container and pour coffee over it in accordance with the chosen method.
- The dessert is topped with topping or grated chocolate.
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American coffee: choice of beans, grinding, technology
If desired, you can decorate the serving with fresh or canned berries and fruits.
An alcoholic version of the classic affogato is also known. It is distinguished by the fact that 15 ml of rum or cognac is first poured into the bottom of the bowl or glass.
Calorie content
The calorie content of coffee is affected by the number of ingredients, fillers, decorations and alcohol. The coffee version of the dessert will be less calorie than the chocolate one, but much more nutritious than the fruit one. A standard serving is 165 grams. In this case, the classic version will be about 250 kcal. The nutritional value of Affogato consists of the following indicators:
- proteins - 4g;
- fats - 45%;
- carbohydrates - 22g;
- cholesterol - 150 mg.
People with diabetes and health problems should not consume dessert, since carbohydrates consist entirely of simple sugars.
Affogato with coffee jelly
The aromatic dessert is replete with recipe variations. You can replace the drink with jelly and get a new, interesting taste.
Ingredients:
- 200 ml coffee for jelly;
- 50 ml coffee for pouring;
- 5 g gelatin;
- 100 g ice cream;
- 3 tsp. sugar for jelly;
- additives to taste.
Step by step recipe:
- Gelatin is soaked in cold water according to the instructions on the package.
- Brew and strain coffee for jelly.
- Dissolve sugar in the drink.
- Then the swollen gelatin is mixed with coffee.
- Pour the resulting composition into the mold and place it in the refrigerator for several hours.
- The resulting jelly is cut into cubes.
- Place ice cream in a chilled glass and surround it with jelly.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce or chocolate syrup.
- Prepare coffee for pouring and send it to the ice cream strictly in the center of the ball.
- Decorate the dessert with almond flakes.
Fruit jelly can be a good substitute for coffee jelly.
Ice cream latte
A traditional latte is a coffee drink with a large amount of frothed milk, forming a thick, delicate head. Many recipes have been created based on latte. One of them is ice latte - a latte with the addition of ice cream. Need to:
- finely ground coffee beans - 1 tsp;
- fat milk (not lower than 3.2%) - 150 ml;
- purified water - 60 ml;
- granulated sugar - 1-2 tsp;
- a portion of ice cream;
- decor
Pour freshly brewed coffee into a cup or tall glass and add thoroughly frothed milk. Wonderful airy foam can only be obtained from heated full-fat milk. The method of whipping does not matter. This can be done manually or with a special foaming agent. A regular mixer will work too.
Place a portion of ice cream into the resulting latte. Top with grated chocolate or other decoration.
How to serve and drink affogato
The most suitable container for serving affogato is dessert ceramic bowls with thick walls. Wide glass glasses are also good for this purpose. Cups are occasionally used. A spoon is served with dessert.
A straw and sugar bowl are not needed to serve affogato.
This dessert can in no way be called childish, since the caffeine content in it is the same as in a shot of espresso. If you still want to treat your child, then when preparing about 5 ml of coffee you need to additionally dilute it with hot water. In this case, alcohol is completely excluded.
The dessert is served immediately after preparation, since the ice cream will begin to melt quickly and the taste will deteriorate. To adjust the desired amount of alcohol in the dessert, you can serve alcohol in a separate glass.
Iced coffee with caramel and ice cream
This is an original coffee dessert with an interesting taste. It will require:
- chilled ready-made coffee - 200 ml;
- creme brulee (or butter) - 100 gr.;
- cream - 50 ml;
- granulated sugar.
To prepare caramel sauce, you need to take:
- heavy cream (at least 30%) - 100 ml;
- good butter - 100 g;
- granulated sugar - 230 gr.;
- water - about 60 ml.
The butter and cream for the sauce should be at room temperature. In a thick-bottomed bowl, heat the sugar and water over low heat. There is no need to stir the syrup, just shake the saucepan. Boil until the mixture turns golden and thickens.
If the sauce is bitter, it means it was overheated. If it’s a bit runny, it’s been cooked for less time than needed.
Now let's get to the coffee. Cook and let cool. Add sugar if desired.
Place some of the ice cream (about half) into the prepared glasses, add cooled coffee and cream. The second half of creme brulee completes the dessert. Pour the resulting caramel sauce over it all.
Ah, affogato...
It’s not difficult to guess where this exquisite but easy-to-prepare coffee miracle comes from. The cheerful, energetic Italians were the first to enjoy themselves. They combined two favorite products and got a new delicacy.
A source of limitless creativity has opened up for baristas. Hundreds of options for preparing affogato exist today, and their number is constantly growing. Based on the duo of coffee and ice cream, desserts with chocolate, fruits, nuts, syrups, and alcoholic beverages are prepared. Each person preparing dessert in a bar, coffee shop or at home has their own recipe. Affogato is beautiful in its diversity and constant sophistication.
Interesting: the name of the coffee-ice cream dessert is not Italian. Its source is even somewhat gloomy. The word ahogado translated from Spanish means “drowned,” but most likely the humorous Italians applied this synonym to coffee ice cream drowning in the waves. It sounds beautiful! And we drown in the ocean of pleasure when we taste it.
In Italy, they love affogato, especially when made with real Italian gelato - handmade ice cream. Technological progress has not affected the process of making ancient sweets. Like many decades ago, the old Italian recipe remains unchanged. Gelato-based affogato captivates discerning gourmets around the world.
Secrets of Italian delicacies
Attention: do not under any circumstances call the affogato dessert a type of iced coffee! Especially in the presence of Italians. The most harmless thing they are capable of is to become violently indignant. Glace is a type of coffee drink; it is cold espresso with ice cream or ice cream. Affogato is a dessert made with gelato (or exclusively vanilla ice cream) and hot coffee. This is fortissimo, the superlative degree of culinary sound!
In many countries around the world, “gelato Italiano” is made, but special freezers are used for preparation, which mechanically mix the ingredients and cool them to a given temperature. Real Italian gelato is different:
- manual cooking method;
- using only natural products;
- delicate creamy texture;
- delicate taste and unforgettable aroma;
- less fat content than classic ice cream (5 – 8%);
- longer melting period;
- short shelf life.
Interesting: gelato makers are respected people, professionals, virtuosos of their craft. In Italy they are called gelateriere. Maestros create in special gelateria establishments and prepare the national delicacy in small quantities.
The difference between traditional ice cream and gelato is noticeable. It cannot be stored for a long time, but the coffee delicacy obtained from it is incredibly tasty.
Cost of dessert in popular coffee shops
The average price for glace in Moscow cafes is about 230 rubles. Approximate cost of a soft drink in the capital’s establishments (in rubles per serving):
- “Cups” – 260;
- "Leon" - 240;
- “La La Land” – 340;
- “Mint Lounge” – 220-250;
- "DINcafe" – 220;
- “My Place” – 240;
- “MiD Hookah Ministry” – 400;
- “Black cockatoo” – 280;
- “Caramel” – 180;
- "Dorf" - 260;
- McDonald's - 109.